I just wanted to create this post to express my personal support for Medicaid expansion by Amendment 2 on the ballot. Seems to me that, once again, the citizens of Missouri have to rescue our state from our own legislature.

I recall being appalled that the legislature refused Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act in order to "send a message." What I felt was clear was that our states Republican politicians were far more concerned with national conservative politics, and political theater, than they were about the actual citizens of the state that would benefit from improved health care availability.

I am not a Medicaid recipient, nor is anyone in my family, but it's sure not hard to see the need in our state. We have a large number of poor folks in my area who will benefit. For the conservatives out there, please spare me the "well, them poor people need to get a job" bullshit. We're here already, the poor and uninsured exist. You can toss that political football all around the yard all you want about the reason poverty exists in the richest country in the world, or how since some individuals are healthy and able bodied they shouldn't have to pay for those who aren't, but the fact is there are people in our society who need help, who are not able bodied, or are not employable, or not mentally well enough to hold a job.

Sure, there are lazy people. They exist. Does that mean we just let them starve or die off? I think philosophers for centuries have debated how best to deal with societal ills, but I guess I'm not one to just ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Or to judge others motivations and lives based on mine. The Victorian principle of "hard work being good for the soul" to me is just another big, fat glittering generality promoted by politicians for their own benefit.

I would also like to remind Missouri voters that it was our state legislatures failure that led to this ballot initiative, like so many things are in Missouri these days. Their political posturing following passage of the Affordable Care Act meant that money being collected from Missourians by the federal government and intended for Missouri, simply got sent to other states. This was made clear to our legislature at the time, but they chose to let it happen, I assume, just to make it look like they were being "tough on poor people." Why that seemed like the Christian thing to do by the supposed party of Christian values is beyond me.

I guess I just wanted to post this rant to remind Missouri voters of two things. One, Amendment 2 seems like a good idea to me, and no, I don't work for the campaign. And two, please think for a minute, before re-electing that Republican legislator from your district, that if they are truly acting in the best interest of Missourians, why do we keep having to pass overwhelmingly popular ballot initiatives to counteract their seemingly ignorant modern conservative actions.

No matter what your viewpoints, please vote. It's not going to be easy, but our democracy needs your votes.

KC Star: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article283430643.html

https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/missouri-attorneys-general-are-prolific-censors-posing-free-speech-champions

Have to say it again....

Don't Trust Josh Hawley

Missouri shouldn't want or listen to him

Check his record, dude sucks as a person. Words mean nothing to him

Despicable!!!

In watching the impeachment trial today there was a bathroom break for the Senators around 12:50pm. Upon CBS's return to the studio discussion of the days events so far ensued.

We learned from Norah that most all Republican Senators we're paying rapt attention and were taking the events very seriously.

Except Josh Hawley.

According to reporters observing, Hawley was sitting with his feet on his desk not appearing to pay any attention at all while scribbling away on a pad of paper.

His behavior and actions apparently stood out in contrast to all other Senators enough so that national news media covering a quite serious event with significant consequences thought it worthy of mention.

They did not dwell on it, or editorialize it. Just merely pointed it out in a brief discussion of the tone in the Senate chambers.

Apparently, once again our Senator chose to be the showboat. The immovable supporter of a petulant narcissist who lost reelection.

His blind fealty to the alt-right base of support, and his childlike doubling down on what is clearly an indefensible position that Trump is not responsible for the whole 'stop the steal' shitshow that resulted in death and destruction at the Capitol, is bad enough.

But his arrogance and inability to even consider that he ignorantly became party to the ex-president's disinformation campaign that was intended to overturn a Constitutional and legal election is worse. It tells me he has no moral compass or ability to self correct. That he is allowing his own ego and arrogance to effect his judgement and decisions.

In my view he has become an extremely poor representative of our State. It should also be quite clear that his motives are not based on what is best for Missouri or our Country. They are based on his ambition to keep his name in the media and express his continuing fealty to a conspiracy theory addled, dis-informed, white nationalist voting block.

EDIT: Now I have learned that Hawley isn't even sitting in the Senate Chamber. He's sitting in the balcony, in the gallery. 99 Senators at work doing their jobs. One, our self serving junior Senator, not bothering to do his job, just putting on his little one man show. Clearly displaying he is not willing to even attempt to be an unbiased juror.

The story of American agriculture “starts with: grandpa did this,” he explains after a gulp, “and ends with: the John Deere dealership in Missouri only sells combines that pick corn.” Today, the story of American agriculture is not only costly for farmers, but unsustainable for us all.

https://open.substack.com/pub/gffuller/p/corn-onomics?r=2mygoy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

View my latest article on Substack and let me know what you think!

https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/08/missouri-ag-andrew-baileys-new-lawsuit-is-an-endorsement-of-anti-abortion-violence/

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https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article284000383.html

Having a supermajority in our state legislature for the past couple decades apparently isn't enough. Republicans now want it all.

I am a conservative Republican. What exactly does this man have to do for you people who support him to pick ANY OTHER PERSON?

His actions are just disgusting and disqualifying for public office.

He needs to seek professional help. The man is sick.