Sunday Issues of the Week-August 4, 2024

Last week, I launched Friday Insights, a regular offering of thoughts on the week’s news. Today, I launch Sunday Issues of the Week. What is it and why should you be remotely interested?

Sunday Issues, which will be my shorthand for the weekly column, will address news and issues that are either important or of interest to me or that I think will be newsworthy as the week goes on. Some of the issues, such as Kamala Harris’ selection of a running mate, will be no-brainers. (Be sure to pronounce her name correctly.) Other parts of the piece will be prompted by people I talked to by something I read.

I am hopeful that readers (once I muster more than the handful I have now) will comment on my issues, perhaps making an occasional suggestion. I look forward to that.

So, what are the issues of the week?

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is expected to announce her choice of a running mate on Tuesday. I think it will be Josh Shapiro. On Friday, I opined that Pete Buttigieg would be a good choice. Fortunately, for the Democrats, any of the names currently under consideration will be better than the unfortunate J.D. Vance.

Harris’ choice will not determine the 2024 election.  More important will be Trump’s ability to get back on track. He left the road at the Republican National Convention when he tossed plans to “be nice” and continued his campaign of hate and disparagement. Since the RNC lovefest, Trump has doubled down on racism. That will not work, so my optimism is returning.

This week, I will also be watching the childish game Trump launched on the presidential debate(s). Most of us thought Trump would not want to debate Harris (who would?). Trump revoked his acceptance of the September 14 debate hosted by ABC with no audience. Trump wants Fox News and an audience.

So far, Harris is saying no. I’m watching to see how this game ends.

Because I live on the coast, hurricane news is always on my radar screen, even when one isn’t headed my way. This week, I will be watching Debby. Most likely, it will be a weaker tropical storm by the time it reaches where I live, but Debby will be followed by several other hurricanes. Did someone say, “Climate change?”

This morning, I read Nicholas Kristof’s piece, “Dogs Are the Best! But They Highlight Our Hypocrisy.” Kristof tells us that dogs have evolved into humans over the last few decades. He’s right. Last week, I had a discussion with a good friend in which we commiserated on the cost of “special diet” dog kibble, which is mind-boggling to anyone without a dog. We also talked about the cost of “doggie daycare.”

Kristof notes the inconsistency between our love of dogs and our acceptance of the regular torture of farm animals. Pigs and cows feel pain and suffer in factory farms and slaughterhouses, but most of us blissfully gobble down bacon and dream of steaks.

Kristof is right, but I don’t plan to go vegan. I will, however, think about factory farming this week and wonder what, if anything, can be done.

That’s it for this week. I’d welcome feedback and more readers. Thank you in advance if you can help.

Photo credit: Photo by Dan Formsma on Unsplash