Cutting taxes to raise the level of prosperity of the population will not work. By cutting deductions for the top one percent and lowering taxes, you leave the American government vastly underfunded.
This gives the leadership an additional mandate with far more sinister implications. They can now cut education, and other things very important to the average american: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
Not to mention Food Stamps, I would like to challenge you all to $29.00 a week on groceries just like the mayor of Phoenix Arizona. Unable to focus, concentrate and function at your best now when it is most needed.
The times have changed since the founding of the American Republic when it was primarily an agrarian society. We had a nation of independent communities that could function mostly independent of the other.
Now we live in a new global era where the agrarian solutions to the nations problems no longer work. However the agrarian foundation new that it's own time was limited, so they created a constitution, and a framework for a country whose government was limited enough to protect the civil rights and liberties of the people expand upon them. And to change with the times.
We should be building our own nation, most of our infrastructure which when it was built kept the nation employed but also brought the nation together in ways it was not before, is crumbling to pieces and expired around ten years ago.
The amount of money that would enter the economy from the creation of all these jobs will prove crucial to the revival and recovery of the middle class. Our new infrastructure will be able to carry more people more efficiently and thus further encourage economic activity.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Obama Just Took It
Mitt Romney just lied and attacked the president. Obama just took it.
Where was my president? Where was my commander-in-chief? Let all the people know the liberal's, real liberal's want the blood of the republican elephant.
If this was a pistol duel, in which both parties take ten paces each the republicans take 5 then turn around and shoot the other party in the back.
Where was my president? Where was my commander-in-chief? Let all the people know the liberal's, real liberal's want the blood of the republican elephant.
If this was a pistol duel, in which both parties take ten paces each the republicans take 5 then turn around and shoot the other party in the back.
Todd The Science Guy
"The female body has a way of shutting the whole thing down."
The now infamous quote from Representative Todd Akin is one of those moments where you don't know whether or not to cry or laugh. Now while he may not even know the definition of rape, what he doesn't know could fill several books.
Unfortunately if one were to write a book about what he does know it probably is filled with animated illustrations, and would certainly not include science. And yet he is on the United States of America's House of Representative's Science Committee.
Rape is rape and contrary to recent conservative belief there is no such thing as consensual rape.
Why golly, do my eyes play tricks on me or is that word highlighted word force. And if I'm not mistaken, I do believe that, that is the same Force found in the word Forcible?
There hope for America
I here this question asked and am asked it myself sometimes. My answer is yes. There is hope for America and the rest of the world as well. We have walked back from the brink of catastrophe before. However we must not get complacent. Napoleon Bonaparte once said "the best defence is a strong offense".
We as a nation are at war. Not only on terror but on human emotion. We as a people must fight against a growing belief in the inevitability of the end. We have not yet fallen into the abyss. But ask yourself this.
We as a nation are at war. Not only on terror but on human emotion. We as a people must fight against a growing belief in the inevitability of the end. We have not yet fallen into the abyss. But ask yourself this.
How much longer are you willing and how much longer will you be able to stare into it?
Citizens Divided
It is no secret that nothing divides the nation more than a good election. But never before has it been as bad. I'm not talking about the level of partisanship, our economy or our environment. I am talking about the adds. They are on every channel every hour of every day. Be it on TV or on the radio, they are everywhere.
There is one good thing about all this though. Not only does it show why Super-Pacs should be illegal, but why campaigns should be publicly financed. We the people have no Public Forum beyond the media, therefore every idea and agenda should be allowed to have the same amount of time opportunity to be discussed.
And I do mean every idea, be it democrat or republican, liberal or conservative, communist or facism (nazisim). I am confident that the ideology that is both morally right and realistically sound will be chosen by the American people.
This would allow more people to speak, thus ensuring a free society. Right now the money of the few drowns out the voices of the many. I fear for my country, it doesn't matter how many voices speak, if only one or two can be heard, than it is bad for America, and her people.
There is one good thing about all this though. Not only does it show why Super-Pacs should be illegal, but why campaigns should be publicly financed. We the people have no Public Forum beyond the media, therefore every idea and agenda should be allowed to have the same amount of time opportunity to be discussed.
And I do mean every idea, be it democrat or republican, liberal or conservative, communist or facism (nazisim). I am confident that the ideology that is both morally right and realistically sound will be chosen by the American people.
This would allow more people to speak, thus ensuring a free society. Right now the money of the few drowns out the voices of the many. I fear for my country, it doesn't matter how many voices speak, if only one or two can be heard, than it is bad for America, and her people.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
What the Sikhs can teach us about Humanity
I confess that like many americans I knew little about the Sikhs, their religion or their customs. When I first saw the report on the news I was horrified and angry, I was not even a minute ago trying to answer my little brother's question:
"Why do people hate and discriminate against other people."
And yet at the vigil the Sikhs were not filled with hatred, anger and a lust for vengence, but compassion, and even forgivness for the shooter, who was himself killed by the police.
Law enforcement official'spresent such as the towns cheif of police John Edwards, was amazed by their reaction:
"In 28 years of law enforcement, I have seen a lot of hate. I have seen a lot of revenge. I've seen a lot of anger. What I saw, particularly from the Sikh community this week was compassion, concern, support,"
They were all honored individually:
"Why do people hate and discriminate against other people."
