Letters to the Editor: America's true heritage is the kind of dissent Trump is trying to hide
However, Arellano neglects to note the notable historical figures such as William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau, Abraham Lincoln and Susan B. Anthony, along with a host of politicians, ministers and ordinary citizens, who saw through the euphemism and lies, especially those opposed to the Mexican-American War that was started by President Polk to take land from Mexico. There has always been dissent; there has always been a maligned minority called 'unpatriotic' and 'treasonous' because they dared to challenge presidents and the Supreme Court, especially when the court declared that Congress had no power to close slavery to the new territories.
This is the 'homeland heritage,' the history that the administration is trying to keep out of our schools and national parks. The whitewash continues.
Sidney Morrison, Los Angeles
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'Big Beautiful Bill' imperils tribe's critical survival project: 'We still have homes that are not electrified'
'Big Beautiful Bill' imperils tribe's critical survival project: 'We still have homes that are not electrified' The vast majority of Americans can expect their electricity to be available when they need it — even though energy rates have risen significantly over the years, and there are emerging concerns about how new technologies could impact grid reliability. However, the One Big Beautiful Bill could uniquely threaten access to electricity for residents on the Hopi Tribe's reservation in Arizona, according to Tribal Business News, leaving tribal members vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves, and economic hardship as they fight to preserve their lands and cultural values. What's happening? President Donald Trump signed the Big Beautiful Bill, also known as House Resolution 1, into law July 4 after months of debate and amendments to the legislation by Congress. As expected, the final version of the bill is slashing many clean-energy tax incentives that the Hopi Tribe has relied on to expand access to electricity on the reservation, including electric credits for renewable projects that have reduced building costs by up to 30% to 50%. This could also imperil utility-scale solar projects meant to replace jobs and revenue after the 2019 closing of the Navajo Generating Station coal plant. The plant supplied others in the region with power while doing little to improve access to electricity on Hopi lands — while also releasing toxic, heat-trapping pollution into the surrounding area and atmosphere. Why is this important? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a 2023 investigation into Tribal Electricity Access and Reliability found that lack of access to electricity on the Hopi Reservation and Trust Lands hit nearly 29%, whereas that percentage was just 1.4 for the average U.S. household. In an area where a round trip to the grocery store can take four hours, access to electricity can mean the difference between having food that's fit to eat or going without. Northeastern Arizona, where the Hopi reservation is situated, is also experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves because of a changing climate, making it all the more essential for residents to stay cool and protect themselves from the No. 1 weather-related killer. Hopi Tribal Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma told Tribal Business News that the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill has introduced "a lot of uncertainty" to the situation. "We're disappointed in leaders that don't look beyond their nose when it comes to those communities that rely on moving forward with this technology. We're in 2025 right now and we still have homes that are not electrified," Nuvangyaoma said. Do you think our power grid needs to be upgraded? Definitely Only in some states Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What is being done about this? While provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill do disincentivize many green projects that can improve access to electricity and stabilize rates — and cut the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program — attorney Pilar Thomas told Tribal Business News that there's still a window of opportunity to get projects off the ground before tax incentives end. "The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a big step backward, but I'm not quite as pessimistic as some, because most tribes are doing smaller projects," the partner at the Quarles and Brady law firm said. "... You've got to move, but I think tribes are doing mostly smaller projects for themselves, and I think those are still viable." The legislation also permanently reauthorized the New Markets Tax Credit, which has supported some tribal projects and makes it attractive for companies to build in underserved areas. For his part, Nuvangyaoma said the Hopi Tribe was "digesting" how the act could impact larger projects in development, including a 40-megawatt utility-scale solar array. Despite potential setbacks, he indicated his tribe still saw solar as a path toward achieving energy sovereignty. "I believe that there's people out there who see the impacts that tribal energy sovereignty can have, and so I am hopeful," he said. "We're always looking at what can be done in the darkest situations. We're used to that. With a little bit of light, we'll still move forward with development — we're acting as though none of our projects will be impacted until we can't do so anymore." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Business Wire
42 minutes ago
- Business Wire
BAC Applauds Landmark Passage of Trigger Lead Ban
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) welcomes the passage of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that limits the sale of trigger leads. With the Senate passing the House version on August 2, the bill has officially cleared Congress and now heads to the President's desk. The BAC urges President Trump to sign the bill into law without delay. 'This victory shows what's possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.' Brendan McKay, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder of the BAC Share The passage of this bill through Congress marks the culmination of a multi-year advocacy effort—driven by the BAC, its advocates, and coalition partners. Led by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), this united effort aimed to ban abusive trigger lead practices and curb the sale of consumer data without consent. This legislative victory would not have been possible without the leadership of Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). Why Brokers Fought to End Trigger Leads When a consumer applies for a mortgage and their credit is pulled, credit bureaus sell that data as 'trigger leads'—including personal details like full name, contact information, and credit score range. Solicitors buy these leads and unleash a barrage of calls, texts, and emails, overwhelming homebuyers at a critical point in the process. All of this is done without the consumer's permission or proper disclosure. Some solicitors blur compliance boundaries, using deceptive language to imply connections with brokers or lenders. In addition to violating basic data privacy expectations, these tactics erode consumer trust and have been especially harmful to first-time homebuyers, non-native English speakers, and other vulnerable borrowers. The Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act ends these abusive practices while preserving narrow exceptions for pre-existing relationships and giving consumers the power to opt in. Thank You to the Partners Who Powered the Push Advocacy at this level doesn't happen alone. It takes investment, commitment, and shared belief in what's possible. The BAC is proud to recognize the partners that helped make this win possible: Equity Prime Mortgage (EPM), Pennymac TPO, The Loan Store, Inc., Rocket Pro, Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. (PRMG), Freedom Mortgage Wholesale Division, Newfi Wholesale, Gold Star Wholesale, and West Capital Lending. These partners stood alongside brokers and homebuyers to champion stronger consumer protections and real industry change. Continued Commitment to Homebuyer & Broker Interests 'The BAC was built to channel broker priorities into real policy wins. When we launched, we asked our earliest supporters to help set the agenda. The response was overwhelmingly clear: ending abusive trigger leads was our top priority. Today's congressional action delivered on that,' said Brendan McKay, BAC Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder. 