Alvin Greene was not the one.
Better candidates stepped up, and were soundly rejected by the voters, who have short memories, and are easily manipulated.
Money will win in the end, and this will always be a capitalist country.
The loudest, most shrill voices will be the ones heard, and believed.
And Barack Obama continues to try to conciliate, to prove that he is not who they say he is, and in doing so, allows himself to be manipulated.
For two years now, both republicans and Democrats have been predicting this republican win. We are a party that thought we had strong ideals, that have seen those ideals cave in the interest of getting along, only to be accused of starting the fight.
The good news is, the Blue Dogs, who were never Democrats, were called on their duplicity. The bad news is that we lost anyway. To mix metaphors, we had no horse in that race.
Will our remaining Democratic elected officials fight harder now, or will they be quicker to concede?
The republican aggressors have been controlling Congress from the minority, and will redouble their efforts now that they have the House.
The people were angry because the leadership was not clear and consistent. So they elected people who would govern without fear or doubt.
As victims will, they chose the powerful, and will be sacrificed for greater power.
I am reminded of the words of Pete Seeger:
"When will they ever learn?..."
It's time to put an end to this particular blog. I will continue to write at www.thankfultohaveajob.blogspot.com, and eventually begin a new political blog. It has been good to be able to vent here, and air my opinions. It has helped me at times to get my thoughts together, beginning with the Alvin Greene business, and ending with the whole how do we get through the next two years.
When we get to do it again.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
To the Best of My Knowledge...
It is not easy to know what is the right thing to do when you go into that voting booth. I had the luxury, this year, of time and internet access, and tried to use it wisely. So I have compiled a list of my votes, candidates and questions. Good luck to us all on Tuesday!
My 2010 Ballot Choices
Governor: Vincent Sheheen (Dem): www.vincentsheheen.com
Lt. Governor: Ashley Cooper (Dem): www.cooperforsc.com
Superintendent of Schools: Frank Holleman (Dem): www.hollemanforeducation.com
Secretary of State: Marjorie L. Johnson (Dem): www.marjoriejohnson.net
Comptroller General: Robert Barber (Dem): www.barber2010.com
Atty. General: Matthew Richardson (Dem): www.RichardsonforSCAG.com
Commissioner of Agriculture: Tom Elliott (Dem)
US Congressional District 1: Rob Groce (Working Families): www.groceforcongress.com
US Senate: Tom Clements (Green Party): www.clementsforsenate.com
SC House #116: Robert Brown (Dem)
or
SC House #119: Leon Stavrinakis (Dem)
County Council District 9: Amy Fabri (Dem): www.amyfabri.com
Charleston County School Board:
Craig Ascue and Michael Miller and Everett Wilcox
Ballot Questions:
Proposed Constitutional Amendments: http://www.scvotes.org/2010/07/27/2010_constitutional_amendment_questions
Amendment #1: NO – The rights to hunt and fish, as well as private property rights, are already addressed in the State Constitution.
Amendment #2: NO – Opposes Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and undermines workers' rights. EFCA allows workers to sign up when trying to organize; majority then can decide how they will conduct the vote (may choose secret ballot).
Amendment #3: NO – While it is generally good to add to the General Fund during good economic times, at this time of financial crisis the money is needed for public services.
Amendment #4: NO – For the same reason as No to #3 – it is not appropriate to add to this "rainy day fund" during difficult economic times.
Charleston County Questions:
#1 – YES to appointing a commission to establish consolidation of local government functions.
#2 – YES to temporary (6 years) 1 cent sales tax to be used for physical improvement projects to 31 schools.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
When the Wealthy and Powerful Do What's Right
It doesn't happen often, that the wealthy and powerful in this country step up and do what's within their power to benefit our nation.
But today, at the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear at the Mall in the Nation's Capitol, even the sponsors did the right thing. This was a magnificent charity event to benefit the Washington Mall -- the people's mall -- which has been in decline since the 80's, when the powerful decided that money should not be spent on the rest of us, and capital improvements on roads, bridges, and our great Capitol were none of their concern or responsibility.
