Allison Byers’ Post

Ah, the #government's finest trick: making grand promises, then conveniently forgetting they ever existed. It’s like a magician who shows you a dove, but when you look again, it’s just a pigeon with a note saying, “Better luck next time.” Let’s dissect this masterclass in #political sleight of hand. Key Issues: Dissecting the Rhetoric & Reality 1. Minimal Adoption of Recommendations: - 13 out of 222 recommendations? That’s like passing one out of a hundred questions on a test and calling it a win. Why bother with the other 209? Clearly, they were just “suggestions.” - 9-month wait: Is this a #strategic move to outlast our outrage or just plain incompetence? Either way, it stinks of disdain. 2. Insufficient #Financial Commitment: - Approving $369 million after a $600 million review is like buying a Ferrari, spending all your money on a car review, and then settling for a skateboard because you ran out of cash. Priorities, anyone? 3. Lack of Participant Involvement: - Consultation with participants? Maybe they meant #consulting their inner circles over a nice dinner. Real consultation involves actual listening, not just ticking boxes. 4. Human #Rights & Legal Protection: - Enshrining rights into the **Constitution** isn't just about protection; it’s about permanence. When will the government realize that temporary measures for permanent issues just don’t cut it? Broader Implications: The Domino Effect of Disdain 1. Erosion of Trust: - Trust isn’t given freely; it’s earned. Or in this case, lost spectacularly. The government’s actions scream, “We care, but not really.” 2. Human Rights Concerns: - Minimal adoption of recommendations sends a clear message: “Human rights are optional.” How reassuring. 3. Financial Mismanagement: - Spending more on reviews than on actual change is a bureaucratic comedy gold. Financial mismanagement, or strategic neglect? You decide. The government might ignore one voice, but can they ignore a chorus? Time to turn up the volume. Constitutional Reform: It’s about time. Let’s ensure these rights are untouchable, unlike the fleeting promises of politicians. Shine a light on these issues. Public shame can be a powerful motivator. Let’s make it clear that we see through the charades. Accountability shouldn’t be optional. Regular, transparent reports will keep the heat on. The current state of affairs is a tragic comedy of errors. It’s time to stop playing nice & start demanding what’s right. With a blend of advocacy, legal action, constitutional reform, public campaigns, and relentless monitoring, we can shift from being passive recipients of broken promises to active agents of change. The call for constitutional #enshrinement of rights isn’t just a plea; it’s a demand for justice, permanence, & respect. So, let’s kick up a storm & remind the government that we’re watching, & we won’t be fooled by their magic tricks anymore. Marie J. Graham Taylor Mark Sweeney Mark Toomey

Once upon a time, in the bustling town of Political Paradigm, a character by the name of Tim Walz, decked in rhetorical armor and wielding the mighty sword of rebuke, shouted a battle cry into the winds of legislative chaos, Mind your own damn business! Ah, the scene was reminiscent of a toddler's sandbox where one entitled child felt exposed by the nanny’s probing eyes. The exuberant release of Mom said we can't play trucks here!” was an effort to ward off disciplinary measures and, with it, the villainous scrutiny of the opposition. One needs to wonder if this outburst was Tim’s version of the playground you can't make me!” directed at the Democrats’ increasingly didactic dollar. Ah, the tragedy of a democracy where free speech includes the occasional primal shriek from the proverbial sandbox! **Key takeaways from the sandbox:** - Politics, much like children, can be petulant. - Leadership should ideally be seen, heard, but less often whining. - The irony of demanding privacy under the glaring spotlight of public office. Digging a bit deeper into the sand, there's something more contemplative to ponder. Imagine the garden path of public service, littered with noble pebbles of aspirations: Does such retort foster unity or accentuate divides? Is it a call to independence or an abrupt reminder of the complexities that bureaucratic nannying introduces? As the sun dims on the horizon of today's drama, casting long shadows across our reflections, a simplistic view might interpret Tim's outburst as a soul-stirring anthem to freedom. Still, does it nurture growth in the enchanted forest or fester discord among its dwellers? Prediction: much like an agrarian field after a tempest, expect spurts of verdant growth and patches laid bare by the storm. Tim's, shall we say, evocative verbiage, could well be remembered in times to come—a spear thrown into the Gordian knot of public opinion. What remains, then, is this—how many more will trade genuine voices for clamorous echoes of public grandstanding? For sure, the tale of Tim Walz will stand as a stark reminder that sometimes, seasoned officials hide in the hinterlands of rhetoric when substantive dialogue could build bridges where rifts lay. Tomorrow, let the sanctuary of thoughtful conversation be the guiding light in the tempestuous storm of political divergence. #PoliticalParadigm #DemocraticDiscord #TimWalz #RhetoricRumble #ThoughtfulConversation https://lnkd.in/emdgfXDV