And yet at the vigil the Sikhs were not filled with hatred, anger and a lust for vengence, but compassion, and even forgivness for the shooter, who was himself killed by the police.
Law enforcement official'spresent such as the towns cheif of police John Edwards, was amazed by their reaction:
"In 28 years of law enforcement, I have seen a lot of hate. I have seen a lot of revenge. I've seen a lot of anger. What I saw, particularly from the Sikh community this week was compassion, concern, support,"
They were all honored individually:
Satwant Kaleka, 65, is the victim most often talked about in the wider community because, the vigil was told, he "died defending the temple he built attempting to fend off a gunman who attacked worshippers on Sunday". The FBI told Kaleka's family that he tried to stop the killer with a knife. He was mortally wounded but his attempt bought time for other people to get away. HIs wife, Satpal, was hiding in a closet during the massacre. Kaleka came to the US in 1980 with only $100 but he built a successful business.
Paramjit Kaur, 41, was the only woman killed. The audience heard her described as "selfless" in putting her 18- and 20-year-old sons first, and a great value on education. She arrived with her husband, Inder, from the Punjab region eight years ago and worked at a medical instruments company.
Suveg Singh was, at 84, the oldest victim. He was a farmer who moved to the US with his wife only eight years ago in order to live with his sons. Singh was described as devout, "always happy" and a man willing to engage with anyone.
Sita Singh, 41, was a priest at the temple born in India who moved to New York and then arrived in Oak Creek earlier this year. The vigil heard that he was a "top and dedicated man who was very easy to talk to". He is survived by his wife and four children. He led morning services at about 5am.
Ranjit Singh, 49, was Sita's Singh's brother and a former priest at the temple. More recently he played drums during prayer services. He left India 15 years ago and has not seen his son, who was just seven months old back then, in that time. Singh and the boy were to be reunited during a visit to Delhi in November. His body is expected to be returned to India for burial along with his brother.
Prakash Singh, brought his wife and two children, ages 11 and 12, family to the US from India only six weeks ago after seven years apart. Singh was a priest and received his permanent resident card at the beginning of the year after living in the US for nine years.
The world lost 6 good human beings in this massacre, let us remember them and let us look to them
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The 2012 Election Why I Believe Mitt Romney Would be a bad President
We all know that anything that is carefully built and maintained, does not fail easily, and will take a long time to fail when first neglected. Mitt Romney may have on paper lowered taxes for certain demographics but created a much higher indirect tax.
Mitt Romney lead Massachusetts into an ice field and like Ismay on the Titanic escaped as the ship was going down.
One of many situations in the post-Romney Massachusetts, is that school children now have to cross at least one dangerous road/highway to make it to school because their parents are out of work and money that they would have paid to the town for bussing is now going to a health insurance company.
And for those who say "When I was a kid I walked to school everyday." The year is 2012 not 1953. The era we know live in is frught with more cars then ever before, on roads with crumbling sidewalks if any at all. Drivers who can't be bothered to pay attention to the road, as their facebook status is in need of updating and they havent postedsomething on twitter for the past 5 minutes. The roads are not as safe as they once were. And due to the culture of our day the youth is not as vigilant or even aware as they were in previous generations.
Mitt Romney lead Massachusetts into an ice field and like Ismay on the Titanic escaped as the ship was going down.
One of many situations in the post-Romney Massachusetts, is that school children now have to cross at least one dangerous road/highway to make it to school because their parents are out of work and money that they would have paid to the town for bussing is now going to a health insurance company.
And for those who say "When I was a kid I walked to school everyday." The year is 2012 not 1953. The era we know live in is frught with more cars then ever before, on roads with crumbling sidewalks if any at all. Drivers who can't be bothered to pay attention to the road, as their facebook status is in need of updating and they havent postedsomething on twitter for the past 5 minutes. The roads are not as safe as they once were. And due to the culture of our day the youth is not as vigilant or even aware as they were in previous generations.
Justification or Treason?
I not too long ago have overheard during the summer from conservatives in everyday life talk hypothetically about "removing the president" and I heard similar talk from the more radical left regarding fmr. President Bush.
We all have moments of weakness and indeed frustration, but one must ask what precedent is being set should our actions have been successfully executed actions. And whether or not the root cause of our desire is simply a difference in politics or a real act of treason.
As radical as my politics are, I would never act against the republic unless the republic was no more, a government of, for and by the people, but usurped by a more insidious and anti-republican, anti-democratic power.
The failure to act against measures such as the Patriot Act, and now Citizens United is nota failure of government or the usurpation of government. They could be used and if left to be legitimized by time against the republic, given to us by our forefathers who have now not only passed the torch but now the obligation to protect and defend our very way of life.
We all have moments of weakness and indeed frustration, but one must ask what precedent is being set should our actions have been successfully executed actions. And whether or not the root cause of our desire is simply a difference in politics or a real act of treason.
As radical as my politics are, I would never act against the republic unless the republic was no more, a government of, for and by the people, but usurped by a more insidious and anti-republican, anti-democratic power.
The failure to act against measures such as the Patriot Act, and now Citizens United is nota failure of government or the usurpation of government. They could be used and if left to be legitimized by time against the republic, given to us by our forefathers who have now not only passed the torch but now the obligation to protect and defend our very way of life.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Postal Service
In Newsweek I recently read an article about the potential privatization of the Postal Service. This would be the wrong choice for America. The congress could solve the fiscal problems of the Post Office, but has chosen not to. You can thank the Republican "Just Say No" approach to lawmaking.