With their usual mix of humor, hipness, modesty, satire, and talent and energy, the Stewart production made this rally an historic event, for many reasons.
They did not just meet at the Nation's Capitol to rally for their cause, their cause was the Nation's Capitol.
The celebrities were not just the famous but those who were heroic in ways in which we all could be heroic if we so chose to be.
And the message, from Father Guido Sarducci (maybe you could give us a sign, or maybe not...), to the duelling duets of Yusef/Ozzie Ozbourne and Stewart/Colbert, to the Fear Awards to the media who were not allowed to attend, to Tony Bennett's America the Beautiful, to Stewart's final plea to think for ourselves, and work together to make this country work, did just that.
And I hate commercials. And I hate advertisers. I knew 9/11 was serious because there were, for a few days, no commercials. We began to lose NPR when they began to be controlled by advertisers (Garrison Keillor, how could you???) But Stewart found advertisers that were willing to put the message first, and I will do something I guarantee I will never do again. The advertisers were: LG, Reese's, and VW. They sponsored the rally, live, on Comedy Central, for those who could not attend, without commercial interruption, and with limited identification during the program.
Jon Stewart ended by saying, "I know that many of you made a great effort to be here today, and I want you to know that everyone involved with this project worked incredibly hard to make sure that we honored the effort that you put in and gave you the best show that we could possibly do...."
When capitalists look to those who provide them their great wealth and power, and see the obligation it entails, our Nation will have the means to move forward again.
But today, at the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear at the Mall in the Nation's Capitol, even the sponsors did the right thing. This was a magnificent charity event to benefit the Washington Mall -- the people's mall -- which has been in decline since the 80's, when the powerful decided that money should not be spent on the rest of us, and capital improvements on roads, bridges, and our great Capitol were none of their concern or responsibility.
With their usual mix of humor, hipness, modesty, satire, and talent and energy, the Stewart production made this rally an historic event, for many reasons.
They did not just meet at the Nation's Capitol to rally for their cause, their cause was the Nation's Capitol.
The celebrities were not just the famous but those who were heroic in ways in which we all could be heroic if we so chose to be.
And the message, from Father Guido Sarducci (maybe you could give us a sign, or maybe not...), to the duelling duets of Yusef/Ozzie Ozbourne and Stewart/Colbert, to the Fear Awards to the media who were not allowed to attend, to Tony Bennett's America the Beautiful, to Stewart's final plea to think for ourselves, and work together to make this country work, did just that.
And I hate commercials. And I hate advertisers. I knew 9/11 was serious because there were, for a few days, no commercials. We began to lose NPR when they began to be controlled by advertisers (Garrison Keillor, how could you???) But Stewart found advertisers that were willing to put the message first, and I will do something I guarantee I will never do again. The advertisers were: LG, Reese's, and VW. They sponsored the rally, live, on Comedy Central, for those who could not attend, without commercial interruption, and with limited identification during the program.
Jon Stewart ended by saying, "I know that many of you made a great effort to be here today, and I want you to know that everyone involved with this project worked incredibly hard to make sure that we honored the effort that you put in and gave you the best show that we could possibly do...."
When capitalists look to those who provide them their great wealth and power, and see the obligation it entails, our Nation will have the means to move forward again.
Friday, October 29, 2010
A Creative Solution
It saddened me to see that there are actually several races in South Carolina where the "republic" candidate is running unopposed.
I talked it over with my son, who had an immediate, common sense solution: we are just writing-in Stephen Colbert for every unopposed race.
Not only would he be better than the unopposed "republic" candidates, but why cry when you can have a laugh?
I talked it over with my son, who had an immediate, common sense solution: we are just writing-in Stephen Colbert for every unopposed race.
Not only would he be better than the unopposed "republic" candidates, but why cry when you can have a laugh?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Following Nikki-speak Part II
Nikki Haley said, and then said again, that she is proud to live in a "right-to-work" state.
