We need a better system

Today’s posting is going to be short and not so sweet. Sorry!

Many pundits are commenting on the problems associated with the recent SCOTUS decision resulting in the demise of the Chevron deference. I would note that the Chevron deference has been in place for 40 years during which time the definition of Waters of the United States has been kicked from pillar to post and up and down many stairs in Washington, D.C.’s august buildings, without resolution. Meanwhile, our sources of “clean” water continue to be diminished as the effects of climate weirding continue to disrupt historic hydrologic cycles. Legal decisions, whether from legislative bodies and/or courts, with or without experts, have real world consequences, as does any lack of wisdom in such decisions. Perhaps it’s time to reflect on Shakespeare’s assessment:

Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

Is it possible that we have corrupted our application of some of the fundamental premises of federalism as practiced by the Iroquois? As things stand today, I can see fatal flaws in decisions by all three sectors and at the federal, state and local levels. Should we see what ChatGPT has to say? Are algorithms the equivalent of consensus? When does SCOTUS have to have a supermajority, like the Senate to overcome a filibuster?

My Wisdom

By Naomi Shihab Nye

When people have a lot

they want more

 

When people have nothing

they will happily share it

 

*

 

Some people say

never getting your way

builds character

By now our character must be

deep and wide as a continent

Africa, Australia

giant cascade of stars

spilling over our huge night

 

*

 

Where did the power go?

Did it enjoy its break?

Is power exhausted?

What is real power?

Who really has power?

Did the generator break?

Do we imagine silence

more powerful because

it might contain everything?

Quiet always lives

inside noise.

But does it get much done?

 

*

 

Silence waits

for truth to break it

 

*

 

Calendars can weep too

They want us to have better days

 

*

 

Welcome to every minute

Feel lucky you’re still in it

 

*

 

No bird builds a wall

 

*

 

Sky purse

     jingling

           change

 

*

 

Won’t give up

our hopes

            for anything!

 

*

 

Not your fault

You didn’t make the world

 

*

 

How dare this go on and on?

cried the person who believed in praying

God willing     God willing        God willing

There were others who prayed

   to ruins & stumps

 

*

 

Open palms

     hold more

 

*

 

Refuse to give

   mistakes

      too much power

 

 

*

Annoying person?

Person who told me to stay home

and do what other girls do?

If you disappeared

I still might miss you

 

*

 

Babies want to help us

They laugh

for no reason

 

*

 

Pay close attention to

a drop of water

on the kitchen table

 

*

 

You cannot say one word about religion

and exclude Ahmad