'This victory shows what's possible when brokers get involved, stay organized, and invest in advocacy.' 'This is a major win—but it's just the beginning,' added Rachel Clark, BAC Executive Director. 'If you want more of this kind of progress, brokers need to keep showing up—and start funding the fight.' About the Broker Action Coalition The Broker Action Coalition (BAC) is the grassroots advocacy channel uniting mortgage brokers and their supporters to fight for broker and homebuyer rights nationwide. The BAC aims to level the playing field between independent mortgage brokers and retail banks, to support inclusive homebuying policy change, and to fight for the needs of Veterans, minorities, and underserved communities to make the American dream of homeownership possible for more people than ever before. For more information or to support our advocacy efforts, visit
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘They roll right over': Many Democrats call their party weak and ineffective, AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Democrats see their political party as 'weak' or 'ineffective,' according to a poll that finds considerable pessimism within Democratic ranks. Republicans are more complimentary of their party, although a small but significant share describe the GOP as 'greedy' or say it is generally "bad." The poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in July reveals warning signs for both major U.S. parties as the political focus shifts to elections in New Jersey and Virginia this fall and the midterm contests next year. Respondents were asked to share the first word or phrase that came to mind when they thought of the Republican and Democratic parties. Answers were then sorted into broad categories, including negative and positive attributes. Overall, U.S. adults held a dim view of both parties, with about 4 in 10 using negative attributes, including words such as 'dishonest' or 'stupid." But nearly nine months after Republican Donald Trump won a second presidential term, Democrats appear to be harboring more resentment about the state of their party than do Republicans. Democrats were likelier to describe their own party negatively than Republicans. Republicans were about twice as likely to describe their own party positively. 'They're spineless,' Cathia Krehbiel, a 48-year-old Democrat from Indianola, Iowa, said of her party. She believes the party's response to the Trump administration has been 'scattershot.' 'I just feel like there's so much recently that's just going abhorrently wrong," Krehbiel said. "And they speak up a little bit and they roll right over.' Overall, roughly one-third of Democrats described their party negatively in the open-ended question. About 15% described it using words like 'weak," or 'apathetic,' while an additional 10% believe it is broadly 'ineffective' or "disorganized.' Only about 2 in 10 Democrats described their party positively, with roughly 1 in 10 saying it is 'empathetic,' or 'inclusive.' An additional 1 in 10 used more general positive descriptors. It is unclear what impact the Democrats' angst may have on upcoming elections or the political debate in Washington, but no political organization wants to be plagued by internal divisions. Still, the Democrats' frustration appears to reflect their concern that party leaders are not doing enough to stop Trump's GOP, which controls Washington. There is little sign that such voters would abandon their party in favor of Trump's allies in upcoming elections, and the vast majority of Democrats described the GOP negatively. But disaffected Democrats might decide not to vote at all. That could undermine their party's push to reclaim at least one chamber of Congress in 2026. Jim Williams, a 78-year-old retiree from Harper Woods, Michigan said he typically supports Democrats, but he is 'disappointed' with the party and its murky message. He feels much worse about the Republican Party, which he said 'has lost it' under Trump's leadership. 'All he does is bully and call names. They've got no morals, no ethics. And the more they back him, the less I like them,' the self-described independent, said of Trump. What do Republicans say about their party? Republicans are about twice as likely as Democrats to describe their party positively, with many also using straightforward ideological descriptors like 'conservative.' About 4 in 10 Republicans used positive attributes to characterize the GOP, making general mentions of words such as 'patriotic' or 'hardworking,' or offering associations with the word 'freedom.' Samuel Washington, 65, of Chicago, said he typically votes Republican. Washington praised Trump's leadership, even while acknowledging that the president's policies on trade and spending might be creating short-term economic hardship. 'There's a lot of pain, but the pain is the result of 12 years of misuse and misguided leadership from the Democratic Party,' he said. 'I'm feeling really good about Republicans and the direction that they're going.' But views were not uniformly good. About 2 in 10 Republicans said something negative about the party, including phrases such as 'greedy,' 'for the rich' or 'corrupt.' Republican Dick Grayson, an 83-year-old veteran from Trade, Tennessee, said he is 'disappointed' by his party's fealty to Trump. Among other things, he pointed to the price tag of Trump's tax-and-spend package, which will add nearly $3.3 trillion to the nation's debt over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 'I've always been a Republican, but I'm disillusioned about both parties,' Grayson said. How Americans view the parties overall Among all Americans, the poll finds that the Republican Party is viewed slightly more negatively than the Democratic Party. The different is not large: 43% used negative words to describe the Republicans, compared with 39% for the Democrats. Much of the negativity is driven by the opposing party — and independents' distaste for both. Independents are much likelier to describe both parties with negative attributes rather than positive descriptors, though a significant share did not offer an opinion at all. Curtis Musser, a 60-year-old unaffiliated voter from Beverly Hills, Florida, said both parties have shifted too far toward the extreme for his liking. He said he is ready for a serious third party to emerge before the next presidential election, pointing to Elon Musk's new 'America Party,' which has been slow to launch. 'Maybe he would get us headed in the right direction,' the retired schoolteacher said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,437 adults was conducted July 10-14, using a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
