This was originally posted on my other, education focused, blog. Since I decided to revive this blog focusing on politics and activism, I moved it over here also. There are a few others that I have written since the 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump, which I will also post on this blog to assist anyone interested in them.

Please consider the following your public service announcement if you have never read my blog or met me! Though I am primarily an optimist, because of my years of experience in politics, especially since so much corporate money has been allowed to buy our elections, I am, sadly, somewhat jaded now. I'm also *that lady,* you know, the one who will get in people's faces, mostly figuratively, and will say what no one else dares to say and tells it like it is.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka "Obamacare" absolutely needs fixing, but we also must examine why health insurers and pharmaceutical companies are allowed to continue gouging people without any oversight by our elected officials as part of the review of possible fixes. That said, this is not an article about the ACA or American HealthCare Act (AHCA), please keep that in mind.

No offense to the Democratic leadership, but I have to say the following:

The truth is that Democrats, whether in office or just involved with committees like the DNC, did not lead the fight to save the additional 24 Million people who would have lost health insurance coverage under the Republicans' American HealthCare Act (AHCA) aka "Trumpcare" by keeping their Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka "Obamacare." Many of the Democratic politicians, and the DNC - a few exceptions i.e. Senators Sanders (not a Dem!), Warren, Representatives Schiff, Swalwell, Lieu and a few others, quite honestly had been dragging their feet on everything since the astonishing defeat of Clinton by Trump. What was mostly happening right after the defeat of Hillary was a continuation of the finger-pointing and divisiveness among Democratic (and Dem leaning) voters instead of trying to figure out what really happened. 

While many voters were fighting and snarling, others got to work. The day after Hillary's defeat the real groundswell of activism that has now taken the nation by storm began. On November 9, 2016 the first event page was created for a march on Washington scheduled for the day after Donald Trump's inauguration. By the next morning, November 10th, over 10,000 people had already signed on to take part in the event which coalesced into a nationwide, then worldwide, movement known as the Women's March on Washington. 

The Women's March was amazing to take part in here in Boston, and from all accounts, everywhere it took place - not just in America, but across the world in what was the largest global protest in history. Additionally, all of the marches were peaceful and there were no arrests. 


The Women's March was phenomenal and allowed everyone with concerns and issues regarding Trump to have a voice and stand together all at once. It should be noted that it was not a Democratic movement - people from every political group took part together peacefully. Amazing political pundits across the nation, Dem politicians suddenly found their voices and quickly jumped onto the bandwagon once they realized how much energy there was behind the movement. That latter point is what has led us to my rant here today.

Since politics is one of my interests, and has been since I was young, I was watching very closely from the first day to see how long it would take for the Democratic party elite, politicians, groups and the usual suspects to jump in and attempt to take the lead in this amazing movement. It didn't take long, especially once celebrities started signing up to speak and perform. 

I want to give major kudos to organizers, especially those in D.C., who were able to retain most of the control at the march and afterward.

From the Women's March through to the present, it has been amazing to watch the amount of civic engagement which has sprung up with and without any planning. From Trump's first week in office, especially starting with the first travel ban, we have seen that the American people are fired up and ready to fight for our beliefs and country, within a moments notice. 

Part of the reason for the energy is, in my opinion, only partially due to Trump's agenda and the horrible things we all learned about him throughout the campaign. It has actually been building for years; Trump was just the final catalyst. 

We the people have been held hostage for years, by the partisan nature of both parties. We have watched as time and time again, those we elect get to the office they are elected to, at local and federal levels, and seem to forget whom they work for, who put them there, and who they will answer to for their choices. And we the people end up screwed in one form or another, all while we watch the same politicians head back to their offices despite their broken promises. 

Don't get me wrong, unlike the man currently inhabiting the White House, we the people also need to admit that our own complacency, lack of interest in anything beyond our small bubble, and yes, laziness, factored into our country's descent to where we are now. We the people failed to bother to learn about the complexities of the laws and regulations, policies and decisions, being made in our name. By doing so we the people allowed our politicians to do what they wanted regardless of the final impact on our neighbors, ourselves and the country. And we the people ourselves seemed to have forgotten that those in public office, whether locally or nationally, really serve at the pleasure of... the people, inclusive of the President.  

We the people are not customers or clients of this country or politicians; you do not get to decide what we want without our input; and you do not get to ignore our demands. We the people are the employers, and this is a wake-up call for all of you in political office: you all serve at the pleasure of us, the people of America - and yes, that includes Donald Trump.

As evidenced by recent actions across the nation, we the people have remembered the above and everything is changing. The Republicans pulling Trumpcare on Friday before it could go to a floor vote in the House is the latest win for the resistance. Contrary to the messaging I am hearing from the majority of the media and politicians, the resistance's Trumpcare win was not our first win. It was the first legislative win, yes, but it was only the latest win with regard to Trump and GOP agendas. Casually dismissing the earlier wins and ongoing battle are condescending and dangerous for those who continue to do so. 