I would not trust a private corporation to assume the role of the post office. Just look at other government responsibilities and posts that have been privatized. Here and around the world the examples serve as a warning. The American Enrichment Corporation, has caused costs to skyrocket. British Petroleum an efficient state owned company was privatized and we all know how that ended.
There are somethings in our everyday life that should not be based on a for profit motive. The postal service is one of them. Our Postal Service in the US is a very efficient and affordable service that no-one is unable to use should they wish to.
I would not trust a private corporation to assume the role of the post office. Just look at other government responsibilities and posts that have been privatized. Here and around the world the examples serve as a warning. The American Enrichment Corporation, has caused costs to skyrocket. British Petroleum an efficient state owned company was privatized and we all know how that ended.
There are somethings in our everyday life that should not be based on a for profit motive. The postal service is one of them. Our Postal Service in the US is a very efficient and affordable service that no-one is unable to use should they wish to.
In Short
Keep Your Corporate Hands Off My Mail!
Monday, July 23, 2012
Build babby Build!
Obama inspired the nation's young people in ways never before seen. And with it he could have moved mountains. Well maybe not move them, perhaps just fix the tunnels and the roads that go along them. America's infrastructure for the most part has either the New Deal or Eisenhower's defence spending to thank for it's very existence. It was what allowed us to in the 50's actually be number one.
But like all things it has an expiration date. And do to our inability to put the milk back in the fridge so to speak it is quickly reaching the end of it's lifespan. Most of these bridges roads and damns were not meant to last forever, indeed most of these projects were only mean to last 50 years. That time has come and gone, and it only speaks to previous American expertise that they are indeed for the most part still in use never mind standing.
Most if not all of these man made wonders are operating at much higher capacity then they were ever meant to carry, without any of the maintenance they reacquire, longer than they were built to last. Next time you go over a bridge particularly a suspension bridge over a canal, look at all the rust corroding the supports, the metal chords and the pillars, and know that you could die just by going over this bridge that should be properly maintained if not retired from service.
For it is the bridge near you and not London Bridge that is falling down.
My fair lady...
But like all things it has an expiration date. And do to our inability to put the milk back in the fridge so to speak it is quickly reaching the end of it's lifespan. Most of these bridges roads and damns were not meant to last forever, indeed most of these projects were only mean to last 50 years. That time has come and gone, and it only speaks to previous American expertise that they are indeed for the most part still in use never mind standing.
Most if not all of these man made wonders are operating at much higher capacity then they were ever meant to carry, without any of the maintenance they reacquire, longer than they were built to last. Next time you go over a bridge particularly a suspension bridge over a canal, look at all the rust corroding the supports, the metal chords and the pillars, and know that you could die just by going over this bridge that should be properly maintained if not retired from service.
For it is the bridge near you and not London Bridge that is falling down.
My fair lady...
The rising cost of College
Paying for college is no easy feat, and it is one that is growing ever harder with the passage of time, exponentially so. What many do not see is that our nation is slowly once again trying to form an elite class.
Yes college loans and scholarships are making it easier for more to go. But they will be paying off this debt for the rest of their lives.
That means that there will be that much less consumer spending, meaning the economy will suffer.
Nationwide student loan debt tops 1 trillion dollars, and it is growing. The cost of college is growing so fast it has outstripped inflation. The best part is there is no real way to control it. As we need them more than they need us. Society needs to introduce measures to control the cost of a college education. The amount of money the average American makes has flat lined since Ronald Reagan, inflation has skyrocketed. The only reason why this has been hidden is a great deception on the part of the corporate world, by Firing Americans and hiring what is equivalent of slaves and paying them less then old Ebenezer Scrooge would give to charity before his spectral visits, they have hid their highway robbery of the American people, with lower prices on everyday trinkets.
How can the average person pay for college, in such a world?
Yes college loans and scholarships are making it easier for more to go. But they will be paying off this debt for the rest of their lives.
That means that there will be that much less consumer spending, meaning the economy will suffer.
Nationwide student loan debt tops 1 trillion dollars, and it is growing. The cost of college is growing so fast it has outstripped inflation. The best part is there is no real way to control it. As we need them more than they need us. Society needs to introduce measures to control the cost of a college education. The amount of money the average American makes has flat lined since Ronald Reagan, inflation has skyrocketed. The only reason why this has been hidden is a great deception on the part of the corporate world, by Firing Americans and hiring what is equivalent of slaves and paying them less then old Ebenezer Scrooge would give to charity before his spectral visits, they have hid their highway robbery of the American people, with lower prices on everyday trinkets.
How can the average person pay for college, in such a world?
Saturday, July 14, 2012
How Humility Can Save Our Nation
Americans are known for saying their nation is number one. Number one in what, having the best schools, or perhaps the most civil rights, longest life span, or best healthcare? No we don't qualify for number one in any of those categories. We do however imprison more people than any other people on the planet.
But somehow when everyone was cheering "we're number one!" I don't think our incarceration rate is what they are talking about.
While the pride of these people is in many ways justified we've stopped moving forward. We may have been the first kid to the swimming hole, but we have been just sticking our big toe in the water and deciding after doing this for about half an hour the water is too cold while all the other kids have cannon-balled in.
