Opinion

Together apart

We’ve always known the risks associated with congregating in crowds, but we’ve pushed them to the back of our minds. Handshakes, kissing, drinking from the same glass, and sneezing and coughing indiscriminately have led to the spread of germs ever since God was in short pants. We’ve endured plagues like the Black Death in the 14th century. That one killed around 50 million people. The Bubonic Plague of the 17th century hit Italy hard, killing over a quarter-million people and nearly half the population of Verona. London, too, was hit hard in the same century. At the plague’s peak, there, nearly 8,000 people/week were killed, ending up with a total of 100,000 victims. 

In 1720, a merchant ship sailed into the harbor of Marseille in France carrying what was called, ‘mortal distemper’ from the Middle East. The ship was quarantined, but the owner persuaded the authorities to offload its cargo, unleashing plague-carrying rat fleas into the unsuspecting population. The result…one hundred thousand people dead in southern France. 

Fast forward to the 19th century and the Chinese province of Yunnan, and what is known as the ‘Third Pandemic’ erupted there and spread viciously throughout the globe for the next several decades. Rats ended up carrying the plague to six continents. Most of the devastation took place in China and India, but places like San Francisco were also affected. 

In the 20th century, more specifically from 1918-1920, the ‘Spanish Flu’ infected a half-billion people around the world which was 27% of the world’s population at the time. The mortality rate from that flu was estimated to be from 17 million to as many as 50 million. Some estimates even put the death toll at 100 million! There have been many theories about where the flu originated, northern China being one of them, but wherever it came from, its killing effect was mind-blowing. 

Here in America, we have experienced measles epidemics, tuberculosis, and polio outbreaks, not to mention the devastating HIV scourge in the 20th century. In the last 30 years or so, we’ve seen the Swine Flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the Ebola outbreak and now, the Coronavirus which is dramatically changing the way we are forced to live our lives. While great strides have been made in virology and in the downstream advances in vaccine discoveries, there are two things that we Americans haven’t confronted, adequately. The first is our poor institutional memory. (Institutional memory is the collective knowledge and learned experiences of a group like our entire non-scientific population. As the turnover of new generations occurs among our population these concepts must be transitioned…and they have not been.) 

The second is our ignorance of the fact that our bodies are not invulnerable. Just because we have managed to conquer some diseases or mitigate their effects on us through advances in medicine, we have convinced ourselves that we can somehow skirt the inevitability of large-scale epidemics and pandemics. Those two things have made us more vulnerable to disease as has our unwillingness to prepare for such diseases and properly plan for their arrival. Our healthcare system, especially our emergency healthcare preparedness system, has been inadequate throughout many Administrations and didn’t start with Donald Trump nor his predecessors. 

We’ve become so convinced of our own ability to ‘tackle anything that comes our way’ that we have simply failed to acknowledge our own mortal weaknesses. Having said that, it does no good to invoke old aphorisms like “Those who do not remember (or heed) the past are doomed to repeat it.” We must deal with our failings now. The onset of the Coronavirus must be the catalyst for us to re-examine our approach to many things. Globalization is one of them. 

The ‘enlightened’ politicians of the post-WWII era believed that the only sane way to avoid new wars was to reject the monopolistic and imperialistic tendencies that led to many of those wars. The way to do that was to shrink the space between cultures and make the world smaller and its economies more interdependent. They did this by pushing a one-world ethos based on globalization. 

Enter NATO, the European Economic Community (now European Union), a strengthening of the U.N., a reduction in global trading barriers through the WTO and other organizations along with multi-lateral and bi-lateral trading pacts. Couple them with billions of dollars of international investments, the linking of world currencies, the opening up of new markets, vastly improved travel possibilities and improved digital communication along with the imposition of a one-world trading language (English) and globalization became the world’s new religion. 

Hundreds of millions of non-business travelers spent billions flying or sailing to new exotic destinations and bringing back with them not only impressions of new cultures but goods purchased in over one hundred countries. This led to increased demand for not only new products (which importers were only too happy to accommodate) but also prompted American companies to reduce their costs by investing in manufacturing or assembly of familiar U.S. products, overseas. 

This contract manufacturing included a wide range of products that were now bearing the ‘Made in China’ label. Pharmaceuticals were one of them. While this offshore manufacturing decreased costs for some medicines it also created a dependency for many antibiotics, some of which are now going to be in short supply due to the shutdown of some Chinese factories. The result is that globalization has shown itself to be the ultimate double-edged sword. 

