Monthly Archives: June 2021

Sen. Chuck Winder had it right when he recently said the so-called Idaho Freedom Foundation was one of the biggest threats we have to our democracy in our state.

Winder, a Republican and president pro tem of the Idaho Senate, had just witnessed the disruptive role played by the Freedom Foundation in one of the worst legislative sessions on record. He bemoaned the fact that so many legislators had followed the Freedom Foundations lead in making it such a fiasco.

The Freedom Foundation is a member of the State Policy Network, which supports operations like the Freedom Foundation in the 50 states with the objective of driving state governments ever further to the right. The Freedom Foundation and its companion organizations and financial supporters conduct cultural warfare as a means of winning elections and growing their power.

The Freedom Foundation has established itself as one of the most powerful drivers of policy in the state of Idaho over the last several legislative sessions. Its acolytes in the Legislature regularly vote Freedom Foundations party line on divisive issues. Some of the most disruptive legislators in the recent session have the highest scores on Freedom Foundations Freedom Index.

One of the primary goals of the Freedom Foundation is to dismantle Idahos public education system. Its president, Wayne Hoffman, spelled out the groups antipathy to public education in a February 2019 op-ed: I dont think government should be in the education business. It is the most virulent form of socialism (and indoctrination thereto) in America today. He claimed Idaho teachers and students were victims of Idahos Constitution, which requires the state to maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.

Idahos public schools, guided by local school boards, have been responsible for properly educating Gem State children since statehood, even though they have been chronically underfunded in recent decades. Despite that fact, the Freedom Foundation and its cadre of legislators wreaked havoc on public education at all levels, from preschool to college, during the just-concluded legislative session.

Even though numerous studies have established the value of early childhood education, the Freedom Foundation was responsible for the states failure to accept a federal grant of $6 million for that worthy purpose. Hoffman crowed about rejecting the grant, falsely claiming it would have led to the indoctrination of babies and toddlers.

Even though the Legislature has failed for many years to carry out its constitutional responsibility to adequately fund public schools, the Freedom Foundation sought to divert public monies to fund private schools and students this year. The legislation passed the House but was narrowly defeated in the Senate. It is likely the Freedom Foundation will be back with a similar proposal next year.

The Freedom Foundation falsely accused Idaho public schools and universities of indoctrinating students, which resulted in chaos with education funding bills. A jury-rigged bill, purportedly prohibiting the teaching of an undefined racial theory, was approved so that the funding bills could proceed. As a result of the Freedom Foundation-caused chaos, Idahos universities were undeservedly deprived of $2.5 million of needed funds.

Freedom Foundations most egregious act during the legislative session was to raise its unfounded indoctrination claim. It produced no credible evidence to support the claim. The fact that local school boards oversee the operations of their schools would indicate the falsity of the charges. We will probably never know whether the Freedom Foundation actually believed that its claims were valid. That was not likely the point of making them. The point was to smear public education in hopes of discrediting and weakening our education system. That is a direct threat to the economic and social well-being of our wonderful state.

The time has come to dispense with the Freedom Foundations legislative zealots in next years primary and general elections. The future of our state depends on culling the legislative herd.

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Opinion: The Idaho Freedom Foundation is a threat to the future of the Gem State - Post Register

New Orleans musician Jon Batiste just released his new song "Freedom," and his video makes the streets of New Orleans sing. Batiste, clad in a pink suit, gets New Orleans community members on their feet, singing and dancing throughout Treme, the Seventh Ward, City Park and under the Claiborne Expressway. Colorful houses throughout also embody the beauty of the Marigny and Bywater. The St. Aug Marching 100 were also prominently featured, which is where Batiste went to school. Batiste's music company tweeted the link to the music video Friday, calling it a "tribute to New Orleans."The song's lyrics lend itself to be a happy anthem calling for acceptance in all forms. According to Apple Music, Batiste described the song "Freedom" as "like an old movie," comparing the likeness of the video's movements to James Brown and Elvis. If you think about movies back in the day, you wouldnt show a Black man with a white woman, or you wouldn't show a Black relationship, or you wouldn't show a woman in a certain role. That is our sexuality and how people are represented. That's what people like James Brown, or when we saw Elvis with the twist in the hips, did. They were unlocking something in people that they were trying to hold in. These people became beacons of freedom, and you look at the way they move and the way that they express who they are onstage. That becomes the way that you want to be in life," Batiste said. 'Freedom' is one of the songs on Batiste new album "We Are."Watch the video here.

New Orleans musician Jon Batiste just released his new song "Freedom," and his video makes the streets of New Orleans sing.

This content is imported from YouTube.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Batiste, clad in a pink suit, gets New Orleans community members on their feet, singing and dancing throughout Treme, the Seventh Ward, City Park and under the Claiborne Expressway.

Colorful houses throughout also embody the beauty of the Marigny and Bywater.