America can be number one once again. By being humble. In order to be number one we must first acknowledge that we no longer are. This will remove the blinders upon which we have placed on ourselves as a society. If we acknowledge the fact that we are not the best and in some cases not even close, the veil of complacency which has draped itself upon us will be lifted.
America had a manifest destiny once to expand from sea to shining sea. Now we must make a second promise to the American people. That we will make our nation the best of the best. Not through the use of arms, enforcing a Pax Americana but through a new high culture that we can build.
The saying goes that "Rome was not built in a day" but then again the flip side of the phrase is "Rome did not fall in a day either" Rome when a republic had a greatness although flawed by prejudice was still ahead of its' time, and thus "Rome did not fall in a day either". Rome fell because it stagnated and the pride of the roman citizen stood alone when the deeds that made Rome great were no longer done. Architectural wonders were built for the glory of a single person, and were wonders of prestige and social status. Decadence replaced hard work and unless we as a nation wake up we will go the way of Rome.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Disenfranchising
Many states led by the right wing are leading a charge to make voting nearly impossible many minority groups and the underclass. This is most reminiscent of the Alien and Sedition Acts which delayed the citizenship of thousands of immigrants, in an attempt by the federalist party to remain in power.
My question is why would the conservatives of the country wish to make it harder to vote for those who don't share their views and social background? As opinionated as I am I would never seek to take away the franchise that is voting from the right wing.
The right to vote is something that wars have been waged over toppled governments and started wars. The only way to preserve a Republican society like we have here in the United States, is to ensure that as many people as possible participate in the electoral process. This is our nation, and this is our government.
If we don't fight this then I fear that we shall be going down a path were only one party has power, no matter how right or wrong it may be, omnipotence leads to naught but ill. And should we allow this to continue then government of the people, by the people, for the people, may just perish from the Earth.
My question is why would the conservatives of the country wish to make it harder to vote for those who don't share their views and social background? As opinionated as I am I would never seek to take away the franchise that is voting from the right wing.
The right to vote is something that wars have been waged over toppled governments and started wars. The only way to preserve a Republican society like we have here in the United States, is to ensure that as many people as possible participate in the electoral process. This is our nation, and this is our government.
If we don't fight this then I fear that we shall be going down a path were only one party has power, no matter how right or wrong it may be, omnipotence leads to naught but ill. And should we allow this to continue then government of the people, by the people, for the people, may just perish from the Earth.
Unfortunately one wont always succeed in the fight for freedom, but that doesn't mean one should no longer try.
What is Virtue?
1.
moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.
2.
conformity of one's life and conduct to moral and ethicalprinciples; uprightness; rectitude.
3.
chastity; virginity: to lose one's virtue.
5.
a good or admirable quality or property: the virtue of knowingone's weaknesses.
So this is what virtue is. But I bet you all already knew that. If not in so many words. Many of us grew up with the tale of Pinocchio as portrayed by Walt Disney, the puppet who wanted to be a real boy who would have to listen to his "conscience" in the form of Jiminy Cricket.
Unfortunately we don't have an adorable little bug, to bug (yes pun intended) to tell us right from wrong in a memorable little jingle. We have to do that task ourselves.
We try to excuse our actions, saying that it was the only way... but ask yourself the only way to what? Where is it that you are going that is so imperative. What exactly are you accomplishing?
Society is created by all who take part in it. To provide an order to things, an order in which we can safely and productively interact with others. By acting against the best interests of the society we harm ourselves, because we depend on others and they depend on us. Deep down we fundamentally know this to be true. Not only for the betterment of ourselves, but also to retain that which makes us human.
In the Soviet system political prisoners would usually be held in solitary confinement for months at a time. With no light or human social interaction their minds would almost always breakdown, allowing the prisoner to be remolded into a happy and compliant citizen. The power of the state to do this allowed them to keep the people weak and deprived of the necessary will to unite, and overcome their oppression. Because they were able to keep the people divided and in fear they were unable to to come together, unable to unite, they were never able to become strong enough to overthrow the system until Solidarity.
My point is that society exists as long as we give it the power to do so. But it can't be done alone, it only takes one person to light a match it takes the multitude of the masses to fan the flames. And one can't say that somebody else should do it either those who can carry the torch must do so.
Unfortunately we don't have an adorable little bug, to bug (yes pun intended) to tell us right from wrong in a memorable little jingle. We have to do that task ourselves.
We try to excuse our actions, saying that it was the only way... but ask yourself the only way to what? Where is it that you are going that is so imperative. What exactly are you accomplishing?
Society is created by all who take part in it. To provide an order to things, an order in which we can safely and productively interact with others. By acting against the best interests of the society we harm ourselves, because we depend on others and they depend on us. Deep down we fundamentally know this to be true. Not only for the betterment of ourselves, but also to retain that which makes us human.
In the Soviet system political prisoners would usually be held in solitary confinement for months at a time. With no light or human social interaction their minds would almost always breakdown, allowing the prisoner to be remolded into a happy and compliant citizen. The power of the state to do this allowed them to keep the people weak and deprived of the necessary will to unite, and overcome their oppression. Because they were able to keep the people divided and in fear they were unable to to come together, unable to unite, they were never able to become strong enough to overthrow the system until Solidarity.
