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marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
July 13, 2022
Will fewer light-rail vehicles improve customer experience? Metro Transit is testing it out.
July 13, 2022
The program that will take effect this summer will examine if a reduced number of light-rail vehicles per train equates to customers feeling safer.
Mischa Wanek-Libman
Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minn., is reducing the number of light-rail vehicles in a train from three to two. The move will test if a reduced number of cars in a train improves the customer experience; more specifically, will the reduced number of cars help customers feel safer.
Both the METRO Blue and Green Lines will see reduced rail cars as part of the program, which will take place July 9 through Aug. 19. The test program is part of the agency’s Safety & Security Action Plan. The plan identifies 40 actions based around three areas of work – improving conditions of the system, training and supporting employees and engaging customers and partners – as a way to improve public safety on the transit network.
“Three-car vehicle sets have been our standard since the Green Line opened, but times have changed and we need to be open to all new ideas,” said Metro Transit Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk.
Each light-rail vehicle can hold up to 132 passengers. Crowding on light-rail trains shouldn’t be a concern with Metro Transit explaining light-rail ridership is at about half of pre-pandemic levels. ...............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/article/21273660/will-fewer-lightrail-vehicles-improve-customer-experience-metro-transit-is-testing-it-out
MN: Will fewer light-rail vehicles improve customer experience? Metro Transit is testing it out.
Will fewer light-rail vehicles improve customer experience? Metro Transit is testing it out.
July 13, 2022
The program that will take effect this summer will examine if a reduced number of light-rail vehicles per train equates to customers feeling safer.
Mischa Wanek-Libman
Metro Transit in Minneapolis, Minn., is reducing the number of light-rail vehicles in a train from three to two. The move will test if a reduced number of cars in a train improves the customer experience; more specifically, will the reduced number of cars help customers feel safer.
Both the METRO Blue and Green Lines will see reduced rail cars as part of the program, which will take place July 9 through Aug. 19. The test program is part of the agency’s Safety & Security Action Plan. The plan identifies 40 actions based around three areas of work – improving conditions of the system, training and supporting employees and engaging customers and partners – as a way to improve public safety on the transit network.
“Three-car vehicle sets have been our standard since the Green Line opened, but times have changed and we need to be open to all new ideas,” said Metro Transit Chief Operating Officer Brian Funk.
Each light-rail vehicle can hold up to 132 passengers. Crowding on light-rail trains shouldn’t be a concern with Metro Transit explaining light-rail ridership is at about half of pre-pandemic levels. ...............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/article/21273660/will-fewer-lightrail-vehicles-improve-customer-experience-metro-transit-is-testing-it-out
July 13, 2022
....(snip)....
Gov. Whitmer leads against GOP candidates
* When going head-to-head against the five GOP candidates running for Michigan governor, incumbent Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a lead on each of them, and crosses the threshold of 50% of the votes in most scenarios, the poll finds.
* The survey also found that the five GOP candidates appear to struggle with name recognition among Michigan voters, as none of them reached 50% name identification among survey respondents. Candidate Ryan Kelley did come close to that number, though, achieving 49.8% name recognition during the survey.
Gov. Whitmer has strong job approval
* The survey found that 55.3% of Michigan voters approve of Gretchen Whitmer’s performance as governor, compared to 40.1% who disapprove.
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2022/07/13/poll-where-michigan-voters-stand-on-races-for-governor-secretary-of-state-attorney-general/
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's re-election bid looking strong
....(snip)....