The St. Aug Marching 100 were also prominently featured, which is where Batiste went to school.

Batiste's music company tweeted the link to the music video Friday, calling it a "tribute to New Orleans."

The song's lyrics lend itself to be a happy anthem calling for acceptance in all forms.

According to Apple Music, Batiste described the song "Freedom" as "like an old movie," comparing the likeness of the video's movements to James Brown and Elvis.

If you think about movies back in the day, you wouldnt show a Black man with a white woman, or you wouldn't show a Black relationship, or you wouldn't show a woman in a certain role. That is our sexuality and how people are represented. That's what people like James Brown, or when we saw Elvis with the twist in the hips, did. They were unlocking something in people that they were trying to hold in. These people became beacons of freedom, and you look at the way they move and the way that they express who they are onstage. That becomes the way that you want to be in life," Batiste said.

'Freedom' is one of the songs on Batiste new album "We Are."

This content is imported from Twitter.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Watch the video here.

This content is imported from YouTube.You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Read more here:

New Orleans' Jon Batiste new song 'Freedom' an ode to everything New Orleans - WDSU New Orleans

Stroll into any fly shop in Eastern Oregon and chances are the person that walks in behind you has never fly-fished before. Theyre looking to get into the sport and dont know how to start.

Heres what happens. Somebody has invited them on a trip. Perhaps its a bucket list thing they need to check it off as something theyve done. Maybe they just moved here from California and have always wanted to fly-fish. Maybe they saw a movie with the young Brad Pitt casting a fly on a rollicking cutthroat stream.

For whatever reason, they are here and ready to fly-fish. Theyre a bit scared, afraid what other people might think when they see them hang a fly in a tree.

Heres the thing. We all start at zero, ground level. No one is born knowing how to tie a knot or execute a roll cast or dead-drift a dry. We have to learn it. Sometimes at an early age. Sometimes later. Fly-fishermen, despite our self-righteous tendencies, are welcoming. We like to see people learn to cast, select a fly and take it to water.

Yet the first-timers fear, it lingers.

Picture the president of a successful company. He does everything well, he is admired, successful and now he wants to fly-fish. He knows he has no skills, he knows he has to start at ground level and work his way into a sport in which he is a latecomer. Some people never get past this point. It is time to face the fear, pick up a rod and learn a new way of life. Thats what it is.

Lets say you are fishing next week. This might be the first time, it might be the first time in a long time. If you want to hide the fact you are a rank amateur, here is how to get ready for the first trip.

Take a casting lesson

Youre going to have to admit to someone that you dont know how to cast. Go into a fly shop. Schedule a lesson. Learn the simple pick-up and lay-down, the basic overhead and the roll cast. It can all be taught and absorbed in an hour.

Learn a knot

Go online and learn to tie the improved clinch knot. Thats the only one you really need to know right now. Later on you will want to learn the blood knot and the surgeons knot, but that can wait.

Get a fly rod

Dont borrow someone elses gear. Get your own. It doesnt have to cost a lot of money. There are combo outfits on the shelves at sporting goods stores. Put it together, watch some YouTube videos and practice simple casts in the backyard.

Hang out in a fly shop

Wander around, buy a fly box and a few trout flies, look at the recommendations of where to fish that are usually posted on the wall. Listen to other anglers. You need to pick up a few buzz words to know what theyre talking about. Lines, line weights, rod actions, leaders, tippets, wet flies, dry flies, nymphs. There is a lot to learn, but it is easy to pick up.

Read a comic book

This is important. Curtis Creek Manifesto was written in a style that appeals to the 11-year-old in all of us. Pick it up and read it cover to cover. Other options: The Secrets of St. Anthonys Creek by Michael Rahtz or Get Started Fly-fishing by Craig Schuhmann. All are available from Frank Amato Publications and can be found in any fly shop. Either book will help to lay a foundation for a fly-fishing future.

Buy a funny hat

Stick a fly in it. Stick another fly in it. You need a hat anyway, to shade the eyes while you watch for fish. If you have flies in your hat it implies you have fished before and rejected those patterns for something better.

Get a fishing license

And not just a day license. Dont wait for Free Fishing Weekend. Get a license for the whole year. Youre either a fisherman or youre not.

Last summer my youngest daughter bought her fishing license and we packed the canoe in the back of the Ford. At the lake, I made her leave her spinning rod in the truck.

Its time to continue your fly-fishing education, I said.

She frowned when I handed her a 3-weight fly rod. But she remembered what she knew about fly-fishing and caught and released nine trout.

You have a fly rod of your own, I reminded her as we put the boat back on the truck.

Yes, I should use it more.

Thats what I was thinking.

Gary Lewis is the author of Bob Nosler Born Ballistic, Fishing Central Oregon and other titles. To contact Gary, visit http://www.garylewisoutdoors.com.