My point is that society exists as long as we give it the power to do so. But it can't be done alone, it only takes one person to light a match it takes the multitude of the masses to fan the flames. And one can't say that somebody else should do it either those who can carry the torch must do so.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
A Dog Eat Dog World?
This post is a little more philosophic then usual. Why do we live in a dog eat dog world? And more importantly why must we.
Is it because that is the way it has always been? And if so does that not make us slaves to the tyranny of tradition.
Or more disturbingly in my own opinion, does the human race as a whole not want to change. Do we truly now wish to revert, to through away the mask of culture to reveal the visage of barbarism?
Just food for thought...
Is it because that is the way it has always been? And if so does that not make us slaves to the tyranny of tradition.
Or more disturbingly in my own opinion, does the human race as a whole not want to change. Do we truly now wish to revert, to through away the mask of culture to reveal the visage of barbarism?
Just food for thought...
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Too Much Regulation or Too Little?
The answer is yes to both. I will say that where regulations are needed such as Wall Street there aren't nearly enough the recent economic crash can be cited, although that is another issue for another post.
As those who know me personally can attest to I love Lemonade, or more accurately
I LOVE LEMONADE!!!!!!! And I was surprised, I haven't seen nearly as many as I used to so being the lemonade addict that I am I wanted to know why. You know what I found, I found that the police are actively going after kids lemonade stands.
So I can go into a fast food joint whose tables haven't been washed since opening day, go to Taco Bell and order a Beef Taco without any real meat, go to a Wendy's whose floor is vacuumed about once every 10 years but a five year old can't sell lemonade?
I have four words.
Their parents are out of work they want a new toy what better way than to cell lemonade? I know I made money by preforming magic shows, $0.25 per trick per person. I didn't see the need to go and get a permit. If the cops are really that bored there are a lot of other pointless laws they can enforce.
Laws More important to enforce:
The law that prohibits the playing of domino's on Sunday, this is obviously a large public danger and must be treated as such.
Another Law that should take priority is the law prohibiting the wearing of a mask in public.
I could go on and on forever. But I wont. Do you want to know why? I'll tell you anyway, BECAUSE IT IS POINTLESS AND ABOUT AS RELEVANT AS SHUTTING DOWN A LEMONADE STAND.
As those who know me personally can attest to I love Lemonade, or more accurately
I LOVE LEMONADE!!!!!!! And I was surprised, I haven't seen nearly as many as I used to so being the lemonade addict that I am I wanted to know why. You know what I found, I found that the police are actively going after kids lemonade stands.
So I can go into a fast food joint whose tables haven't been washed since opening day, go to Taco Bell and order a Beef Taco without any real meat, go to a Wendy's whose floor is vacuumed about once every 10 years but a five year old can't sell lemonade?
I have four words.
BACK THE F*CK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was that clear enough, how about solving the real problem, no one has ever gotten sick from buying a 10 year old's lemonade, they might actually have been helped by being hydrated after riding their bike in a record heatwave. The job of the officers of the law is to protect and serve. The only thing they are protecting is well there not actually protecting anything. Their just taking away a child's pocket money.Their parents are out of work they want a new toy what better way than to cell lemonade? I know I made money by preforming magic shows, $0.25 per trick per person. I didn't see the need to go and get a permit. If the cops are really that bored there are a lot of other pointless laws they can enforce.
Laws More important to enforce:
The law that prohibits the playing of domino's on Sunday, this is obviously a large public danger and must be treated as such.
Another Law that should take priority is the law prohibiting the wearing of a mask in public.
I could go on and on forever. But I wont. Do you want to know why? I'll tell you anyway, BECAUSE IT IS POINTLESS AND ABOUT AS RELEVANT AS SHUTTING DOWN A LEMONADE STAND.
CULTure
Yes the capitalization of the first four letters was on purpose. Every society has given a certain idol status to it's celebrities. In short they have their own Cult of Personality. Some say that it isn't harmful to our society. I disagree.
Look at how hard it is in this country to convict a celebrity, at how difficult it is to prosecute them. And how they are treated by the law. Ordinary people are held to the letter of the law, every day of their lives. Celebrities seem to see the law as something to use when convenient to them. And we allow it.
This society and every society has a mandate to see that all people regardless of status are held equally before the law. By refusing to do so we in effect create a shadowed Aristocracy.
Look at how hard it is in this country to convict a celebrity, at how difficult it is to prosecute them. And how they are treated by the law. Ordinary people are held to the letter of the law, every day of their lives. Celebrities seem to see the law as something to use when convenient to them. And we allow it.
This society and every society has a mandate to see that all people regardless of status are held equally before the law. By refusing to do so we in effect create a shadowed Aristocracy.
Friday, June 29, 2012
The Supreme Court Ruling And The Future Of Healthcare
The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Healthcare Law Passed in 2010 is in my opinion the right one. Although I despise the current system in regards to healthcare, I feel as though it is better than nothing.
For this is not the end of the struggle in this country over Healthcare, but the beginning. It is the beginning of healthcare as a fundamental right in this country. As shocking as this may seem to some it reminds me of Plessy v. Ferguson. From which we got the "Separate but equal" the following was copied and pasted from www.watson.org
Justice John Harlan was a man who was truly wise and although a much different case, his words cannot be denied, as they ring true despite the passage of time. "Our Constitution ...neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens" In the preamble of our constitution the Founding Fathers in the name of the "We The People" ordained and established this constitution for the United States of America. Now healthcare does discriminate on a defacto class basis, not on color but on wealth.
