{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Support","color":"#2ca788","stance":"support"},{"text":"Oppose","color":"#ef3e42","stance":"oppose"}],"id":45365,"title":"China's New Security Law Criminalizes Advocacy for Democracy in Hong Kong by Anyone in the World","html_content":"

by Causes | 7.8.20

What’s the story?

The new national security law adopted by the Chinese Communist Party that seeks to stifle dissent in Hong Kong has a much broader scope than initially anticipated ― in fact, you may break it in the eyes of the CCP simply by offering a comment in support of Hong Kong’s democracy on this article.
The draconian law aims to prevent a recurrence of the pro-democracy protests that gripped Hong Kong last year. It took effect last week and makes crimes of secession, sedition, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces punishable by life in prison. It can also allow for the confiscation of any property obtained through such offenses.
But one provision, known as Article 38, goes much further by stating, “This Law shall apply to offences under this Law committed against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region.”
Wang Minyao, a Chinese-American lawyer based in the U.S., confirmed to Axios that this provision of the law would leave anyone who advocates for democracy in Hong Kong or criticizes the CCP or the Hong Kong government at risk of punishment if they ever visit Hong Kong:

“It literally applies to every single person on the planet. This is how it reads. If I appear at a congressional committee in D.C. and say something critical, that literally would be a violation of this law.”

As extreme as this provision is, it’s actually a codification of the CCP’s longstanding practices. This year a Chinese student was sentenced to six months in prison for a tweet criticizing CCP leader Xi Jinping he sent in the U.S. while attending the University of Minnesota.
Pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong have already faced arrest under the law, and Hong Kong’s libraries have begun to pull non-compliant books off the shelves.
The implementation of the national security law essentially spells the end of the “one country, two systems” that the People’s Republic of China agreed to when Britain handed over Hong Kong. The agreement required the PRC to allow Hong Kong to practice a democratic form of government under common law for 50 years, through 2047.
The Trump administration has responded to the national security law by deeming Hong Kong no longer autonomous, which allows the federal government to impose sanctions on CCP officials responsible & end special trade status for the territory.
Britain has responded by offering citizenship to nearly 3 million Hong Kong residents who want to leave, and members of Congress are drafting legislation to offer them refugee visas in the U.S. ― but the PRC has indicated it may prohibit Hong Kongers from leaving the territory.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Voice of America Cantonese Service - Iris Tong / Public Domain)

