Education, Democratic, and the Covid-19

I do not have time and would just like to take quick notes and I can elaberate it later.

As I mentioned in many of my previous post, the education is very important for democracy and the Covid-19 demonstrates how our education systems have faired us.

Personally, I have stated many times that a very important thing in education is to suspend the democratic system. If we can't teach our citizen how to suspend the democratic system, many thing we have build on will colaps.

In the case of COVID-19, the issue of govering power of elected officer are clashed with the individulism a lot.

As demonstrated by the Mainland China, many of us in the demoncratic system may begin to doubt the value of the demoncratic system when it failed to protect its citizen as China did. Fortunately, there are success stories in the democratic systems: The Taiwan, the New Zealand.

However, the goal of this article is not about who did well and who did not. But is to focused on the resolving of the issue of the governing power and the individulism.

Democratic systems need be supported by few pillors to principle. For one, the idea of governing by the people. For two, the freedom of will of the individual. There are few others that are important to the success of a democratic system.

For the first principle above, the governing by the people, it usually take the form of people electing officers and the officers inherited the power from the people and execute the power in terms of the people and for the people. Usually, every elected officer are bound by certain laws that provide guide lines on what is or is not under the officer's execute power. However, in a practical sense, it is hard for these laws to specify every applicable cases. The gray areas, therefore, exist. However, as is the basic practice of democratic systems, the legislature are giving the power to establish laws while the elect officers are to follow the laws. Many elected officers were given emergency authorities to help resolve the slow response issues of democratic system. However, these emergency authorities are, as is implied, for emergencies only. Eventually, the power comes from the law established by the legislature body.

Based on the operational principle described in previous paragraph, the executive orders issued by elected officers should be temparary. To held those orders extensively, laws should be passed by legislature. Obvering the pratices during the COVID-19 period, many few elected officers relyed the executive orders to the legilature body. Many of the legilature body did not take these issues in their hands either. Without the endorsment of the legislature body, these executive orders are and should be temparary and be considered the will of the officer and not that of the people.

Proceeded with the second principle of individualism. Democratic systems allowed and protected individuals to free to express their opinions and free to gather and try to get their idea heard. However, all democratic systems also has the underline under-wrote that majority rule. These usually carried out in legilature bodies, where votes on laws are conducted. Even though laws are not to depress the the opinions of the individual, other behaviors are to be guided by the law.

In the case of COVID-19, elected officers should have seeking supports from legislature bodies to endowse his/her executive orders. The endowsment and the law would provide executive officers the power to enforce the law.

In a democratic system, even though the system is govern by individual citizen, which does not give each individual the right to do whatever they wanted. They were given the full rights to express their opinions but beyond that, individuals' behavior are governed by the group consenses.

The American Value demystified - a view from immigrants

When it comes to the immigrants, many 'Americans' may have the impression that people immigrated to the United States for the reason of the material life, which may not be totally wrong. However, that simple believe may have overlooked other attractions United States has.

In general, the Asian immigrants may have given Americans the impression that they are not fitting into the American culture very well and it may also seems that they are living in their own social circles. It may also give the impressions that they are distanced from the 'American values'.

From the surface, part of these is due to the language barriers. For many Asian immigrants, their native languages do not related to the Western Language families, and this not only presented the problems in the accent but also in the way phrases are constructed. A possible exception can be the Indian since some of them have read and wrote in English before they come to the United States.

One of the misimpression American may have about the Asian immigrants is the value of democracy, which, sometimes, may have mistaken with the patriotism. The 'American White' sometimes have the doubts about Asian immigrants patriotism, which, in my view, many times are close to the racism. As we all know there are as many 'White' immigrants in the United States too. But as far as I can tell, 'American White' have not raised the same questions about their patriotism or their Democracy believe. One of the manifest of this is the treatment of the Japanese during the World War II in the United States.