Most of the winning, along with the continuing battles and those to come, are happening due to the intense activism of the "regular" people. People from every race, culture, background and level, who have dropped everything to rush to airports to protest illegal immigration bans, come together to fight for the protection of every person, whether you are a refugee, immigrant, LGBTQIA, child, adult, senior or however you self identify. We are even fighting over the right for Transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify as, for fucks sake - something which was settled until Trump ordered the withdrawal of the previous guidance on same.  


This activism by the resistance has kicked our politicians into gear, the GOP quite reluctantly. Though when the time came with Trumpcare, the Democrats and some Republicans finally seemed to get it that we the people are serious and would support actions opposing it - just as we will with regard to the SCOTUS issue. So it would be nice if all of our politicians would be honest in giving credit where credit is due and not tout the win as a Democratic party win. 


Taking backhanded credit for it, attempting to raise funds for your personal campaigns, gloating about the "Democratic" win, are not acceptable. We the people had to push all of our politicians to either stand with us and do what we the people want done, or realize that we are not going away and will remember your decisions at the next election. 

And to the Republicans who control the House and Senate, let's be clear: your continued obstruction of an independent investigation into Russia's attack on our democracy and possible Trump team collaboration, and your insistence on jamming through all of the GOP agenda items and Trump's nominees will be the "death spiral" of your career as politicians. Accessories after the fact may be only the beginning of the charges once we the people have our voices fully heard.   

There are many battles still ahead of us in this war to save the American democracy. I urge everyone to continue to resist, stand up and fight back, especially those in Republican states. I honestly don't care what your political affiliation is, if you really love America, then it is time to stand together for the fundamental values, beliefs and rights that have made USA the world leader when it comes to democracy.

Have questions or just want to see what I am working on? Feel free to email me or follow me via Twitter: @BPSNightmare. 

This was originally posted on my other, education focused, blog. Since I decided to revive this blog focusing on politics and activism, I moved it over here also. There are a few others that I have written since the 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump, which I will also post on this blog to assist anyone interested in them.


It's not about bathrooms for Transgender people. It's not about the likelihood (or lack thereof) that people from certain nations may be terrorists. Also, it's not about how many "bad dudes" may be in our country from Mexico or other countries. (I would argue that the baddest dudes I've seen recently are actually from the USA.)

All of the above, every last one of them, are important in and of themselves and we should not ignore addressing these issues by pushing back on Trump's decisions. However, what all of these issues have in common is that they play to fear, ignorance and prejudice and for Donald Trump, that is his base. They also lead to most decent people doing all they can to protect those being discriminated against which keeps us busy - and distracted.

These are purposely set fires meant to inflame the "opposition," aka residents who did not vote for Trump. This concerted effort by the administration of our country has several goals. A few of those goals are:

• To fulfill Trump's promises made on the campaign trail;
• To help Republicans to achieve things they have tried to do for years with no success;
• To push the white nationalist agenda while enriching corporations/wealthy over middle-class and low-income people.

However, the most important goal that all of these actions have is to distract us from the fact that our elections were tampered with by a foreign government, Russia. 

• supported Trump - and will hold to that forever (or until Trump does something that impacts them which they cannot deny);
• believe it will not impact them; 
• believe misinformation or lies previously relayed to them through whatever source;
• like some of Trump's ideas;
• are against a group(s) because of their own biases, beliefs or misinformation relayed to them; 
• think the marches were stupid; or, 
• quite frankly, they really don't care about helping others. 

The last one may sound harsh, but some people only care about themselves. It takes all kinds to fill this world, right? Live and let live but move on from them!

Originally published on Boston.com:
Parent activist from Roslindale pushes for change in Boston schools

I stood and looked at your grave today
Remembering the love you gave me
The morals you taught,
and the love for a country so strong

Once upon a time you stood for this country
Through two wars and countless conflicts
And left a family who loved and missed you
To do the honorable and right thing

You weren’t drafted
No one forced you
You volunteered
For all the hardship and lousy pay

And you did all of it with pride
Honoring your country
The flag and those gone before
Meant the world to you

Once you returned you made sure
To teach us all the same beliefs and values
No matter who is in charge, this country is ours
It will be what we make it, but you have to be active in the building

Some of us followed your path
Joined and served – voluntarily
With pride, honor and strong beliefs
And the best part was you were proud of us for it

I fly the flag every day Daddy
As you taught me to do
And I will always think of you when it waves
And salute it with pride and love

Now I am the one left behind, by you
And the man I married
Who is so much like you it amazes me
But I know you would approve

Many friends of mine who you knew
Are in other countries fighting battles not their own
And doing it with the same pride and love for country
We all got to learn a little of from you

I miss all of you
My heart aches, the tears flow when I hear certain songs
But I also swell with pride
for none chose an easy path

Many attack or protest their existence
Our flag, our country, our policies
Not foreign governments but our own people
Yet those special few stand with pride and smile anyway

They know, as did you
That without them there would not be all the liberties
So many take for granted
Without a thought for what all of our men and women give up

A father misses his child’s birth
A mother cries while clutching the blanket of her baby left behind
A son is unable to go to a funereal he should attend
A sister misses a wedding she should be in

And though they are sad,
They would do it again
Because these men and women are unlike others
And have in their hearts a higher purpose

They are the red, white and blue
Their hearts will always swell as the flag is raised
Their bodies will stand strong no matter how tired
Their mind is always on the next mission

I thank them today and everyday
For my life would not be what it is without them
And I think of you, gone now, but not completely
And the ones I love, so far away but always in my thoughts

-Copyright May 30, 2005 Rebel in Boston

Voting is a right that every citizen of the U.S. acquires at the age of 18. Immigrants who become citizens can vote also - and should! So why isn't everyone who CAN vote out there voting?