","image_urls":{"large":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/akW3yomg/db2f2b/1_july_2020_implementation_Hong_Kong_Law_streets_in_Causeway_Bay.jpg","medium":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/akW3yomg/db2f2b/1_july_2020_implementation_Hong_Kong_Law_streets_in_Causeway_Bay.jpg","small":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/akW3yomg/db2f2b/1_july_2020_implementation_Hong_Kong_Law_streets_in_Causeway_Bay.jpg","thumb":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/akW3yomg/db2f2b/1_july_2020_implementation_Hong_Kong_Law_streets_in_Causeway_Bay.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/akW3yomg/db2f2b/1_july_2020_implementation_Hong_Kong_Law_streets_in_Causeway_Bay.jpg"},"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/articles/45365-china-s-new-security-law-criminalizes-advocacy-democracy-hong-kong-world","article_comments":"https://www.causes.com/api/articles/45365-china-s-new-security-law-criminalizes-advocacy-democracy-hong-kong-world/comments"},"comment_count":195,"action_count":1976,"cta_prompt":"Do you support democracy & autonomy in Hong Kong?","cta_type":"reactions","share_count":18,"published_at":"2020-07-08T22:34:18.837Z","is_countable_article":true,"allow_advocacy":true,"profile_id":1,"signed":false,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signable_progress":0,"video_url":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_aspect_ratio":null}],"users":[{"name":"Toni","vote_count":662,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/10208281529535572/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/10208281529535572/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/10208281529535572/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/10208281529535572/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/eWM5VQGW/following","followers":"/api/users/eWM5VQGW/followers"},"about_me":"","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":25,"is_following":null,"influence_score":90,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":4,"following_count":0,"position_count":542,"id":"eWM5VQGW","partner_id":null},{"name":"Lesia","vote_count":1821,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/100000811112177/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/100000811112177/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/100000811112177/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/100000811112177/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/gZAAnyZb/following","followers":"/api/users/gZAAnyZb/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":110,"is_following":null,"influence_score":11940,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":87,"following_count":21,"position_count":691,"id":"gZAAnyZb","partner_id":null},{"name":"Kathleen","vote_count":24,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/130923117807985/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/130923117807985/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/130923117807985/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/130923117807985/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/kW3J5dr9/following","followers":"/api/users/kW3J5dr9/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":270,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":14,"following_count":0,"position_count":10,"id":"kW3J5dr9","partner_id":null},{"name":"Kavi","vote_count":17,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/1453899843/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/1453899843/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/1453899843/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1453899843/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/Lm44vjwm/following","followers":"/api/users/Lm44vjwm/followers"},"about_me":"Unapologetic leftist.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"kavi","issue_count":17,"is_following":null,"influence_score":60,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":2,"following_count":26,"position_count":6,"id":"Lm44vjwm","partner_id":null},{"name":"Darby","vote_count":568,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/338861409824137/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/338861409824137/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/338861409824137/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/338861409824137/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/4mKKEz0m/following","followers":"/api/users/4mKKEz0m/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":12,"is_following":null,"influence_score":370,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":12,"following_count":4,"position_count":555,"id":"4mKKEz0m","partner_id":null},{"name":"Ray","vote_count":1164,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-flags.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/AmpYxKB9/following","followers":"/api/users/AmpYxKB9/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":131,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1060,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":37,"following_count":12,"position_count":994,"id":"AmpYxKB9","partner_id":null},{"name":"Mary","vote_count":1055,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/MZP0oOqZ/large_mzp0ooqz-1537460213.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/MZP0oOqZ/small_mzp0ooqz-1537460213.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/MZP0oOqZ/tiny_mzp0ooqz-1537460213.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/MZP0oOqZ/following","followers":"/api/users/MZP0oOqZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":6,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1770,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":70,"following_count":26,"position_count":299,"id":"MZP0oOqZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Dicr","vote_count":221,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XBdlXZ/large_e9xbdlxz-1538070422.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XBdlXZ/small_e9xbdlxz-1538070422.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XBdlXZ/tiny_e9xbdlxz-1538070422.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/e9XBdlXZ/following","followers":"/api/users/e9XBdlXZ/followers"},"about_me":"Concerned American who wants to leave a better America for our children and a better world for all.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"dicr","issue_count":25,"is_following":null,"influence_score":6120,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":222,"following_count":2,"position_count":159,"id":"e9XBdlXZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Brian","vote_count":660,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/Q9zejaOm/large_q9zejaom-1593604071.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/Q9zejaOm/small_q9zejaom-1593604071.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/Q9zejaOm/tiny_q9zejaom-1593604071.jpg","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/10212492284331978/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/Q9zejaOm/following","followers":"/api/users/Q9zejaOm/followers"},"about_me":"We all have inalienable rights, and we must keep working together until we're all able to exercise our rights equally without infringing on or hurting others.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":37,"is_following":null,"influence_score":3420,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":138,"following_count":7,"position_count":643,"id":"Q9zejaOm","partner_id":null},{"name":"Joan","vote_count":271,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/aW5Ve3KZ/large_aw5ve3kz-1616948588.