Personally, I have also encountered events while working in a whole white office here in the United States. I was assumed to not well acquainted with the 'Western' democracy and may not be patriot as should be. An event was held in the Office to go through the patriotism and the democracy. As an foreigner, of course, I do not recite the 'pledge' well.

I can't speak for other Asian immigrants. However, looking back at the event, many times, I said to myself, I don't know if they really know the Democracy or the Patriotism better than I do. My believe in Democracy stem from my reading of what happened in the Mainland China and my understanding of the Patriotism developed through the constant name calling in China/Taiwan's political environment.

Democracy is to know what can happen without Democracy while the Patriotism is not the recitation of the the 'pledge' but the believe of Democracy, which is bigger than the Patriotism.

With the 2020 United States' presidential election fraud, I have evident my believe one more time. Ms. Hima Kolanagireddy's testimony in the Michigan hearing resonant with me for a longest time. The love of the country has nothing to do with her race and has nothing to do with where she come from. But has everything to do with how she embraced the Democracy value of the United States. The patriotism is stem from the love of the Democracy value.

Today, the news on the EpochTimes.com, once again, confirmed my believe (My apology that link is in Chinese but you can copy and paste into Google translation if you like to read it yourself). Basically, a bunch of Asian/Chinese come out on the street to support Mr. Trump. The reason these Asian/ Chinese came out have nothing to do with their love for Mr. Trump, but because they love the Democracy and they see the fraud election could destroyed the Democracy they loved. Many of these men and women were not activists and, for many, this is the first time they speak out.

As I speak out many times, I am not a Trump supporter. But, on this one, I am totally with him. I hope once this is over, Mr. Trump will look back and understand that immigrants, legal or not, with adequate education, are all the supporters of the Democracy and the patriotism of the United States. On the other hand, just being White have nothing to do with the embrace of Democracy. Also just look at the media that would faithfully report all these event - the EpochTimes.com, and the New Tang Dynasty Television. They are not our traditional American Media. But they stand up.

United States is a great county with good resources. With good education and moral values, our citizen should be highly competitive and would not be afraid of competition in the jobs market.

Good material life maybe what we think is our attraction. But, don't forget the Democracy, which many immigrants are craving for.

Election 2020

Discrination: I am no Trump supporter as can be seen from my various post.

The issue:Issues concerning president Trump handling thing, and issues raised by the COVID-19 presented big challenges to our democratic system. It ranges from how presidnt Trump down play the seviousness of the COVID-19 to how governments impose or not-impose the mask mandate and other executive orders. All of these are testing our democratic attaiment.

In a democratic system, personal freedom is protected in lue of not harming other person's freedom or interests. Without the in lue clause, the freedom is not protected. Governments issued exective orders are and should be with people's interest in mind. When in doubts, it is necessary to present the case to peoples and try to reach the consention. Governors were given certain exective rights, but shouldn't have taken that rights as granted.

To the 2020 elections. It really does not matter who won the election and by how much. Democrtic system relied on clean fair election. Any fraud, especially, the intetional one, should be vect and examed. Personally, except for greedy, I have trouble to see why a normal person should or would involved in election fraud. To that end, any fraud, to me, is worth the efforts to carefully examed. For example, if there really is the case of votes by deseasd people, we have to wonder why and what is the motivation? Even more seriously, it really make you wonder if there are systematic fraud underway.

Any election fraud should be carefully investigated. The due legal process should be followed and any political inclination shouldn't even be a factor. The important things is not who won but if our election are clean.

More American then Trump

I would have posted this on my blog at demomatters.org/Matters/Historical but that site is not very responsive at the moment.

I was driving home and hear this interview on the NPR (Nebraska Public Radio) and I have this urges to write it down before I forgot it.

I heard this interview of Chef Jose Andres by Guy Raz on the NPR about helping people that suffered from COVID19, which is now available on Youtube). At close to the end of the interview, Jose was talking about the American Dream and that is touching.