Gov. Whitmer leads against GOP candidates
* When going head-to-head against the five GOP candidates running for Michigan governor, incumbent Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a lead on each of them, and crosses the threshold of 50% of the votes in most scenarios, the poll finds.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Ryan Kelley, Gov. Whitmer took 49.6% of the vote, while Kelley took 41.3%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Tudor Dixon, Gov. Whitmer took 50.7% of the vote, while Dixon took 40.3%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Kevin Rinke, Gov. Whitmer took 51.8% of the vote, while Rinke took 40%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Garrett Soldano, Gov. Whitmer took 52% of the vote, while Soldano took 38.2%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Ralph Rebandt, Gov. Whitmer took 52.3% of the vote, while Rebandt took 37.3%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Tudor Dixon, Gov. Whitmer took 50.7% of the vote, while Dixon took 40.3%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Kevin Rinke, Gov. Whitmer took 51.8% of the vote, while Rinke took 40%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Garrett Soldano, Gov. Whitmer took 52% of the vote, while Soldano took 38.2%.
* When pitted against GOP candidate Ralph Rebandt, Gov. Whitmer took 52.3% of the vote, while Rebandt took 37.3%.
* The survey also found that the five GOP candidates appear to struggle with name recognition among Michigan voters, as none of them reached 50% name identification among survey respondents. Candidate Ryan Kelley did come close to that number, though, achieving 49.8% name recognition during the survey.
Gov. Whitmer has strong job approval
* The survey found that 55.3% of Michigan voters approve of Gretchen Whitmer’s performance as governor, compared to 40.1% who disapprove.
* Voters who identify as “strong Democratic” had a 90.3% approval rating for Gov. Whitmer, while those who lean Democratic had an 86.2% approval rating.
* Independent voters had a 49.1% approval rating for Whitmer.
* Voters who identify as “strong Republican” had a 7.7% approval rating for Whitmer, while those leaning Republican had a 10.8% approval rating.
* Independent voters had a 49.1% approval rating for Whitmer.
* Voters who identify as “strong Republican” had a 7.7% approval rating for Whitmer, while those leaning Republican had a 10.8% approval rating.
https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2022/07/13/poll-where-michigan-voters-stand-on-races-for-governor-secretary-of-state-attorney-general/
July 13, 2022
(Detroit Metro Times) Voting rights activists on Monday submitted nearly 670,000 signatures to trigger a ballot initiative in November that would create a constitutional amendment to protect and expand access to the polls.
Promote the Vote calls for nine days of early voting, secure drop boxes, ballot tracking, public funding for postage on absentee ballots, and additional time for military and overseas voters to return their absentee ballots. The initiative would also allow voters to request an absentee ballot for all future elections.
To appear on the ballot, the initiative must get more than 425,000 valid signatures from registered voters.
“The Promote the Vote 2022 campaign is extremely grateful to our team of partner organizations who worked tirelessly to gather signatures from every corner of our state,” Michael Davis, executive director of Promote the Vote, said. “Michiganders demand and deserve to know they can vote safely, securely and conveniently, and we are already building momentum for the months leading up to the November General Election.” ...............(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/activists-submit-signatures-to-put-voting-rights-on-the-ballot-in-michigan-30539101
Activists submit signatures to put voting rights on the ballot in Michigan
(Detroit Metro Times) Voting rights activists on Monday submitted nearly 670,000 signatures to trigger a ballot initiative in November that would create a constitutional amendment to protect and expand access to the polls.
Promote the Vote calls for nine days of early voting, secure drop boxes, ballot tracking, public funding for postage on absentee ballots, and additional time for military and overseas voters to return their absentee ballots. The initiative would also allow voters to request an absentee ballot for all future elections.
To appear on the ballot, the initiative must get more than 425,000 valid signatures from registered voters.
“The Promote the Vote 2022 campaign is extremely grateful to our team of partner organizations who worked tirelessly to gather signatures from every corner of our state,” Michael Davis, executive director of Promote the Vote, said. “Michiganders demand and deserve to know they can vote safely, securely and conveniently, and we are already building momentum for the months leading up to the November General Election.” ...............(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/activists-submit-signatures-to-put-voting-rights-on-the-ballot-in-michigan-30539101
July 13, 2022
Public universities in Florida will be required to survey both faculty and students on their political beliefs and viewpoints, with the institutions at risk of losing their funding if the responses are not satisfactory to the state's Republican-led legislature.