Early praise from Kirkus Reviews for Ira Chaleff's new book, To Stop a Tyrant: “Chaleff, the chair-emeritus of the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation, offers a call for political activism in the face of rising authoritarianism. "In these pages, the author asserts that leaders, including would-be autocrats, are powerless without followers. In his examination of the relationship between the leaders and the led, he describes five categories of the latter: the general populace, activists, bureaucrats, influential elites, and, finally, confidants—the leader’s true inner circle. He also describes the steps of an autocratic leader’s ascendancy, from “striving for office” to “abusing power,” “consolidating power,” and “tyrannical rule,” noting that the window for interrupting this progression remains open right up until the moment a “prototyrant” takes the step of consolidating power and eliminating challenges to his rule. He analyzes the ways that ordinary citizens can make a difference in this crucial interval, from following a diverse range of news sources to taking effective action via the legal system and the vote. Chaleff writes with tremendous gusto and a sense of optimism. He skillfully arranges the levels of political involvement like layers of an onion, which will doubtless feel empowering to readers on the outer layers, who feel frustrated and helpless to even comprehend more powerful political forces. His call for activism, for instance, is inspiring: “While the populace goes about its business of daily living,” he writes, “the activist makes political change their business.” The timing of his book may strike many readers as apt in a divisive election season in which fears of authoritarianism are front and center, although Chaleff pointedly notes that he intends his book to be used “not in tomorrow’s election, but in any age.” One hopes that it’s not too late when the author urges readers to “act while the window is open, and the fresh breezes of political freedom still find their way into the halls of government.” "A passionate work about taking action to stop would-be dictators” See more early reviews and a special pre-order gift available at https://lnkd.in/e5Ef_X_d 

David French: At the end of the debate, Vance's whole facade came off https://lnkd.in/g_j9frwU David French and the panel discuss JD Vance's performance at the debate and why French says in picking Vance over Mike Pence, Trump traded decency for a simulation of decency. https://lnkd.in/ggZFu_kf JD Vance’s performance in this week’s vice presidential debate was real slick. A radical devotee of the MAGA cause, branded as “weird” by his critics and unpopular in polls, the Republican VP nominee used the debate to debut Vance 2.0. Or is it Vance 3.0 now? Maybe 4.0? This version of Vance resurrected former President George W. Bush’s brand of compassionate conservatism. Voters heard nothing of his previous claims regarding childless cat ladies, immigrants eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, or how “Universities Are the Enemy.” No, the man who made millions as a corporate lawyer and ruthless venture capitalist used the debate to reinvent himself as a dedicated servant of the downtrodden and dispossessed. He flipped the playbook on the Harris-Walz campaign and at every turn tried to address the concerns of America’s middle class. With a straight face, he even managed to seem like he takes climate change seriously. Vance’s debate performance was an elaborate ruse, whether he was talking about himself or his running mate. As the Wall Street Journal noted, “JD Vance’s Version of Trump Is Better Than the Real Thing.” Let the voter beware. https://lnkd.in/gvM3PkxU

Post-Election Reflections This is a significant day for the United States. We’re waking up to a new reality and processing a lot of change. Our team at Strategic Health Law just met and went through an exercise of listing things that we cannot change and then identifying things that are within our control to do. Here are some of my reflections coming out of that exercise, as a health care lawyer and leader of a small firm: 1.      This is a large and philosophically diverse society. The United States is not the same as other western democracies, and it probably never will be. As Americans we all need to be able to live and work with people who think very differently from us. 2.      Although many people are hurting financially and concerned about the economy, when I look at the big picture, our country’s economy is the envy of the world. Economically, the United States has no peer. There is so much opportunity here. As an entrepreneur, I have benefitted from the unique dynamism of the U.S. economy. 3.      The health care sector will continue to grow and change no matter who controls the White House. Health care companies will continue to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances. 4.      One thing within my span of control is to continue to support our team so that we can provide excellent legal counsel and services to clients. That will be true in every political climate. We will be here when you need us. 

