Failed leadership? Tried prayer?

Sunday, June 20, the summer solstice occurs. Tuesday, June 22, days grow shorter, only by seconds to begin with, but shorter, nevertheless. Within days thereafter, half of the year 2021 will be gone. Meanwhile, Republicans in the state legislature are reported to be opposing and/or disrupting progress on budget bills that need to be enacted by July 1. I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to cheer the Texas Democrats who broke quorum to oppose voting suppression while jeering  Minnesota Republicans for filibustering bills. So be it!

Despite Texas Republican Representative Gohmert's fantasy about changing the earth's orbit to solve climate change, there's grossly insufficient activity at the state, federal or international level to adequately  respond to climate breakdown's need for mitigation and adaptation. I don't know about you, but I get angry watching the tax dollars of the 99% (1%'ers don't pay taxes) being spent to pay for clowns in a circus instead of solving public policy problems they were allegedly elected to address.

As far as I can tell, the Democrats are the only ones who continue to fantasize about comity and bipartisanship. That's true in both D.C. and St. Paul. Isn't it time we cease to elect children and/or members of the flat earth society to supposedly responsible positions?

planetary boundaries credit: J. Lokrantz/Azote based on Steffen et al. 2015.

Meanwhile, the US Catholic Bishops are ignoring "guidance" from Pope Francis and are moving toward denying communion to President Biden for his support of women's reproductive health rights. Don't those in political and spiritual positions of responsibility recognize that the earth and its inhabitants are facing several existential crises? Climate breakdown, biodiversity, and exceeding the capacity of several of the world's planetary boundaries require real leadership and consensus building and systems thinking. All of those seem to be sadly lacking wherever one might expect to find them in the world's political and spiritual "leadership." And not enough regular folks are pushing back hard enough or often enough to really change things before we run out of time.

Saint’s Day Triolet: Saint Anthony

By Deborah Paredez

When no one else would listen, Saint Anthony

preached seaward, his words fishnet for the lost

souls of the heretics. Caught up in despair, we plea

to the one who will listen: Saint Anthony,

please return Tía’s teeth or the misplaced key 

to our bolted hopes. Patron retriever of all we’ve tossed 

when no one else would. Listen, Saint Anthony,

teach us to steward this world, all our netted loss.

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