The law passed in 2010 will work on giving more Americans access to the franchise, not of voting but of healthcare through insurance. In order to achieve healthcare equality, and quality in this nation we must all be guaranteed an equal level of care, this will be fought by the insurance corporations, but it is a fight we must prepare for it is necessary that we win.
In order to speed up this process laws must be made which prohibit all health insurance companies from creating and selling plans only in certain states, a Republican idea to drive down costs. This would give more power to the federal government to regulate it as interstate commerce.
Once health insurance companies simplify their various plans and all options are available to all people throughout the country, legislation can be written, a rebirth of the public option, or as some have called it a medicare for all. This legislation should be written so that this public plan will cover all required health needs of the people. This will guarantee a basic equal level of healthcare for all citizens, and with all citizens in the pool it's costs will be lower. Health insurance will then cover all other nonessential aspects of the healthcare industry, and supplement the government public plan lowering costs even more for the consumer.
Conservatives such as the infamous John Stossel will say that we already have the best healthcare and that numerically based evaluations are not an adequate measure. and had this toy say "a country with high-quality care overall but 'unequal distribution' would rank below a country with lower quality care but equal distribution." And he is right, you can get the best care here in many respects, but only the best can afford it. Another thing to take into consideration is that their people are healthier from the start, their water is held up to higher standards, as is their air, they produce less harmful emissions in lesser quantities and their healthcare systems focus on keeping a person healthy not just treating them when they are sick, hence our great pill pushing culture.
John Stossel and his peers would love to live in the Victorian age, technology was constantly evolving and changing more and more products were invented and only a select few could afford them. Society has evolved from that era in time just as we have evolved from the days of slavery, and just like the days of slavery they must be remembered but never should we return to them.
For this is not the end of the struggle in this country over Healthcare, but the beginning. It is the beginning of healthcare as a fundamental right in this country. As shocking as this may seem to some it reminds me of Plessy v. Ferguson. From which we got the "Separate but equal" the following was copied and pasted from www.watson.org
"That [the Separate Car Act] does not conflict with the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery...is too clear for argument...A statute which implies merely a legal distinction between the white and colored races -- a distinction which is founded in the color of the two races, and which must always exist so long as white men are distinguished from the other race by color -- has no tendency to destroy the legal equality of the two races...The object of the [Fourteenth A]mendment was undoubtedly to enforce the absolute equality of the two races before the law, but in the nature of things it could not have been intended to abolish distinctions based upon color, or to enforce social, as distinguished from political equality, or a commingling of the two races upon terms unsatisfactory to either." [5]The lone dissenter, Justice John Harlan, showed incredible foresight when he wrote
"Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law...In my opinion, the judgment this day rendered will, in time, prove to be quite as pernicious as the decision made by this tribunal in the Dred Scott case...The present decision, it may well be apprehended, will not only stimulate aggressions, more or less brutal and irritating, upon the admitted rights of colored citizens, but will encourage the belief that it is possible, by means of state enactments, to defeat the beneficient purposes which the people of the United States had in view when they adopted the recent amendments of the Constitution." [6]
Justice John Harlan was a man who was truly wise and although a much different case, his words cannot be denied, as they ring true despite the passage of time. "Our Constitution ...neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens" In the preamble of our constitution the Founding Fathers in the name of the "We The People" ordained and established this constitution for the United States of America. Now healthcare does discriminate on a defacto class basis, not on color but on wealth.
The law passed in 2010 will work on giving more Americans access to the franchise, not of voting but of healthcare through insurance. In order to achieve healthcare equality, and quality in this nation we must all be guaranteed an equal level of care, this will be fought by the insurance corporations, but it is a fight we must prepare for it is necessary that we win.
In order to speed up this process laws must be made which prohibit all health insurance companies from creating and selling plans only in certain states, a Republican idea to drive down costs. This would give more power to the federal government to regulate it as interstate commerce.
Once health insurance companies simplify their various plans and all options are available to all people throughout the country, legislation can be written, a rebirth of the public option, or as some have called it a medicare for all. This legislation should be written so that this public plan will cover all required health needs of the people. This will guarantee a basic equal level of healthcare for all citizens, and with all citizens in the pool it's costs will be lower. Health insurance will then cover all other nonessential aspects of the healthcare industry, and supplement the government public plan lowering costs even more for the consumer.
Conservatives such as the infamous John Stossel will say that we already have the best healthcare and that numerically based evaluations are not an adequate measure. and had this toy say "a country with high-quality care overall but 'unequal distribution' would rank below a country with lower quality care but equal distribution." And he is right, you can get the best care here in many respects, but only the best can afford it. Another thing to take into consideration is that their people are healthier from the start, their water is held up to higher standards, as is their air, they produce less harmful emissions in lesser quantities and their healthcare systems focus on keeping a person healthy not just treating them when they are sick, hence our great pill pushing culture.
