Every week during the summer, it is traditional Jewish practice to study a chapter of a work called “Pirkei Avot.” It’s a collection of inspiring quotes and sayings by some of the most prominent Jewish leaders and sages. The first chapter contains the following universally-known quote by Hillel the Elder:

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?"

Voter Choice for Massachusetts 2020 (Voter Choice Mass) announced Wednesday that it has smashed the signature requirement to get ranked choice voting on the November ballot well ahead of the petition deadline. Not only that, people working with the campaign say it is on pace to collect the most signatures for a ballot initiative in Massachusetts history.

This article was first published on The Fulcrum

The GOP has sued to prevent the effort to conduct the November election almost entirely by mail in the nation's most populous state as a way to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The lawsuit, filed Sunday in federal court, says Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom exceeded his authority this month by telling county election officials to send all 20.7 million registered Californians a ballot this fall.

1. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day

It is not clear where the traditions of Memorial Day began, but not long after the Civil War ended, several cities began holding tributes in the spring for the soldiers who fell during the war. People would honor the fallen by decorating their graves and praying.

General John A. Logan called for a nationally recognized day of remembrance to honor the soldiers who gave their lives for their country on May 5, 1862. He proclaimed May 30, 1868 to be the first Decoration Day:

This article first appeared on The Fulcrum

Shouted down as a "spoiler" for three weeks after announcing he was getting ready to run for president as a Libertarian, Justin Amash has abandoned the idea of a third-party candidacy.

The coronavirus pandemic's hindrance on his prospects was the reason offered last weekend by the Republican-turned-independent conservative congressman from Michigan. But many will fairly conclude he was bowing to the withering attacks he received.

Many are aware by now that US Rep. Justin Amash has decided not to run for president -- citing the cumbersome realities the current political system presents to candidates outside the two major parties.

“After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate,” said Amash.

However, what got less attention in the mainstream conversation is what Amash said after this.

This article was first published on The Fulcrum

update: A federal appeals court has temporarily put on hold a lower court’s sweeping ruling that would have allowed all Texas voters to qualify to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic.

This article first appeared on California Globe

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A June Phase 3 reopening

The re-openings would be contingent on COVID-19 coronavirus transmission rates continuing to either hold steady or fall in the coming weeks. Hospitals would also have to report no increases of stress on staff or supplies.

I was scrolling through social and found a thread that can be summarized as follows:

- Someone posts a political opinion,
- Someone else comments his disagreement and explains why,
- and the original poster comments back saying something like, “I blocked that guy in a heartbeat.”

A few seconds later, this chain of comments is deleted and all that’s left is the original post, its likes and a handful of agreeing comments only.

This article was first published on The Fulcrum

New Jersey piloted a new online voting system for people with disabilities this week, but a lawsuit could stop the state from using it again.

Human rights activists and law school students are challenging the new voting system, arguing it's unfair to expose only one category of voters to significant risk their ballots will get hacked with impunity.