The unprecedented project, which was tucked into a law signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, is part of a long-running, nationwide right-wing push to promote "intellectual diversity" on campuses — though worries over a lack of details on the survey's privacy protections, and questions over what the results may ultimately be used for, hover over the venture.
Based on the bill's language, survey responses will not necessarily be anonymous — sparking worries among many professors and other university staff that they may be targeted, held back in their careers or even fired for their beliefs. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/06/23/desantis-signs-bill-requiring-florida-students-professors-to-register-political-views-with-state/
DeSantis signs bill requiring survey of Florida students, professors on their political views
Public universities in Florida will be required to survey both faculty and students on their political beliefs and viewpoints, with the institutions at risk of losing their funding if the responses are not satisfactory to the state's Republican-led legislature.
The unprecedented project, which was tucked into a law signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, is part of a long-running, nationwide right-wing push to promote "intellectual diversity" on campuses — though worries over a lack of details on the survey's privacy protections, and questions over what the results may ultimately be used for, hover over the venture.
Based on the bill's language, survey responses will not necessarily be anonymous — sparking worries among many professors and other university staff that they may be targeted, held back in their careers or even fired for their beliefs. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/06/23/desantis-signs-bill-requiring-florida-students-professors-to-register-political-views-with-state/
July 13, 2022
Texas Central Partners, LLC, Texas Central Railroad and Infrastructure, Inc., and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., issued a statement on July 8 in response to a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling in its favor and a few weeks after the project’s CEO departed the company.
Texas Central Railroad and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., had been the subject of a back-and-forth legal battle concerning their authority to acquire property under eminent domain. The case, Miles v. Texas Central Railroad & Infrastructure, Inc. and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., initially was decided in favor of the landowner when a trial court decided neither Texas Central or Integrated Texas Logistics qualified as railroads or interurban electric railway companies. A court of appeals reversed the initial decision, saying the companies qualified as both. The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling on June 24 agreeing that the entities had authority to acquire land under eminent domain because they qualify as an interurban electric railway companies. Because they qualify as interurban electric railway companies, the state Supreme Court did not address if they also qualify as railroad companies.
The outcome of this case has been viewed as the buoy needed to keep the proposed 240-mile high-speed project afloat. The high-speed rail line would connect Dallas to Houston with a stop in Brazos Valley in approximately 90 minutes and offer a more efficient and faster alternative to driving I-45.
In June, Texas Central’s CEO Carlos Aguilar confirmed he was departing the company following international media reports debating the viability of the project and his role leading it. At the time, he noted his pride in what the project team had accomplished and said he was convinced the project would be come reality. ..............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/article/21273652/texas-central-has-a-plan-organizers-say-more-details-coming-at-an-appropriate-time
Texas Central has a plan, organizers say more details coming 'at an appropriate time'
Texas Central Partners, LLC, Texas Central Railroad and Infrastructure, Inc., and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., issued a statement on July 8 in response to a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling in its favor and a few weeks after the project’s CEO departed the company.
Texas Central Railroad and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., had been the subject of a back-and-forth legal battle concerning their authority to acquire property under eminent domain. The case, Miles v. Texas Central Railroad & Infrastructure, Inc. and Integrated Texas Logistics, Inc., initially was decided in favor of the landowner when a trial court decided neither Texas Central or Integrated Texas Logistics qualified as railroads or interurban electric railway companies. A court of appeals reversed the initial decision, saying the companies qualified as both. The Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling on June 24 agreeing that the entities had authority to acquire land under eminent domain because they qualify as an interurban electric railway companies. Because they qualify as interurban electric railway companies, the state Supreme Court did not address if they also qualify as railroad companies.
The outcome of this case has been viewed as the buoy needed to keep the proposed 240-mile high-speed project afloat. The high-speed rail line would connect Dallas to Houston with a stop in Brazos Valley in approximately 90 minutes and offer a more efficient and faster alternative to driving I-45.