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On the trail: Seven steps to fly-fishing freedom - East Oregonian

Prepare for a disappointment. No prime minister who is committed to an irreversible departure from lockdown and who has told world leaders that the same mistakes must not be repeated can now end it on 21 June. A delay is certain, given the dramatically worrying figures released by Public Health England on Friday about the growth and deadliness of the Delta coronavirus variant, first identified in India.

Hopes that large gatherings such as weddings might be given the go-ahead if everyone attending is tested, even while the rule of six, mask wearing, working from home and social distancing rules remain, are looking wobbly. The US Food and Drug Administrations scathing criticism on Thursday about the effectiveness of Innovas lateral flow tests, widely used in Britain by NHS Test and Trace in a 3bn contract as part of Operation Moonshot, has forced a review that may lead to their suspension. Spending billions on a testing process only supported by scant and partial data was a risk too far.

As the EUs vaccination and testing programmes rapidly catch us up, the bloc is less exposed to the deadly Delta variant because the EU never risked the same volume of incoming travellers from India in April. (We were overly anxious about a potential post-Brexit trade deal.) And suddenly the UKs pandemic management is exposed as more erratic and the performance overall more ordinary.

Why, it will increasingly be asked, is there an ideological resistance to a Covid pass? Had there been one in use now or at least one planned the almost 30 million adults who have been fully vaccinated could have spearheaded a return to normality and so permitted the transitional risks on the way to a full relaxation to be much better handled.

The Delta variant is now the driver of the pandemic nine out of 10 new Covid-19 cases are Delta, reports Public Health England. It is 64% more transmissible than even the Alpha variant, first identified in Kent, which so worried us earlier in the pandemic. Yes, those who are fully vaccinated are better protected but not completely. Twelve who have died from Delta were fully vaccinated.

In any case, only 54% of the adult population is fully vaccinated. Not even the World Health Organization can indicate what proportion of a population needs to be fully vaccinated to stem the spread of Covid-19, but it is certainly above 70% and may be above 80%.

Given the extraordinary transmission rate of the Delta variant, it would surely be prudent to get the proportion as close as possible to 80% by immunising another 15 million people.

Hence the imperative of delaying the ending of lockdown by at least four weeks to give the remaining 12 million people who have had their first jab their second, a feasible inoculation rate of about 3 million people a week, while giving some millions more, mainly the under-40s, their first jab that offers some protection. Then, and only then, can a further easing of lockdown rules be safely considered.

With the economy recovering, if more slowly than other industrialised countries, the economic costs compared with the risks of deaths and hospital admissions are trivial. The case for a four-week delay is open and shut.

It is all about the management of risk, as the Tony Blair Institute for Global Changes recent Less Risk, More Freedom paper argued, also proposing that the government should bring forward a Covid pass. Even when we hit, say, an 80% full-vaccination threshold, Covid will still be in circulation and the risk of catching Covid and suffering long-term consequences will remain very real, even if the risk of dying for the fully vaccinated will be tiny compared with now.

Here, the gulf between the political classs opposition to the idea of a pass and the view of the public is yawning and exposes the acute dysfunctionality of our democracy and the quality of its decision-making. It has become literally a matter of life or death.

The libertarian wing of the Tory party portrays a Covid pass as a menace to civil liberties, a forerunner of Big Brother surveillance that should be resisted to the last. The Labour party, meanwhile, climbing on what it imagines is the union jack bandwagon, proclaims the idea to be not very British and promoting vaccine apartheid. Both stances are wildly divorced from everyday experience.

What are you and I supposed to do in everyday life going to a pub, a concert, a sporting event, catching a train, shopping? At the moment, I know the rules, accept they work and can expect others to follow them and know that I am expected to follow them too. The risks are being collectively, socially managed. But when lockdown is over and the virus is still circulating,even though 70% to 80% of us may be fully vaccinated, I no longer have that assurance. The man without a mask coughing on the train or restaurant table next to me? Even if I am fully vaccinated, I run a risk and for many people that will be a risk too far. Recovery will be inhibited, not advanced.

Which is why the EU is introducing its digital Covid certificates for all its citizens from 1 July, leaving Britain behind. When the Office for National Statistics reports that 95% of us would accept vaccination if offered a number that is surely higher now given the evidence of vaccine effectiveness the threat of vaccine apartheid is wildly overstated.

It has not stopped Wembley, quite rightly, requiring everyone at Sundays England-Croatia game to provide evidence that they are either vaccinated or have tested negative. These checks should be improved and made universal.

Of course, the now 3% or 4% who dont want vaccinations on principle should be respected, but that cannot veto the freedoms of all, including the freedom to travel. This is not Big Brother or unBritish: it is the social management of risk for all our betterment a cardinal Labour principle.

Lets delay the end of lockdown for at least a month. Lets vaccinate at least another 12 million people before we do. And lets introduce a Covid passport.

Will Hutton is an Observer columnist

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Its too soon to end lockdown. But give us the best route to early freedom Covid passports - The Guardian