Americans – indeed the whole world’s people – are now discovering the unpleasant edge of that sword and are now being forced to accept the downside associated with that dependency. Our current state of national emergency is a graphic reminder of the inescapable cause and effect our decisions have and of the real consequences of ‘togetherness.’ As we sequester ourselves away with ‘social distancing,’ avoiding congregating in large numbers and concentrating on those closest to us, we actually have a golden opportunity to re-examine our ways and our choices both as individuals and as a country. There is not a better time than now to do so.

Stephan Helgesen is a retired career U.S. diplomat who lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush Administrations. He is the author of ten books, four of which are on American politics and has written over 1,000 articles on politics, economics, and social trends. He can be reached at: stephan@stephanhelgesen.com

Opinions offered by Piñon Post contributors in no way, shape, or form represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at: news@pinonpost.com.

New Mexicans must take President Trump’s call to fight mail-in voter fraud seriously

In recent days, President Trump has been urging the nation to pay attention and “fight very hard” against state-wide mail-in voting, which Democrats are using to sway elections in their favor across the nation.

During President Trump’s Tuesday press conference, he said, “Well, there’s a big difference between somebody that’s out of state and does a ballot and everything’s sealed, certified and everything else. You see what you have to do with the certifications.” He also reaffirmed his call, warning of “thousands of people sitting in somebody’s living room signing ballots.”

New Mexico is ground zero for voter fraud, as our Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver refuses to clean the voter rolls of illegitimate voters, and she has repeatedly claimed falsely that there is no fraudulent voting in the Land of Enchantment. In 2018, she bashed President Trump on his concerns of voter fraud, saying, “There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud anywhere in New Mexico or the United States, and when it does occur it is prosecuted swiftly and vigorously.”

In 2018, despite exit polls showing Republican state Rep. Yvette Herrell won a decisive victory against challenger Democrat Xochitl Torres Small for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District race on election night, in the ninth hour, thousands of mail-in ballots appeared out of nowhere in Doña Ana County, swinging the election for Torres Small.  

According to a thorough audit of ballots, signs of massive voter fraud were found, with over 500 ballots stamped after the 7:00 p.m. deadline, hundreds of ballots with either no address or an address that does not exist, counties that never voted a majority Democrat before with a massive plurality of Democrat absentee ballot votes, a 148% increase in absentee ballot applications since the 2016 election, and countless other red flags. 

Just this year, the wife of a Democrat Española city councilor was convicted on two counts of election fraud by falsifying several absentee ballots in her husband’s favor. There are multiple cases of voter fraud in our state spanning decades The most recent cases can be found here.

In 2019, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law same-day voter registration, which will no doubt favor Democrats with less time for verification of votes. In 2018, Maggie Toulouse Oliver attempted to unlawfully implement straight-party voting, which would make it even easier for fraudulent mail-in ballot voting, allowing criminals to only fill in one bubble on the ballot to cast illegal votes. The Supreme Court struck down Toulouse Oliver’s straight-party voting plan. 

On Tuesday, it was revealed by the Piñon Post that Democrats in the New Mexico legislature could be planning a virtual special session to force through an all mail-in election, opening the door to massive voter fraud. New Mexico Republicans led by GOP House Leader Jim Townsend have come out strong against the plan.

On Wednesday, President Trump wrote on Twitter, “Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to statewide mail-in voting. Democrats are clamoring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason,  doesn’t work out well for Republicans.”

In 2020, if New Mexico voters don’t fight voter fraud, beginning with fighting an all mail-in election, it could create a situation much like that in 2018, with signs of fraud in multiple races.

To take action, contact Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democrat House Speaker Brian Egolf, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, and the New Mexico Supreme Court to voice your concerns.

NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: (505) 476-2200 or via online submission

NM Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver: (505) 827-3600

NM Supreme Court: (505) 827-4860

NM Speaker of the House Brian Egolf: brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov

Opinions offered by Piñon Post contributors in no way, shape, or form represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at: news@pinonpost.com.

Haaland, Luján exploit Coronavirus pandemic to raise campaign cash, blame Trump for crisis

This week, some of New Mexico’s far-left congressional Democrat delegation has been relishing in the suffering brought forth by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, using it as an opportunity to blame President Trump for the crisis while shamelessly fundraising for their 2020 campaigns.

Rep. Deb Haaland (CD-1) sent out an email entitled, “Trump’s inability to lead our country,” which outlined the far-left policies he has not adopted. Her apparent argument is that because President Trump is against the socialist Obama-era “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare,” he has “systematically debilitated our country’s ability to respond to public health crises.” 

At the end of Haaland’s email, she includes multiple buttons in amounts from $10 t0 $250+ asking for “express” donations to her campaign so she can reach her arbitrary “March fundraising goal.” 