In June, Texas Central’s CEO Carlos Aguilar confirmed he was departing the company following international media reports debating the viability of the project and his role leading it. At the time, he noted his pride in what the project team had accomplished and said he was convinced the project would be come reality. ..............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/article/21273652/texas-central-has-a-plan-organizers-say-more-details-coming-at-an-appropriate-time
July 13, 2022
First abortion protections, now early voting -- organizers in Michigan are kicking ass.....
(Detroit Free Press) The group behind the successful 2018 ballot proposal that created no-excuse absentee voting and same-day registration in Michigan filed signatures Monday to put a new constitutional amendment to voters this fall that would bring a wide range of changes to elections, including establishing early voting in the state.
Khalilah Spencer, president of Promote the Vote, said that the group turned in nearly 670,000 voter signatures, significantly more than the roughly 425,000 required. Speaking at a news briefing Monday outside the Bureau of Elections' office where organizers dropped off petitions, Spencer billed the Promote the Vote 2022 amendment as a way to support absentee voting in Michigan.
Voters embraced the voting method in 2020, which saw the first statewide elections in which every voter had a right to vote absentee conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendment would require state-funded 24-hour drop boxes in every municipality along with state funding for prepaid postage to return absentee ballot applications and ballot envelopes.
The amendment would also give voters a right to have an absentee ballot sent to them ahead of every election by filling out an absentee ballot application to cover all future elections. .............(more)
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/11/promote-vote-michigan-elections-ballot/10029753002/
...................................................
(Detroit Metro Times) A coalition that launched a petition drive to amend the state’s constitution to affirm abortion rights plans to turn in a record 753,759 signatures on Monday.
Reproductive Freedom for All must submit about 452,000 valid signatures for the initiative to appear on the November ballot.
“The Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade will not take away the rights and freedoms of people in Michigan to determine if and when they become a parent,” Loren Khogali, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan, said in a statement Monday. “We will not allow forced pregnancy in our state, nor will we stand by as the devastating impacts of a post-Roe world disproportionately impact people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, young people, low-income people, and those living in rural areas. This is your body, your ballot, your choice.” .........................(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/record-number-of-signatures-collected-to-put-abortion-rights-on-michigan-ballot-in-november-30538090
July 13, 2022
FORT LAUDERDALE - A Sunrise man was gored on Monday as the most perilous bull run of Pamplona's week-long San Fermin festival took place.
He was identified as M.T., a 25-year-old, the city hall's international press office said.
Two other runners were also gored on the fifth running bull of the San Fermin festival.
One of the gored runners was transported directly to the hospital, while the other two were taken to the University Hospital of Navarra after undergoing surgery at bullring's nursing point. ................(more)
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-man-gored-running-bulls-pamplona-spain/
Sunrise, Fla., man gored during running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain
FORT LAUDERDALE - A Sunrise man was gored on Monday as the most perilous bull run of Pamplona's week-long San Fermin festival took place.
He was identified as M.T., a 25-year-old, the city hall's international press office said.
Two other runners were also gored on the fifth running bull of the San Fermin festival.
One of the gored runners was transported directly to the hospital, while the other two were taken to the University Hospital of Navarra after undergoing surgery at bullring's nursing point. ................(more)
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-man-gored-running-bulls-pamplona-spain/
July 13, 2022
January 6 hearing makes it clear: MAGA is a cult
The January 6 committee portrays Trump as a sinister cult leader and his followers as his dupes
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED JULY 12, 2022 6:03PM
(Salon) "President Trump is a 76-year-old man. He is not an impressionable child."
The seventh of the summer's public hearings for the January 6th committee opened with Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., issuing a blunt rebuttal of what has become a popular denial of Donald Trump's responsibility for the Capitol insurrection: Trump is just too dumb to have known what he was doing.
