Tag: 2016

Ethan Explains President Elect Trump

Posted in Life, PoliticsTagged , , , ,

The election is over and Donald J. Trump won fair and square. The system is not rigged and the people spoke through their vote.

First off, don’t despair. President-elect Trump’s acceptance speech was conciliatory and sounded like a Democrat with trillions of dollars of spending for infrastructure. Who will take those jobs? I don’t know.

Further, I was glad to see Sec. Clinton and President Obama strike tones of working together. We need success from this new president or we face an even harder road ahead.

Also, many are going to say social media changed everything and traditional media lost its power. I disagree, this election was all about frustration with politics as usual, the perception of corruption, and the feeling that those in power simply don’t care about We The People. This was about the man and his message, not the medium on which it was carried.

President-elect Trump has both the House and Senate, like President Obama did, for at least his first two years. He has made some big promises, the question is will the GOP work with him on some of the big spending he is proposing.

Lastly, I am deeply concerned that President-elect Trump made it normal that people tap into their Jungian shadow. The levels of sexism, xenophobia, and downright hatred are scary. What will he do to tamp down the neo-Nazi crowd that so lovingly supported his candidacy?

I’ll have more to say on this topic today. Tune in to KGO 810 from noon to 2 p.m. Pacific time on AM 810 or online at www.kgoradio.com

Ethan Explains California Proposition 58

Posted in Life, Media, PoliticsTagged , , , , , 2 Comments

Ethan Explains California Proposition 58

This is number 8 of 17 of the California statewide ballot initiatives in 2016 that I’ll cover. Proposition 58 is the “California Non-English Languages Allowed in Public Education Act (Senate Bill 1174.)”

Education in California has its share of challenges. Making sure all children are proficient in English when they graduate high school is critical for their ability to function in our society. This includes kids whose first language is not English.

Californians approved Prop 227 back in 1998 to ensure that non-native English speaking children had full immersion to learn English. This was in response to certain districts, educators, and activists undermining or failing to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).

What we’ve found in the meantime is that the severe measures of Prop 227 are not always effective. And it has taken away local control for choosing the best methods of teaching ESL.

Proposition 58 modifies Prop 227 to allow local control and flexibility to choose what the local parents and educators deem best for their children. Most importantly, Prop 58 does NOT remove the English language proficiency requirements.

Further, Proposition 58 requires no additional or new funding.

Last, having as many bilingual or multilingual children as possible only strengthens our country, our economy, and gives us advantages on the world stage. We want to be the best, right?

I say YES to Proposition 58.

Tune in to The Ethan Bearman Show Monday through Friday, noon to 2 p.m. on KGO 810 – www.kgoradio.com

Ethan Explains California Proposition 57

Posted in Crime & Punishment, Life, Media, PoliticsTagged , , , , ,

Ethan Explains California Proposition 57

This is number 7 of 17 of the California statewide ballot initiatives in 2016 that I’ll cover. Proposition 57 is the “California Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements Initiative.”

Prison overcrowding reached a crescendo resulting in federal court rulings to lessen the overcrowding in California. Governor Jerry Brown and the legislature passed AB109, prison realignment. That wasn’t enough so in 2014 there was Proposition 47, with a misleading title and facts no thanks to Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The governor and others claim we need to let even more “non-violent” criminals out of prison with Prop 57.

The problem is that within all of these “non-violent” criminals are a number of criminals interested in committing violent and property crimes. Crimes rates in both categories are up approximately 10% since Prop 47 took effect. That rise makes California the outlier in the United States as other states continue to see a drop in crime, ours is going up.

Even worse, take a look at what crimes will be recategorized as non-violent. According to the Riverside Country district attorney, Michael A. Hestrin, these will become lesser crimes in California and eligible for early release: Rape by intoxication (refers to a circumstance in which the victim was under the influence), Rape of an unconscious person, Human trafficking involving a sex act with minors, Assault with a deadly weapon, Drive-by shooting. Hostage taking, Supplying a firearm to a gang member. Hate crime causing physical injury, and many more.

Do you think those crimes should be reduced in severity and become eligible for early release?

I think California needs to pause in experimenting with recategorizing crimes and allowing so many people out of prison and jail.

I say NO to Proposition 57.

Tune in to The Ethan Bearman Show Monday through Friday, noon to 2 p.m. on KGO 810 – www.kgoradio.com

Ethan Presidential Vote Bombshell Announcement

Posted in Crime & Punishment, Life, PoliticsTagged , , , , 5 Comments

Ethan’s Presidential Vote Bombshell Announcement

Saturday, October 8, 2016, I have made my decision. If Donald Trump is on my ballot November 8th, I’ll vote for Hillary Clinton.

The audio of Trump’s conversation with Billy Bush is beyond sickening and apparently confirms that Trump isn’t just a misogynist, he is a sexual abuser of women. In his own words. Repeatedly.

This is not just “boys will be boys.” This is sexual abuse, abuse of power, and more. We can never teach our boys and young men that this is okay. It is not.

Take a look at New York’s Penal Code:
A person is guilty of forcible touching when such person intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose:
1. forcibly touches the sexual or other intimate parts of another person for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person, or for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire; or
2. subjects another person to sexual contact for the purpose of gratifying the actor’s sexual desire and with intent to degrade or abuse such other person while such other person is a passenger on a bus, train, or subway car operated by any transit agency, authority or company, public or private, whose operation is authorized by New York state or any of its political subdivisions. (N.Y. Penal Law § 130.52.)

or California’s:
Any person who touches an intimate part of another person, if the touching is against the will of the person touched, and is for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse, is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery, punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (Pen. Code, § 243.4(e)1.)

I strongly dislike that I am being forced into voting for who is likely to be the most flawed President in my lifetime. There are not viable alternatives this election and Trump’s own words and actions forced my hand.

Leave me your comments below.

Tune in to The Ethan Bearman Show weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. Pacific Time on KGO 810 – www.kgoradio.com

EDIT: To be clear, this is NOT an endorsement of Hillary Clinton, just a statement of my opinion. I still want a viable 3rd and 4th party, they just need to do better than Johnson and Stein to get my vote.

Ethan Explains Bernie Should Support Jill

Posted in Media, PoliticsTagged , , , , , , ,

Ethan Explains Bernie Should Support Jill

Dr. Jill Stein is running for President on the Green Party ticket. For the Senator Bernie Sanders supporters, she appears to be a natural fit for them. Why aren’t they or you supporting Jill?

Take a look at her platform positions like: A Green New Deal, Jobs as a Right, End Poverty, Health Care as a Right, Education as a Right, A Just Economy, Protect Mother Earth, and more. This fits with Bernie, right?

The polls show Dr. Stein from as low as 0% support in Mississippi to 7% in Colorado. So, your circular argument that she isn’t high enough in the polls is YOUR fault if you don’t support her.

Please comment below and tell me Bernie supporters, why don’t you support Dr. Jill Stein?

Tune in to The Ethan Bearman Show every weekday from noon to 2pm Pacific time on KGO 810 or listen online and download podcasts of each show segment at www.kgoradio.com

KGO 810