To someone like myself, who has voted in every election since I turned 18, I don't understand the apathy of the people who do not vote. Some may argue that the lack of education is one reason for this. And though I agree that it may be the case to some extent, I honestly believe a lot more of it has to do with just plain laziness! How sad for our country, the memories of our forefathers and those men and women who died defending our beliefs, values and the Constitution of the United States of America!

This country was divided several times over the right to make our own laws, by and for the people, and with that the right of every single citizen to vote, from the date of our revolution, through the suffrage movement which became our 19th Amendment to the Constitution (ratified on August 26, 1920) to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which strengthened the provisions of our 15th Amendment that held that

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

So why when our latest battle on this issue was only strengthened by our government 40 years ago, think about that!, are so few of our population voting? A hundred years ago, I, as a woman, would not have been able to go and do what I did this morning - VOTE for my choices for government representation!

So close to the death of an amazing woman, Rosa Parks, who stood up for people of her race, how can it be that the projected amount of voters who will actually get off their asses and go vote is only 20-30% in such a huge political city as Boston? Yes, 20-30% voter turnout is the projection for today! Its not raining, snowing, there is no reason that should keep all of us from getting out and doing our civic duty, so what's the deal?

So many people bitch and moan about how they hate the politicians, the laws, the regulations, the taxes, but how many get off their asses and do anything about it? And it goes back to my piece on activism. Not everyone can be or should be an activist, but voting, once a year? What does that take time-wise? I walked to the school where I vote, 1/2 mile away and back in less than 1/2 an hour! How hard would it be to stop on your way to or from work/school/errands or to get up off your butt and go out to your voting venue and fill in some circles on a piece of paper?

Okay - you should know who and what you are voting for, what does one politician have over another that will make you vote for them? So yes, a little more time is involved - you should at least summarily review the campaign rhetoric of each candidate. If they have held public office then you can also find out what their voting records are on any given issue. Yup, takes a little time, but if you keep up with it, say weekly, what do you lose? Nothing, and potentially you gain insight, education into the way this city and country are truely run AND the true right to say 'I voted and I CAN bitch if I want to!' LOL!

So, if you haven't already and are reading this - get out there and vote please!

The definition of Activism is 'the use of direct, often confrontational action, such as a demonstration or strike, in opposition to or support of a cause'.

When you think about it this country was founded by activists who would no longer allow King George III to dictate how they would live. The final affront to the colonies, and that which brought so many over to the side of the revolutionaries, was 'taxation without representation' (think Boston Tea Party). There was a lot more to it then that, but you get the idea I am sure. Maybe because I live in the heart of Boston and drive down by the historic area where the tea was dumped, maybe because I often drive by Lexington and Minute Man National Historical State Park on my way to Hanscom to get our shopping done, but whatever the reason, I often think about how this country came to be what it is today.

And what we are, the rights we have, the freedom we enjoy and the myriad of laws we have, all of them came about, in one form or another, through activism. It took activism in the 1700s to break ourselves free from British rule, in the 1860s this country was divided and the Civil War raged because of the disagreement over the right to own slaves, it took most of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s and many women suffering to ensure women the right to vote, and throughout the 1900s we have fought a constant battle to ensure that all people in this country are truely free and share the same rights no matter race, religion, ability level or wealth. This is a battle we as a nation are still fighting.

One voice raised for a cause can start a large movement at any given moment. There are countless reasons that people start fighting to make something better whether it is for all the people or a select group of people only. Either way, it eventually takes many people working together to force something to happen that should be common sense in most cases.

But activism is a harsh master, you can become obsessed by it and obliterate the rest of your self and your life to it. There are also detrimental affects and plenty of criticism and prices to pay for being an activist, not all of them, in the long run, worth the cost that the movement would ask of you. And not all are cut out for it or have the ability to be part of a movement. It takes a true yearning, strong will and sense of self to sustain the level of intensity and energy that must be present to make the changes that others may oppose. But it can be very rewarding too. The trick is learning to balance the needs of the movement towards the change you want to make happen with your own needs and those of family.

Luckily, this country is full of activists and in the future I hope we will see many more positive changes in this land I love.

Is it perfect yet? No, and in the world of mere mortals I doubt it ever will be. But the origins of this country, in my opinion, are founded on activism and as such we will always be a nation of activists.

A quote I like that gets to the heart of this, for me, is a comment Albert Einstein made:

"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing."

More on this later..........

Rebel in Boston