The argument is that all of the lies about the election were not, as they seem, a deliberate attempt to incite an insurrection. That all of his links to extremist groups who stormed the Capitol are just a remarkable coincidence. That all of his behavior was merely an incoherent tantrum of an idiot man-child who was just unfortunately misinterpreted by his loyal supporters. That Trump is merely an innocent victim of the rioters who took things too far.
But, as Cheney's opening statement made clear, the committee is asserting the opposite. Trump is a sinister cult leader who knowingly exploited his gullible followers into rioting on his behalf.
....(snip)....
The committee showed that there was a huge gulf between the information that Trump followers were privy to and the information Trump himself was privy to. Trump, they showed time and again, was being told by all his top advisors and consultants and lawyers that he lost the election. He knew full well that he lost every important court case challenging the election. Under the basic understanding of the law, there's no way that a reasonable person in his situation could possibly believe the election was stolen.
His followers, however, were not beneficiaries of a team of lawyers and advisors insisting on facts. The committee argued that many of them — especially those that marched on the Capitol — were submerged into a dystopian world of disinformation that made the Big Lie seem very believable. As Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said, there were "three rings of interwoven attack": Trump and his inner circle of coup plotters, the far-right militia groups that were working with Trump allies like Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, and then the MAGA normies who showed up for a rally, only to get swept up in the plot to raid the Capitol. ...........(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/07/12/january-6-hearing-makes-it-clear-maga-is-a/
January 6 hearing makes it clear: MAGA is a cult
January 6 hearing makes it clear: MAGA is a cult
The January 6 committee portrays Trump as a sinister cult leader and his followers as his dupes
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
Senior Writer
PUBLISHED JULY 12, 2022 6:03PM
(Salon) "President Trump is a 76-year-old man. He is not an impressionable child."
The seventh of the summer's public hearings for the January 6th committee opened with Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., issuing a blunt rebuttal of what has become a popular denial of Donald Trump's responsibility for the Capitol insurrection: Trump is just too dumb to have known what he was doing.
The argument is that all of the lies about the election were not, as they seem, a deliberate attempt to incite an insurrection. That all of his links to extremist groups who stormed the Capitol are just a remarkable coincidence. That all of his behavior was merely an incoherent tantrum of an idiot man-child who was just unfortunately misinterpreted by his loyal supporters. That Trump is merely an innocent victim of the rioters who took things too far.
But, as Cheney's opening statement made clear, the committee is asserting the opposite. Trump is a sinister cult leader who knowingly exploited his gullible followers into rioting on his behalf.
....(snip)....
The committee showed that there was a huge gulf between the information that Trump followers were privy to and the information Trump himself was privy to. Trump, they showed time and again, was being told by all his top advisors and consultants and lawyers that he lost the election. He knew full well that he lost every important court case challenging the election. Under the basic understanding of the law, there's no way that a reasonable person in his situation could possibly believe the election was stolen.
His followers, however, were not beneficiaries of a team of lawyers and advisors insisting on facts. The committee argued that many of them — especially those that marched on the Capitol — were submerged into a dystopian world of disinformation that made the Big Lie seem very believable. As Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said, there were "three rings of interwoven attack": Trump and his inner circle of coup plotters, the far-right militia groups that were working with Trump allies like Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, and then the MAGA normies who showed up for a rally, only to get swept up in the plot to raid the Capitol. ...........(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/07/12/january-6-hearing-makes-it-clear-maga-is-a/
July 13, 2022
(Guardian UK) Physicians must continue to offer abortions in cases of medical emergencies without exception, Joe Biden’s administration said on Monday, as it insisted federal law would overrule any total state bans on abortion.
In a letter to healthcare providers, the president’s health and human services secretary, Xavier Becerra, said the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) protects providers from any purported state restrictions should they be required to perform emergency abortions.
“Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care – including abortion care,” Becerra said. “Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care.”
