All posts by Chuck Fager

About Dismantling Health Care: This Is Personal

I’m talking personally here because this issue quickly becomes about as personal as it gets. I read there’s twenty to thirty million Americans depending on the ACA; even more on Medicare. I’m concerned about them on a policy level, and hope I feel compassion.
But this ACA & Medicare repeal talk –it’s not just “policy.” Not just about “them.”
It’s about “us.” Me. It will affect me & my family.
My not particularly unusual family.
Directly, and bigtime; not someday, but immediately, and probably catastrophically.
So the drive for repeal is toying with the fate of real people with real lives. All over the country.
Including me and my family. (And maybe yours too?)
The impact of any such repeal will be coming right at us. Directly.

Breaking: Kellyanne Conway & the “Bowling Green Massacre” are Back

Quit piling on about the Bowling Green Massacre!
That’s very good advice. After all, everybody makes mistakes, and this time, mirabile dictu, it was even admitted, eventually.
So shouldn’t we forgive and forget, show compassion, and move on?? I mean, it’s become an indelible part of our history now.
This is all excellent advice, which I fully intend to follow.
Starting tomorrow.

The Carolina “Autonomites”: What’s In a Name? What IS Their Name??

There were two problems for the “Autonomites” in North Carolina YM-FUM, when they assembled for their first meeting at Quaker Lake Camp on January 28. One of the few things the Autonomites definitely decided was – they didn’t like their current name, the “Autonomy Group.” So that was dumped. (Goodbye, Autonomites; we hardly knew ye.) … Continue reading The Carolina “Autonomites”: What’s In a Name? What IS Their Name?? →

Two Blockbusters: Northwest YM to Split Over LGBT Welcome; & A Lawsuit Coming?

Confirming two reports first uploaded here earlier this month, a plan to split Northwest yearly Meeting over the issue of meetings welcoming LGBT persons was announced at the NWYM Mid-Year session in Oregon. Also, the YM has been confronted with a strong rebuff by a meeting that left it in 2015. First: copy of the plan … Continue reading Two Blockbusters: Northwest YM to Split Over LGBT Welcome; & A Lawsuit Coming? →

North Carolina YM Welcomes the “Autonomites”

Friends, welcome to Carolina Quaker Vocabulary 201.
Today’s new words are: “Autonomy” and “Autonomites.”
First we’ll go over the words themselves, then we’ll have some exercises.

Here are the standard definitions for “autonomy,” from the basic online dictionary:

au·ton·o·my — noun – definitions:

The right or condition of self-government, especially in a
a self-governing country or region.
Freedom from external control or influence; independence.
Synonyms: self-government, self-rule, home rule, self-determination, independence, sovereignty, freedom.

And an “autonomite” is one who conducts their religious life, in their community, on an autonomous basis, associating freely with others, following leadings of the Spirit rather than directives of human authorities.

Now for the exercises, getting familiar with the words and their meaning:

A North Carolina YM Committee clerk has given the name “Autonomy” to a new grouping of local meetings, as part of a NCYM reorganization plan. Does this name mean anything?

We will soon find out. On Saturday, January 28, at Quaker lake Camp, beginning at 10 AM there will be a gathering of Friends interested in the Autonomy grouping. Welcome the Autonomites.