Columnists

Recently, a friend of mine became a US citizen. Now she wonders what she let herself in for: “I don’t understand US politics. Are Republicans crazy? What candidates like Trump are saying makes no sense.” I said, “Welcome to bipolar America. Democrats and Republicans have radically different visions of the US.”

Professor Robert Reich wrote an insightful essay, The lost Art of Democratic Narrative observing “there are four essential American stories:” two about hope and two about fear. In the 2016-campaign cycle, Republicans have seized hold of the myths about fear: “the mob at the gates” and “rot at the top.”

In the “mob at the gates” narrative, “the United States is a beacon light of virtue in a world of darkness, uniquely blessed but continuously endangered by foreign menaces.” This is a fearful perspective, one that suggests that if Americans are not continuously vigilant we will be overwhelmed by the forces of evil. -more-

In spite of a well-financed scare campaign, and a not very subtle effort by the European Union (EU) to load the dice in the Oct. 4 Portuguese elections, the ruling rightwing Forward Portugal coalition lost its majority in the parliament, Left parties garnered more than 50 percent of the vote, and the austerity policies that have paralyzed the country for four years took a major hit.

Along with last month’s Greek election, it was two in a row for the European Left. -more-

On October 1, 2015, ten people were killed and another seven injured after Christopher Harper-Mercer, a 26-year-old gunman, opened fire in a classroom at Umpqua Community College in southern Oregon. Harper-Mercer then took his own life. President Obama vowed to continue pushing new gun policies that he said would prevent further mass shootings. Will this mass killings be a tipping point resulting in passage of reasonable federal gun control legislation? Probably not. -more-

This week's column will contain some discussion of intangible things. Consciousness isn't something you can pick up and hold in your hand, look at under a microscope, or poke and prod with physical tools. Yet, physical things affect consciousness. Consciousness also has characteristics and parts to it that people can learn to describe.

What you eat, how much exercise you get, the levels or types of stimuli in your environment, and the biochemical composition of your nerve cells and synapses are some of the physical things that affect consciousness. Around whom you spend your time affects consciousness. Do you live with a "complainer"? Do you live with an abusive individual? Or, do you live with someone more uplifting? -more-

The California Department of Public Health says bedbugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds; they live in mattresses, bed linens and headboards, walls, flooring and other furniture. But they are not considered a public health hazard because they do not spread disease. They are considered a nuisance, however, and should be removed by licensed pest control operators. They feed at night. It is claimed that most people do not feel their bites. They might, however notice itchy welts that appear immediately or a few days later. And they might lose their housing…

The public health community’s laissez-faire attitude is attributable to the experts who say bedbugs are not disease-carrying pests. But the tiny vampires, which feed on human blood, surely cause health-related problems if left unabated — chief among them mental, physical and economic anxiety. -more-