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/aW5Ve3KZ/small_aw5ve3kz-1616948588.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/aW5Ve3KZ/tiny_aw5ve3kz-1616948588.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/aW5Ve3KZ/following","followers":"/api/users/aW5Ve3KZ/followers"},"about_me":"Retired critical care RN, passionate about politics from a very young age. Find bullies despicable","twitter_id":"gkhvd4@hotmail.com","facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":76,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1510,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":57,"following_count":131,"position_count":110,"id":"aW5Ve3KZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Jill","vote_count":739,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-2.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/LWg5DXem/following","followers":"/api/users/LWg5DXem/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":32,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1360,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":34,"following_count":4,"position_count":279,"id":"LWg5DXem","partner_id":null},{"name":"Rita","vote_count":89,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/emQxP4YZ/following","followers":"/api/users/emQxP4YZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":12,"is_following":null,"influence_score":210,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":7,"following_count":2,"position_count":35,"id":"emQxP4YZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Michael.J.L","vote_count":416,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mr1M5pZ/large_8mr1m5pz-1509579670.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mr1M5pZ/small_8mr1m5pz-1509579670.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mr1M5pZ/tiny_8mr1m5pz-1509579670.jpg","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/3015838471830341/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/8mr1M5pZ/following","followers":"/api/users/8mr1M5pZ/followers"},"about_me":"Married, Veteran, Politically & Socially Progressive, Roman Catholic, Animal Lover. We need to create the future not run from it.","twitter_id":"@MJ_Lindemann","facebook_id":"michael.j.lindemann.5","youtube_id":"","google_plus_id":null,"website":"","slug":"michael.j.l","issue_count":123,"is_following":null,"influence_score":2880,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":71,"following_count":63,"position_count":272,"id":"8mr1M5pZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"burrkitty","vote_count":1183,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mrvqvpm/large_8mrvqvpm-1581212707.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mrvqvpm/small_8mrvqvpm-1581212707.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/8mrvqvpm/tiny_8mrvqvpm-1581212707.jpg","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/724966854372469/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/8mrvqvpm/following","followers":"/api/users/8mrvqvpm/followers"},"about_me":"You may have to confront the risk, the possibility, of your own death. Since the day you were born, that’s always been on the cards. Most of us find it easier to bury our heads in the sand. Avoidance is the #1 most popular coping strategy in the world. We live in denial of the self-evident fact that we all die eventually. The Stoics believed that when we’re confronted with our own mortality, and grasp its implications, that can change our perspective on life quite dramatically. Any of us could die at any moment. Life doesn’t go on forever. If you say that you won't vote in the general election if your candidate doesn't win the nomination, you're saying to millions of people you think their suffering is an appropriate price for your righteous indignation.\nThere is NO moral justification for sitting out this election. IRL I am an environmental hydrogeologist. I specialize in municipal stormwater management and karst groundwater systems. You can deny the effects of anthropogenic forced global climate change all day, but when your water well salts up, your streets and yards flood, or your house falls in a sinkhole or gets crushed by a landslide you will be calling me for help like I am the GD Batman.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"burrkitty","issue_count":145,"is_following":null,"influence_score":15350,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":522,"following_count":41,"position_count":1000,"id":"8mrvqvpm","partner_id":null},{"name":"Kathleen","vote_count":440,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/emQLjq7Z/large_emqljq7z-1598287957.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/emQLjq7Z/small_emqljq7z-1598287957.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/emQLjq7Z/tiny_emqljq7z-1598287957.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/emQLjq7Z/following","followers":"/api/users/emQLjq7Z/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":"","facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":"","website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":50,"is_following":null,"influence_score":720,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":40,"following_count":178,"position_count":167,"id":"emQLjq7Z","partner_id":"efa417af-11b4-4a08-9b10-fff245626400"},{"name":"Mary","vote_count":190,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/3403799189676107/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/3403799189676107/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/3403799189676107/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/3403799189676107/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/P9odBYoW/following","followers":"/api/users/P9odBYoW/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":"","slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1340,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":54,"following_count":0,"position_count":70,"id":"P9odBYoW","partner_id":"efa417af-11b4-4a08-9b10-fff245626400"},{"name":"Joseph","vote_count":160,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/w9D6xXRZ/large_w9d6xxrz-1559158596.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/w9D6xXRZ/small_w9d6xxrz-1559158596.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/w9D6xXRZ/tiny_w9d6xxrz-1559158596.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/w9D6xXRZ/following","followers":"/api/users/w9D6xXRZ/followers"},"about_me":"Most important: family, friendship, music, humor, fun, veracity, honesty, kindness, spirituality, choice, accountability, individualism, globalism, diversity, education, truth, animal rights, term limits, passion, generosity, tolerance, Peace, Bill of Rights # 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10, & the 28th Amendment! Least important: power, hypocrisy, intolerance, stupidity, religion, lawlessness, double standards, avarice, arrogance, Bill of Rights # 2.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":600,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":23,"following_count":21,"position_count":161,"id":"w9D6xXRZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Paul ","vote_count":199,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/3155503604485275/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/3155503604485275/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/3155503604485275/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/3155503604485275/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/w9D6KvlZ/following","followers":"/api/users/w9D6KvlZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":12,"is_following":null,"influence_score":330,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":11,"following_count":2,"position_count":19,"id":"w9D6KvlZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"Joanne ","vote_count":362,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/zm8wROXZ/large_zm8wroxz-1583291005.