Editorial

The Columbus Free Press joins many others worldwide in condemning the killing of 10 journalists in Afghanistan on Monday, April 30. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports: "At least nine journalists were among at least 25 people killed in a double suicide bomb attack carried out in the capital by the militant group Islamic State, according to media reports. A spokesperson for Kabul police said that about 30 minutes after the first attack, a bomber disguised as a member of the media set off his explosives among a group of journalists who had arrived to cover the earlier blast, Agence France-Presse reported."

The universal laws of physics have been turned upside-down and torn to shreds: we’ve traveled back in time. We have hurtled back to the 1990s with a homophobic sexual predator as president. America’s military is once again launching strikes to protect the fossil fuel industry and distract the country from sex scandals and legal troubles. We are saying goodbye to a right-wing ideologue Speaker of the House while healthcare is being used as a political weapon.

Wednesday morning quickly brightened our month by bringing us the news of Paul Ryan’s retirement. Ryan, the creepiest teenager ever, confirmed recent speculation by declaring he was stepping down from the speakership and would not seek reelection at the end of the year. He has spent his entire career drafting crippling cuts to public spending, especially to Social Security and various healthcare programs. As speaker, he has overseen a large increase in federal spending and falling tax revenues. For all of his talk about fiscal common sense, he has possessed none.

Judge Cynthia Ebner, endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats, handed out sentences to three of the four #BlackPride4 on Tuesday, March 13. The #BlackPride4 were arrested when they held a silent vigil during the 2017 Stonewall Pride march to call attention to the murders of black trans people and killings of black people in Columbus by the police. Just seconds into the vigil, Columbus Police attacked and brutalized them.

Ashley Braxton was sentenced to two years probation, 90 days in jail with 89 days being suspended, 60 hours of community service, and a $250 fine. Kendall Denton, convicted of a mere fourth degree disorderly conduct, the lowest misdemeanor charge, was given a surprisingly harsh sentence: two years probation, 30 days in jail with 29 days being suspended, 48 hours of community service, and a $100 fine – with $50 suspended because he spent a night in jail.

As Americans start to celebrate, commiserate and commemorate the 50th anniversary of 1968 -- arguably one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, both politically and socially -- others are asking if the millennial generation will be able to pick up where the activists of 1968 left off. After all, America remains a nation divided between old and new ideas, cultures, policies with serious social and economic impacts and our military is again marred down in foreign conflicts that seem to have no end in sight.

After reading “Painting the City Red,” (Feb, ’18, Vol 6, Free Press—Pranav Jani) I wanted to thank the author for the article, but to also correct the record.  While a decent piece, outlining activities of three of Columbus’ socialist groups in the recent period, left out was the revolutionary workers’ organization with, by far, the longest, deepest history here.  The Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) has been active here since the 1930’s, a previous period, like today, of massive people’s upsurge.  Central Ohio’s communists were then in the middle of the historic struggles to organize unemployed workers, for relief, to organize the huge new industrial unions.  Communists here, and across the nation, played a central role in the fight for democracy and the defeat of Nazism/fascism.  CP members were here, actively organizing, fighting alongside regular people, during the Civil Rights struggles, peace actions in the 60’s and had activists, leaders, of the huge Rank & File Movements in organized labor a decade later.          

Most of us believe what we read, especially when it comes from a reliable source. What we often miss is the real meaning of the news item. In this month's column, I am going to help you, dear readers, to understand what is behind several recent stories.

WHAT WAS REPORTED: Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats will field a woman candidate for governor in 2018, a year when female candidates and female activism are surging. Connie Pillich, the last Democratic woman standing, quit the race, and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor is facing a one-sided defeat in the Republican primary.

WHAT IT REALLY MEANS:Constance Gadell-Newton, the Green Party nominee, now has 51 percent of the electorate, the women's vote, all to herself. The noted Columbus attorney, inspirational speaker, and social justice activist could be a threat to the major party candidates if she gets the coverage she deserves.

REPORT:Ohio House Republicans proposed a major reform of education that would combine governance of K-12, higher and vocational education into one agency.

I will not begin this week by providing an overview of February. It was a month full of shootings and a disgraceful lack of interest from our national leaders. There is nothing more to say except every member of the legislative and executive branches should be filled with so much shame they do everything in their power to make March a profoundly superior month.

The fast-approaching midterm primaries and general elections are already taking their toll on the country’s progress. Discussions about real issues are at a minimum, and new legislation isn’t exactly flying through the Congress. Yet again, it is as though politicians are trying to prevent their opponents from gaining votes rather than earning them for themselves. This is a time when incumbents should be affecting positive change so they have a real record to run on. Challengers should be proposing grandiose, Earth-shattering plans to end generations of destruction and injustice. Instead, they are steering clear of everything remotely controversial and leaving far too much in a political no man’s land.

The week of February 12th, 2018 will forever be remembered as the week when 17 people were gunned down in a Florida high school.

Let that sink in.

17 students and teachers were murdered, along with many more injured, at their school.

As they all went about their peaceful day, a 19-year-old pile of human filth opened fire with an AR-15 assault rifle, a firearm originally designed to slaughter commies in Vietnam. He bought the gun easily and completely legally despite making it exceedingly clear he should not be anywhere near a weapon of any kind. His online activity included bragging about killing animals, making far-right political comments, and saying he wanted to become famous for a mass shooting. The local sheriff’s office and the FBI were aware of the vile maggot’s mental instability and threat to others. The entire tragedy, along with every one before it, was avoidable. However, with the lack of political action and the biased ramblings of numerous public figures, more will not be.

This week, January traveled to Switzerland and was humanely put out of its misery. The politically dreadful first chapter of 2018 contained a lot of “excitement” and taught us plenty about those who supposedly represent us. Regrettably, none of it was great. We should all be glad it is over and use its lessons to move forward into the new month and the rest of the year.

The broken promises of ECOT that threaten to cost Ohio taxpayers more than $80 million were never better exposed than by the comments of Sandy Theis on the Face The State television program Jan. 21.

Theis, Executive Director of ProgressOhio, told moderator Scott Light of Channel 10 that when the Republicans nearly two decades ago passed the charter school measure that created ECOT, they guaranteed that "less regulation and more competition" would provide "better schools with more accountability."

"Instead, the schools got worse," Theis, a statehouse newspaper reporter at the time, said.

Theis blamed much of the negative outcome on the subsequent elimination of the education watchdog agency.

She added that millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on the likes of the now apparently closed ECOT -- that so far owes the state upwards of $80 million and may owe way more than that in the final accounting.

Worst of all, Theis said, many children were hurt from receiving a deficient education.