John Stossel and his peers would love to live in the Victorian age, technology was constantly evolving and changing more and more products were invented and only a select few could afford them. Society has evolved from that era in time just as we have evolved from the days of slavery, and just like the days of slavery they must be remembered but never should we return to them.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Moderate Republican's An Endangered Species? or Extinct
Where have they gone? It is as if they have all disappeared. And the sad thing is that quite a few have died in office, most have lost their bids for re-election, to the conservative wing of the party, and of the once near tie between the moderates and conservative republicans only 11 of them remain in the US Senate. Some such as the most notable John McCain a man whom at one time I truly respected has had to move to the right to survive politically.
Is it such a wonder that partisanship has gridlocked our nations lawmakers. The electorate has managed to oust the moderates those who would make an actual compromise of give a little take a little are now gone. The ultra-conservatives in the US Senate and now the house expect the democrats to do all the giving, and until they put their foot-down they remain, well jackasses. When these new conservatives ask for bipartisan support for their ideas it is not as an equal partner, but as master and servant.
They would ask for our unconditional surrender on the left, for only an unconditional surrender on our part to them would be bipartisan, this can not be done. Although I am far to the left wing ideologically I will settle for half the loaf at a time, I will not cut off my nose to spite my face, and thus I will compromise.
Our nation, our very Constitution is but a list of compromises, we would not be a nation if America's founding fathers could not compromise with one another. There are only a few times in history when a true compromise does not leave both sides unsatisfied, but that is the nature of the beast. For the general will is composed by too great a multitude to be singular.
Is it such a wonder that partisanship has gridlocked our nations lawmakers. The electorate has managed to oust the moderates those who would make an actual compromise of give a little take a little are now gone. The ultra-conservatives in the US Senate and now the house expect the democrats to do all the giving, and until they put their foot-down they remain, well jackasses. When these new conservatives ask for bipartisan support for their ideas it is not as an equal partner, but as master and servant.
They would ask for our unconditional surrender on the left, for only an unconditional surrender on our part to them would be bipartisan, this can not be done. Although I am far to the left wing ideologically I will settle for half the loaf at a time, I will not cut off my nose to spite my face, and thus I will compromise.
Our nation, our very Constitution is but a list of compromises, we would not be a nation if America's founding fathers could not compromise with one another. There are only a few times in history when a true compromise does not leave both sides unsatisfied, but that is the nature of the beast. For the general will is composed by too great a multitude to be singular.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Gold Silver or Bronze Plan
Where is the will of the people? O of course now I remember, it is on life support. Why would I say that the will of the people is on life support; well I'll tell you why. It is our healthcare, and contrary to many other issues it will kill you. It will kill your friends, your families and everyone close to you.
But before it does it will drain you dry, it will take your house, your car and all of your worldly processions. Then it will be you with the worn unwashed cloths. Slowly wasting away on the steps of the hospitals of the greatest nation on earth. A bottle of liquor on the ground next to you as you try to forget what promise your life had. What dreams you had, the un-reached summits, and a life never truly lived.
As quality healthcare becomes more and more un affordable to the average American this not a vision out of a novel fiction, this is quickly becoming a reality for many.
Saint George slayed the dragon, Hercules slayed the Hydra, we face a monster more fearsome than any dragon, and more challenging than any Hydra. We face our most dangerous enemy, our own apathy, our own complacency. This is the enemy of virtue, an enemy greater than any King, and that is our willingness to concede defeat to this criminal syndicate of an industry. Earlier I said wealth was not evil, what was evil was how it was used and acquired.
This industry as it is in America is an evil. A conscious and deadly evil whose only purpose is to make a profit. Until it is reformed or prohibited it will continue to do harm to our society to our brothers and sisters, to ourselves.
But before it does it will drain you dry, it will take your house, your car and all of your worldly processions. Then it will be you with the worn unwashed cloths. Slowly wasting away on the steps of the hospitals of the greatest nation on earth. A bottle of liquor on the ground next to you as you try to forget what promise your life had. What dreams you had, the un-reached summits, and a life never truly lived.
As quality healthcare becomes more and more un affordable to the average American this not a vision out of a novel fiction, this is quickly becoming a reality for many.
Saint George slayed the dragon, Hercules slayed the Hydra, we face a monster more fearsome than any dragon, and more challenging than any Hydra. We face our most dangerous enemy, our own apathy, our own complacency. This is the enemy of virtue, an enemy greater than any King, and that is our willingness to concede defeat to this criminal syndicate of an industry. Earlier I said wealth was not evil, what was evil was how it was used and acquired.
This industry as it is in America is an evil. A conscious and deadly evil whose only purpose is to make a profit. Until it is reformed or prohibited it will continue to do harm to our society to our brothers and sisters, to ourselves.
The Syrian Revolution
The violence in Syria seems to have no end. But before blames Bashar al-Assad as I will confess myself guilty to have done. Let's actually look at the mans past. He was the second son of Hafiz al-Assad his father who took over Syria in 1971 as the head of the Ba'th party. In 1994 his older brother Basil, the heir apparent to his father was killed in an automobile accident.
Now what is interesting is that Bashar was not the first possible successor to the title of heir apparent, but the youngest child Maher al-Assad, who followed Basil into the military and already a high ranking officer in the Syrian military, who had strong connections with several other high commanders in the Syrian military.
