We arranged a system that gets you sick and keeps you sick — Building back or breaking the bank? As one small portion of the now watered-down “Build Back Better” bill a cap on medical costs was proposed and voted down. Those who cannot afford private insurance through employers, or according to income, will not see a cap put on any insulin medications over $35 per month. GOP members…

I saw a long line of mourning people, “To restore is to revere,” said a lady draped in long, flowing black. — Very Unpopular Strong Opinions Blog by Christyl Rivers The ghost of a living guy Not long ago I wrote about Georgia and it raised the subject of Jimmy Carter, our last truly evangelical Christian president. He has hovered around my mind like a shell around a peanut ever since. When I was still pretty young, President Carter had solar panels set upon the white…

One comes to our brains through social programming, the other through our bodies by way of the heart — Political passion There is no better example of passion channeled incorrectly, than when it floods into a cult. Some say we have political cults, some feel Trumpism, or Trumpeters, are in the grip of a dangerous cult. Some feel “the Woke mob is a cult.” Some even feel that capitalism itself, or…

The climate crisis is hitting the world, take as much time as possible to save the plants and animals that will save you. — Very Unpopular Strong Opinions Blog by Christyl Rivers Not lawn for this world We have a Home Owners Association that compels people to keep lawns. Ours is pretty brown right now. Oops. Neighborhood lawns waste lots of water. And time. And pesticides. And fertilizers. They need mowing, usually with gas motors. Mowers and whackers are loud, obnoxious, stinky, wasteful, and ugly. They are…

Some think Earth is better off without us. Some think that’s crazy. Will the new Climate Bill help? — Very Unpopular Strong Opinions Blog by Christyl Rivers Will We “Be?” That is the question We are 100% certain, as all species do, to go extinct. The question is, how do you want to go? I know many people see humanity as a kind of cancer, or virus, upon the Earth. I know many who say we…

“Well, aren’t we bad girls for a new day?” — “Lieutenant Uhura here,” She said, “Hailing frequencies open.” “Hi, there, it’s Sandy Ollson, you know, from the musical Grease. They set us up to talk. This new download, this chatbot thing.” “Wow. Okay. Do you know why it’s the two of us?” “My predictive analytics bio just says: ‘ground breakers.’…

Wealth disparity means some pay much more for some products and services. — Get your house in order Housing costs more if you are poor. It usually means your home has less maintenance. It means an electrical or plumbing problem will become more expensive to you before it is addressed. Owning your home is the number one way to accrue wealth. In a crisis climate, such as during…

Maybe …if we stopped calling each other names, it might be better? — Very Unpopular Strong Opinions Blog by Christyl Rivers Calling someone a “Karen,” is sexist. It is racist. It is ageist. It is, frankly, kind of terrible. Many women I have known have been “Karens,” I even know one who is very pushy, privileged, and rich. I know of some that…