I'm honored to receive this early praise from Kirkus Reviews for my new book, To Stop a Tyrant: “Chaleff, the chair-emeritus of the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation, offers a call for political activism in the face of rising authoritarianism. "In these pages, the author asserts that leaders, including would-be autocrats, are powerless without followers. In his examination of the relationship between the leaders and the led, he describes five categories of the latter: the general populace, activists, bureaucrats, influential elites, and, finally, confidants—the leader’s true inner circle. He also describes the steps of an autocratic leader’s ascendancy, from “striving for office” to “abusing power,” “consolidating power,” and “tyrannical rule,” noting that the window for interrupting this progression remains open right up until the moment a “prototyrant” takes the step of consolidating power and eliminating challenges to his rule. He analyzes the ways that ordinary citizens can make a difference in this crucial interval, from following a diverse range of news sources to taking effective action via the legal system and the vote. Chaleff writes with tremendous gusto and a sense of optimism. He skillfully arranges the levels of political involvement like layers of an onion, which will doubtless feel empowering to readers on the outer layers, who feel frustrated and helpless to even comprehend more powerful political forces. His call for activism, for instance, is inspiring: “While the populace goes about its business of daily living,” he writes, “the activist makes political change their business.” The timing of his book may strike many readers as apt in a divisive election season in which fears of authoritarianism are front and center, although Chaleff pointedly notes that he intends his book to be used “not in tomorrow’s election, but in any age.” One hopes that it’s not too late when the author urges readers to “act while the window is open, and the fresh breezes of political freedom still find their way into the halls of government.” "A passionate work about taking action to stop would-be dictators” See more early reviews and a special pre-order gift available at https://lnkd.in/eTzs_hkE 

I was interviewed by the New York Times for an article on President Biden and why I believe he needs to step aside. As an executive, board member, and founder of a woman-owned small business, it is beyond any logical thinking why there was not more thoughtful succession planning. If the USA was a publicly traded company, the Board of Directors would be requiring the CEO to “retire”. A plan should have been in place on day one! The debate put president Biden’s cognitive and physical decline front and center of this election. It was sad and uncomfortable to watch. It also distracted from Trumps lies and radical agenda. President Biden’s follow up interview on ABC did not help him recover or miraculously convince us he was fit to serve for four more years. When asked about the rewatching the debate to evaluate his performance (and after a long pause), he said he could not remember rewatching it. His decline is blaring and defiance infuriating. Unfortunately, many of us have experienced an aging parent’s decline and defiance. We also know how difficult it is to get them to acknowledge the things we notice - forgetfulness, repeating, confused looks. But that does not mean we would not take their car keys away if we thought they should not be driving. Nor would we wait until they drove on the wrong side of the road or caused a horrific accident. Of course not! But, if nothing changes, Trump will take our country in the wrong direction. While, I have urgently tried contacting our democratic leaders to voice concerns, not one is publicly acknowledged these realities (or my email). Why are our leaders so unwilling to speak up and represent the views of the people they serve? Yes, it will take courage for Biden to bow out but we also know there is a small window of opportunity to course correct and save this election. It’s time for him to step aside and sunset his legacy. Democracy, women’s rights, global relationships and 2 Supreme Court seats are at stake! We need new a candidate to reenergize the ticket and take the reins of leadership for the next term and beyond. We deserve better options not more excuses. Thank you to Katie Glueck and Maya King for co-writing this important article and providing me and others with the opportunity to voice our concerns. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/etGxf85J

My two pennies worth. The recent election has brought unprecedented change to the political landscape of America: for the first time in history, a convicted felon has been elected President of the United States. For many Americans, this is a moment of deep disillusionment. The ideals of integrity, responsibility, and character once seemed integral to the highest office in the land, but this election feels like a rupture, a signal that these values have been cast aside. The notion of a felon becoming president raises a series of troubling questions. How did we arrive at a place where someone with a criminal record, once deemed unfit to vote in some states, now holds the keys to the Oval Office? What does it say about our society, our political system, and the state of our democracy? Supporters argue that people deserve second chances and that this individual has paid their debt to society. But opponents are rightfully shaken by the message this presidency sends. It suggests that power and public influence now overshadow accountability and ethics. The presidency is meant to be a model of leadership for the world, embodying the nation’s highest values. When a convicted felon occupies this role, it feels like those values have been eroded, replaced by cynicism and polarization. The psychological impact on the country is also significant. Young people, who look to their leaders as role models, may feel a dangerous sense of disillusionment. Older generations, who lived through eras where character was paramount, may feel betrayed by a country that seems unrecognizable. This presidency challenges the very core of American ideals, shaking our collective faith in what our democracy stands for. Ultimately, this is more than a political choice—it is a profound moment of reckoning. In electing a convicted felon to the highest office, America may find itself struggling to hold onto its identity as a beacon of justice and integrity. The weight of this choice is felt not just within our borders but around the world, and it’s hard not to wonder what legacy this era will leave for the generations to come.