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/zm8wROXZ/small_zm8wroxz-1583291005.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/zm8wROXZ/tiny_zm8wroxz-1583291005.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/zm8wROXZ/following","followers":"/api/users/zm8wROXZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":2700,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":106,"following_count":13,"position_count":274,"id":"zm8wROXZ","partner_id":"efa417af-11b4-4a08-9b10-fff245626400"},{"name":"Teralyn ","vote_count":449,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/237119903753173/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/237119903753173/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/237119903753173/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/237119903753173/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/ZkEQL5yb/following","followers":"/api/users/ZkEQL5yb/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":"profile.ph","youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":145,"is_following":null,"influence_score":510,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":22,"following_count":169,"position_count":416,"id":"ZkEQL5yb","partner_id":null},{"name":"Robert (steve)","vote_count":228,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/W2oNQy2J/large_w2onqy2j-1549675702.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/W2oNQy2J/small_w2onqy2j-1549675702.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/W2oNQy2J/tiny_w2onqy2j-1549675702.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/W2oNQy2J/following","followers":"/api/users/W2oNQy2J/followers"},"about_me":"Working man hope to retire one day with my country still being a democracy","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":1,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1080,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":47,"following_count":0,"position_count":217,"id":"W2oNQy2J","partner_id":"b1d5b10a-60bf-46c5-b1a3-296a82402945"},{"name":"Cynthia","vote_count":142,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/10161187930445447/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/10161187930445447/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/10161187930445447/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/10161187930445447/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/ZOxK2dj2/following","followers":"/api/users/ZOxK2dj2/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":18,"is_following":null,"influence_score":150,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":6,"following_count":10,"position_count":106,"id":"ZOxK2dj2","partner_id":null},{"name":"Jeanne","vote_count":55,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/10214340392263694/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/10214340392263694/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/10214340392263694/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/10214340392263694/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/Z76PkRnV/following","followers":"/api/users/Z76PkRnV/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":330,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":10,"following_count":0,"position_count":22,"id":"Z76PkRnV","partner_id":null},{"name":"Diane ","vote_count":431,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/WdBRwLo1/following","followers":"/api/users/WdBRwLo1/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":0,"is_following":null,"influence_score":0,"influence_level":0,"follower_count":3,"following_count":1,"position_count":122,"id":"WdBRwLo1","partner_id":null},{"name":"jimK","vote_count":568,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/large_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/small_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/tiny_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/9odrQBnb/following","followers":"/api/users/9odrQBnb/followers"},"about_me":"Retired, Politically Independent. Won’t listen to slogans, chanted mantras or generally any kind of marketing spin or “rebranding” crap. I firmly believe that everyone else is entitled to their erroneous opinions. Citizen vigilance and due diligence is price we must pay to live in a thriving, functional democracy.\nI fear that our citizens are too easily swayed by politician’s pablum about “babies”, “jobs” and now, in particular, perceived “enemies”. I fear that a citizenry focused on the “here-and-now” is easily tricked by short term benefits that have negative long-term consequences. I fear that our legislators are more concerned about buffing their constituents than looking out for the long-term welfare of our country- and are way too eager to provide those short-term benefits to the “here-and-now” crowd.\nI fear that honor is generally being sacrificed/replaced by expediency. I hear politicians eloquently argue for one side of an issue and later, when it’s to their benefit, just as eloquently argue for the opposite side. OK, so they are good at arguing- but what is that they actually believe? What is it that they actually stand for? An honorable person has values that persist even when it is not convenient or expedient. An honorable person has a moral compass that stops them from doing something wrong even if it is not illegal. A foul is a foul- even if the referee doesn’t catch you.\nI fear that each of our federal governmental branches have devised or discovered shortcuts which tend to protect them from the checks and balances our founders intended.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"jimk","issue_count":4,"is_following":null,"influence_score":48240,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":1632,"following_count":88,"position_count":565,"id":"9odrQBnb","partner_id":null},{"name":"Dave ","vote_count":118,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9VO7rRGz/large_9vo7rrgz-1570386212.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9VO7rRGz/small_9vo7rrgz-1570386212.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9VO7rRGz/tiny_9vo7rrgz-1570386212.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/9VO7rRGz/following","followers":"/api/users/9VO7rRGz/followers"},"about_me":"Pissed off Professor.","twitter_id":"","facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":50,"is_following":null,"influence_score":1230,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":44,"following_count":26,"position_count":159,"id":"9VO7rRGz","partner_id":null}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":1304866,"body":"Protect Hong Kong","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":45365,"created_at":"2020-07-08T22:56:47.801Z","liked":false,"like_count":29,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/1304866","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=1304866&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":45365,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/1304866.png","note":{"text":"Support","color":"#2ca788","stance":"support"},"note_text":"Support","note_color":"#2ca788","user_id":"eWM5VQGW","liker_ids":["gZAAnyZb","kW3J5dr9","Lm44vjwm","4mKKEz0m","AmpYxKB9","MZP0oOqZ","e9XBdlXZ","Q9zejaOm","aW5Ve3KZ","LWg5DXem","emQxP4YZ","8mr1M5pZ","8mrvqvpm","emQLjq7Z","P9odBYoW","w9D6xXRZ","w9D6KvlZ","zm8wROXZ","ZkEQL5yb","W2oNQy2J","ZOxK2dj2","Z76PkRnV","WdBRwLo1","9odrQBnb","9VO7rRGz"]}}

Like Causes?

Comment Liked by 29 Users