What hit me when listening to this Chef, with his accent, is more exciting, more touching and, ... well, more American than Mr. Trump. Why? The heart, the sincereness, ... all embraced what I belived in Amderica when I came to the United States. Over the years, realities have changed me a lot even though I am still the man that embraced this right from wrong believes.

While listening to this Chef talks, what really hit me is the kindness, the heart, and his mention of American Dream. Refleshed back to Mr. Trump's 'Make America Great Again', I suddently realized that why I kept having trouble of accepting Mr. Trump's view of Make America Great Again. It is the foundamental! As a person originated from Taiwan, I am fully aware of the evilness of the Mainland Chinese Government and I totally appreciate the actions that taken against the Mainland Chinese Government. However, there had always doubts in my mind on actions taken by Mr. Trump. While listening to this interview, I suddently understand why.

American's value is NOT 'Make America Great'! It is the kind, the heart, the fairness, the brace of what is right! This is the America I have believed in and is what really set America apart from the rest of the world. The great is the embrace of what is right! As a Taiwaness/Chinese, I greatfully emdebted to the the American through the 'Opion War', where all countries except America has taken advantages of the defeated China and that shows the difference about America. The Civil war is also an example that demonstrates the value of American - yes, we can't expect everyone to think the same, but, oppions count.

The thing that is wrong with Mr. Trump's Make America Great Again is that it is not rooted on doing what is right but is what is good for America. You can't do that if you wanted to lead (the World, or anything). You don't come out from the selfish point of view. You can certainly ask for fair treaties, but you don't asked for better terms just it is good for you. The same is true that you do not put out an order so it benefits you, you put out orders because of the fairness. You do not undermine the severiness of COVID19 just because it might show the unprepareness of the government. You do not exert forces just because you want the economics to look rosy. You do things because it is right - because it benefits the American, it benefits the human beings.

CoronaVirus and Face Mask

At to this point, the confirmed case in the United States is rising very fast and there is no sign that the government is to change its statements or views about the face mask wearing recommendation, while the shortage of the face mask remain and the Federal government continue to purchase and secure a large amount of face masks.

Up to this point, there are only few reports I can see that put their firm support behind face mask wearing in public. Few are trying to support it with very mild tone or quoting 'cultural differences'. I hope, at least, this demonstrates how much weight the words from the powerful (aka government) carries and the importance of using those words carefully - it can be the difference between the fail and the success - as we will see eventually.

Few of the claims and statements from the Federal government do deserve closer examination.

As a democratic society, the statement that because the health providers need the face masks should not be a reason to deprive citizen's right to purchase one. Everyone understand that the health providers need the face mask but citizen also understand that they need to protect their loved one. The thing government should have been doing is to make sure there are enough face masks for all.

The statement that not wearing the face mask properly will not help protecting the wearer is also totally missed the point - why don't you just tell people how to wear it properly. People are totally capable of learning and people should be learning in a democratic system.

As to the point that there isn't any proof that face mask actually protect the wearer is also a misleading statement. I have to question that how about the proof that the face masks actually hurt the wearer. Yes, have proof is better than not but we know that not everything in the world are verified - some of the experiments may not be easy or practical for various reasons. But wouldn't simple common sense help? First of all, if you are asking people for 6 feet social distance, can you explain why? what are you trying to prevent - the germ/virus spread through the air? Then, wouldn't the face mask provide another layer of protection? - yes, it may not be 100%, but wouldn't it help?

There is also that statement that you should wear face mask if you (not necessary professional health provider) are caring for patients. I hope you see the contradiction.

Of the few face mask articles, here is one that happen to mention some data: Should you wear a face mask to protect against coronavirus? According to the article, the mask is 80% effective if worn consistently.

Looking at the shortage of the face mask, in one way I am glade that people are smart enough not to blindly believe what the government told you and that is how a democratic system can work. As to a lot of media, please don't be a rubber stamp, people will desert you.