Becerra said medical emergencies include ectopic pregnancies, complications arising from miscarriages, and pre-eclampsia, NBC News reported. .............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/12/us-law-will-overrule-states-emergency-abortions
US law will overrule states for abortions in cases of medical emergencies
(Guardian UK) Physicians must continue to offer abortions in cases of medical emergencies without exception, Joe Biden’s administration said on Monday, as it insisted federal law would overrule any total state bans on abortion.
In a letter to healthcare providers, the president’s health and human services secretary, Xavier Becerra, said the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) protects providers from any purported state restrictions should they be required to perform emergency abortions.
“Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care – including abortion care,” Becerra said. “Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care.”
Becerra said medical emergencies include ectopic pregnancies, complications arising from miscarriages, and pre-eclampsia, NBC News reported. .............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/12/us-law-will-overrule-states-emergency-abortions
July 12, 2022
Most Americans — and most Christians — don't want religious doctrine dominating our laws. So how did we get here?
By THOM HARTMANN
PUBLISHED JULY 12, 2022 6:30AM
Minneapolis residents Jess and John Pentz — a couple who've been married for 17 years — were traveling through Hayward, Wisconsin, over the Fourth of July weekend when Jess realized she'd forgotten to bring her birth control pills.
They pulled into the local Hayward Walgreens pharmacy, where Jess picked up a box of condoms from a shelf and handed them to the clerk manning the register.
"Manning" seems to be the right verb here: "John," the Walgreens clerk, refused to ring them up.
Jess, confused, asked him why, pointing to the shelf where she'd picked up the condoms.
"We can sell that to you," clerk "John" told Jess with a smirk, "but I won't because of my faith."
....(snip)....
The vast majority of Americans, opinion research shows, think a situation like this is absurd. As Jennifer Brooks notes in an article about the Pentzes' experience for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
And what's so astonishing about the entire situation is that we have reached this point not because the American public wants religious doctrine running our law, and not because most religious people agree with an arrogant prick working at Walgreens.
....(snip)....
But hating on unions, taxes and the environment — and loving on guns — wasn't enough to reliably win elections over the long run. They needed a larger bullhorn, a way of reaching into the lives of additional tens of millions of American voters who really didn't much care about those issues.
That's where Jerry Falwell and his friends came into the picture. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/07/12/so-where-did-all-this-right-wing-religious-nuttery-come-from_partner/
So where did all this right-wing religious nuttery come from?
So where did all this right-wing religious nuttery come from?Most Americans — and most Christians — don't want religious doctrine dominating our laws. So how did we get here?
By THOM HARTMANN
PUBLISHED JULY 12, 2022 6:30AM
Minneapolis residents Jess and John Pentz — a couple who've been married for 17 years — were traveling through Hayward, Wisconsin, over the Fourth of July weekend when Jess realized she'd forgotten to bring her birth control pills.
They pulled into the local Hayward Walgreens pharmacy, where Jess picked up a box of condoms from a shelf and handed them to the clerk manning the register.
"Manning" seems to be the right verb here: "John," the Walgreens clerk, refused to ring them up.
Jess, confused, asked him why, pointing to the shelf where she'd picked up the condoms.
"We can sell that to you," clerk "John" told Jess with a smirk, "but I won't because of my faith."
....(snip)....
The vast majority of Americans, opinion research shows, think a situation like this is absurd. As Jennifer Brooks notes in an article about the Pentzes' experience for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
When the Pew Research Center surveyed American attitudes about birth control, just 4% viewed contraception as morally wrong. Condoms protect us from disease and prevent unwanted pregnancies. What's not to like?
And what's so astonishing about the entire situation is that we have reached this point not because the American public wants religious doctrine running our law, and not because most religious people agree with an arrogant prick working at Walgreens.
....(snip)....
But hating on unions, taxes and the environment — and loving on guns — wasn't enough to reliably win elections over the long run. They needed a larger bullhorn, a way of reaching into the lives of additional tens of millions of American voters who really didn't much care about those issues.
That's where Jerry Falwell and his friends came into the picture. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/07/12/so-where-did-all-this-right-wing-religious-nuttery-come-from_partner/
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