On Tuesday, Rep. Ben Ray Luján (CD-1), who is pursuing a promotion to the U.S. Senate, sent out a long-winded fundraising email claiming President Trump ignored “dire warning signs about the severity of this outbreak.” The baseless claims come despite the President acting immediately upon news of the virus to restrict travel from China and declare a public health emergency. 

Of course, the pitch came with an ask for campaign cash, justifying it as “doing [one’s] part” in these “difficult times.” The email follows previous solicitations using Coronavirus. One email preyed on seniors, making the false claim that President Trump is trying to rip away their Social Security checks. 

As well as Haaland’s shameless COVID-19 campaign email, she posted a video on her Facebook page asking for money during the crisis, writing in the description of the video, “We as Democrats believe in things like paid sick leave, healthcare for all, and workers’ rights. That fight now more than ever has never been more critical. Join our grassroots movement and pitch in $5 today!”

Ben Ray Luján’s email pitch.
Deb Haaland’s email pitch

Luján’s and Haaland’s emails come amid a tense battle in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats have stalled an emergency funding bill that would help lift American workers and businesses during the pandemic. Pelosi and Democrat leaders have weaponized the funding bill as an “opportunity” to ram through parts of the “Green New Deal,” abortion funding, among other items completely unrelated to COVID-19.

Public banned from ABQ City Council hearing as Davis, Keller use Coronavirus to grab more power

“You never let a serious crisis go to waste.” — socialist fmr. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel 

New Mexico’s far-left machine has been working for years behind the surface looking for every opportunity to take over the state. Recent legislation proposed by socialist Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis (who said f*** the NRA) will do just that: help radical Mayor Tim Keller grab massive amounts of power and use the Coronavirus to do it.

The legislation masquerading as “civil emergency powers” to combat the Coronavirus would grant Keller the right to cease the sale of firearms, declare curfews, close any and all streets, close liquor stores, close places of “mass assembly” and order private employers to take measures to stop the spread of the threat of a virus.

That is the keyword in this legislation — “threat.” The emergency powers are not in the event of a virus outbreak but in the event of THE THREAT OF AN OUTBREAK, meaning they can be used wherever and whenever.

Other far-left towns, such as Champagne, Illinois have adopted this legislation, which mirrors almost verbatim what Davis has proposed, showing a direct line of communication between Davis’ legislation and other radical left-wing municipalities, most likely connected to a larger “progressive” group feeding them the verbiage. 

After all, Davis is the founder of the leftist misinformation site “New Mexico Political Report,” and was the executive director of its funding source, dark money “nonprofit” ProgressNow NM, which is funded by billionaire George Soros. 

A new series on New Mexico’s far-left “progressive” dark-money groups and their connection to taking over New Mexico is coming soon.

Davis’ legislation directly violates federal law codified at 42 U.S.C. § 5207, which prohibits persons acting under color of federal law, receiving federal funds, or acting at the direction of a federal employee from seizing or authorizing the seizure of lawfully-possessed firearms during a state of emergency.

Even more startling than the blatant power-grab by Davis and Keller is the fact that they are conveniently using socialist Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s order banning people from congregating in groups of more than 100 due to Coronavirus. Davis and Keller are using this to ban people from publicly testifying at the City Council’s March 16th committee hearing, limiting attendance only to “City Councilors, critical Council and Administrative Staff, and credentialed members of the press.” The hearing will happen at 5:00 p.m.

Comments will only be allowed through remote channels, such as email, fax, and an online comment section

If you would like to contact the Albuquerque City Councilors in concern about this legislation, their contact information is below:

City Councilor Lan Sena, Dist. 1

lansena@cabq.gov

City Councilor Isaac Benton, Dist. 2

ibenton@cabq.gov

City Councilor Klarissa J. Peña, Dist. 3

kpena@cabq.gov

City Councilor Brook Bassan, Dist. 4

bbassan@cabq.gov

City Councilor Cynthia Borrego, Dist. 5

cynthiaborrego@cabq.gov

City Councilor Pat Davis, Dist. 6 (DEFINITELY CONTACT HIM)

patdavis@cabq.gov

City Councilor Diane Gibson, Dist. 7

dgibson@cabq.gov

City Councilor Trudy Jones, Dist. 8

trudyjones@cabq.gov

City Councilor Don Harris, Dist. 9

dharris@cabq.gov

Contact mayor Tim Keller here: https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/contact-us/email-the-mayor

Opinions offered by Piñon Post contributors in no way, shape, or form represent the viewpoints of the publication or its editorial staff. Submit an op-ed to the Piñon Post at: news@pinonpost.com.

Scroll to Top