1. Universal voter ID for universal vote-by-mail: Republicans could offer to accept some of Democrats' proposals for universal vote-by-mail, early voting, etc. as a nationwide standard -- if Democrats also accepted universal voter ID, either through photo ID or some other unique personal identification number.
2. A border wall for DACA: Democrats would agree to fund the border wall, in return for Republicans agreeing to give permanent legal residency to anyone brought into the U.S. as a minor before a certain date (it would have to be prior to this administration, though, since Biden is bringing in any and all comers).
3. Permanent residency in exchange for no vote: Republicans could agree to give permanent leal residency to the millions of illegal aliens in the country, on the condition that anyone who willingly entered the country illegally is never able to exercise the right to vote, ever. You can stay/work but you can't govern.
4. A carbon tax in exchange for the elimination of payroll taxes: Republicans could agree to a tax on carbon -- i.e. on the use of fossil fuels for energy of all kinds -- if Democrats agree to drop the payroll tax, which is a tax on work. Discourage waste instead of work. Encourage efficiency, reduce emissions.
5. Reparations in exchange for an end to affirmative action: I'm just playing with the idea here, but what if Congress agreed to some form of reparations payout, no questions asked, on condition that affirmative action be barred by an amendment to the Constitution, much like California's Proposition 209?
There are a lot of these. They don't get done because part of the business of politics as a career is making sure there are still disputes to fight about.
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