Why would Hafiz make his son Bashar his heir? On the surface most would say "now he is the eldest son, so he should be the heir" Although it was and still is a single party system it was still a political curve-ball. If anything bringing in Bashar would destabilize Hafiz's reign over the military officer corp. who would and did favor Maher. It is unlikely that we will ever know the situation but we can draw our own conclusions in an intelligent manner.
Bashar took over in 2000 after the death of Hafiz, there was still talk of Maher ascending to the presidency, however he was too "hot tempered" and Bashar was ultimately placed in the office of President. I use the word place because before Bashar became the President of Syria Maher took over the Republican Guard, the forces which are placed in Damascus to protect the capitol.
Based on these facts it is my own conclusion that Bashar has been puppetized by his brother Maher.
Bashar has been seen by many in the region and around the world as a reformer, who worked to weaken the Ba'th party's power in Syria, loosened his father's restrictions on freedom of expression and pulled back the Syrian army that had occupied Lebanon since 1976.
He was reelected in 2007 by an overwhelming majority, many authorities call the election a sham, and it probably was. Yet his popularity in Syria was high, and from what information I can gather before Arab Spring did not seem as if it was a cult of personality produced by pure fear.
Then Arab Spring came and swept through the Middle East. One would think that the public would support Bashar, but no suddenly violent uprisings by "pro-democracy" protesters spiked around the country.
How did Bashar wish to respond?
It was not with his brothers military reprisals, but with further civil reform, he changed his cabinet, and ministers, he abolished the Syrian Emergency Laws, and he even dissolved the State Supreme Security Court.
How did the public respond when these actions where executed and implemented, when their demands were being addressed, they did not go back to their homes, more violence then ever before.
A student of history can't help but be reminded of King Louis XVI who was sent to the guillotine, a man who was politically weak, dependent on his advisers and a man who just wanted to be a locksmith.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Revisionist History And It's Attack On Virtue
One of the things that I love about history is how it can be debated, how open to interpretation it remains, as if it was a poem to be dissected mercilessness with all the subtly that a high school English class process's. But one thing that disturbs me is revisionist history, making up facts and presenting them as historical facts. It is slightly disturbing, and it continues to happen without much of a public response.
The founding fathers of our nation are given near Olympian status, we forget that they were but men with many faults, who never claimed to be gods and were more then ready to declare their own human frailty and did realize that to err is to be human. They could not create a perfect system but they endeavored to create one that would produce the greatest possible results, and the methods to check it should it ever overstep it's bounds.
If we acknowledge this simple fact then we can be better citizens, and better people, enrich our society in the way that truly matters. We can live in a land ruled by virtue should we so chose, without a terror, for the informed citizen is the citizen who process's virtue. It is in this aspect in which I do b believe Robespierre to be incorrect. Virtue without terror is not powerless, for the enlightened citizen is the citizen who will safeguard the republic.
The founding fathers of our nation are given near Olympian status, we forget that they were but men with many faults, who never claimed to be gods and were more then ready to declare their own human frailty and did realize that to err is to be human. They could not create a perfect system but they endeavored to create one that would produce the greatest possible results, and the methods to check it should it ever overstep it's bounds.
If we acknowledge this simple fact then we can be better citizens, and better people, enrich our society in the way that truly matters. We can live in a land ruled by virtue should we so chose, without a terror, for the informed citizen is the citizen who process's virtue. It is in this aspect in which I do b believe Robespierre to be incorrect. Virtue without terror is not powerless, for the enlightened citizen is the citizen who will safeguard the republic.
The Cause And Solution To All Life's Problems
No I am not speaking of alcohol as one familiar with the Simpsons would believe. No I am speaking of wealth. I do not believe as most do that wealth is a good thing. Nor as the few do, who believe it to be a bad thing.
What makes wealth a problem in our society and any society is how it is acquired and how it is used.
Today's economic crises is the result of exploitative and unsustainable business practices, that allowed a temporary boom that few profited from and than many suffered from when the bubble popped, even those who never made the "bad decision".
Greed has been the greatest motive for the worst of man's crimes. It has driven the machine that we call imperialism and will continue to do so until society as a whole changes the way it looks at wealth.
Wealth is just a tool, and like all tools it must be used for the betterment of society, refusing to do so directly harms society. Which must make all question if wealth is not being used for the betterment of society than what exactly is it's purpose.
"What is the aim we want to achieve? The peaceful enjoyment of liberty and equality; the reign of that eternal justice whose laws are engraved not in stone and marble, but in the hearts of all men, even in the heart of the slave who forgets them or of the tyrant who disowns them."
What makes wealth a problem in our society and any society is how it is acquired and how it is used.
Today's economic crises is the result of exploitative and unsustainable business practices, that allowed a temporary boom that few profited from and than many suffered from when the bubble popped, even those who never made the "bad decision".
Greed has been the greatest motive for the worst of man's crimes. It has driven the machine that we call imperialism and will continue to do so until society as a whole changes the way it looks at wealth.
Wealth is just a tool, and like all tools it must be used for the betterment of society, refusing to do so directly harms society. Which must make all question if wealth is not being used for the betterment of society than what exactly is it's purpose.
"What is the aim we want to achieve? The peaceful enjoyment of liberty and equality; the reign of that eternal justice whose laws are engraved not in stone and marble, but in the hearts of all men, even in the heart of the slave who forgets them or of the tyrant who disowns them."
The Incorruptible Maximilien Robespierre
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