Well, "right-to-work" is pretty much like, right-to-try-to-avoid-starving, or right-to-sustain-on-the-job-injuries, or right-to-work-as-many-jobs-as-it-takes-while-your-kids-forget-what-you-look-like.
When Nikki Haley says "right-to-work", it's like when Jim Demint says "freedom"-- freedom for Jim Demint, not so much the rest of us.
The bad old unions that Nikki Haley is saving us from are what would allow us to strive toward a living wage, decent benefits, job security. We were on our way to that goal, and then Ronald Reagan, greater actor than we ever thought he was, convinced us that our bad economic times were because of the evil union, not the greedy corporations.
Sure some businesses will still move down here, in spite of the bad schools, bad roads, bad economy. They'll take all of our tax incentives, bring in all their management level staff, and hire our low-level, inadequately trained high school grads (or drop-outs), pay them as little as they can get away with, with insufficent benefits and no job security, because we are a "right-to-work" state.
Some businesses will not do that, though. They will not want to move their management to a state where "minimally adequate" is the standard for public schools, and too many people can't afford to buy the stuff they make.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley is proud that our unemployment is so high we have to take whatever job we can, and there are no unions around to help us negotiate a living wage.
I want to switch, not topics, but races here. Because we have, in Congressional District 1, a candidate who is not afraid to stand up for workers' rights. He knows that workers need good, safe jobs, with a living wage, with health care for themselves and their families, with job security. When businesses are able to shut out unions, and the workers are squeezed, the economy will suffer.
Rob Groce wants to go to the House of Representatives and fight for the right for all of us, not just to work, but to live and work.
So, two things:
Spread the word about Vincent Sheheen for Governor.
And get to know Rob Groce. He is running under the Working Families Party, because that is what he believes in.
Well, "right-to-work" is pretty much like, right-to-try-to-avoid-starving, or right-to-sustain-on-the-job-injuries, or right-to-work-as-many-jobs-as-it-takes-while-your-kids-forget-what-you-look-like.
When Nikki Haley says "right-to-work", it's like when Jim Demint says "freedom"-- freedom for Jim Demint, not so much the rest of us.
The bad old unions that Nikki Haley is saving us from are what would allow us to strive toward a living wage, decent benefits, job security. We were on our way to that goal, and then Ronald Reagan, greater actor than we ever thought he was, convinced us that our bad economic times were because of the evil union, not the greedy corporations.
Sure some businesses will still move down here, in spite of the bad schools, bad roads, bad economy. They'll take all of our tax incentives, bring in all their management level staff, and hire our low-level, inadequately trained high school grads (or drop-outs), pay them as little as they can get away with, with insufficent benefits and no job security, because we are a "right-to-work" state.
Some businesses will not do that, though. They will not want to move their management to a state where "minimally adequate" is the standard for public schools, and too many people can't afford to buy the stuff they make.
Meanwhile, Nikki Haley is proud that our unemployment is so high we have to take whatever job we can, and there are no unions around to help us negotiate a living wage.
I want to switch, not topics, but races here. Because we have, in Congressional District 1, a candidate who is not afraid to stand up for workers' rights. He knows that workers need good, safe jobs, with a living wage, with health care for themselves and their families, with job security. When businesses are able to shut out unions, and the workers are squeezed, the economy will suffer.
Rob Groce wants to go to the House of Representatives and fight for the right for all of us, not just to work, but to live and work.
So, two things:
Spread the word about Vincent Sheheen for Governor.
www.vincentsheheen.com
And get to know Rob Groce. He is running under the Working Families Party, because that is what he believes in.
www.groceforcongress.com
Following Nikki-speak
I believe it is true that if you nod your head, and speak without hesitation, people will believe or accept what you are saying.
Take Nikki Haley's performance in the second gubernatorial debate. I felt my head nodding right along with her as she said that her plan to save failing schools would be to have faith-based communities be actively involved in poor school districts and "in the poverty areas".
In fact, she said, it won't cost the taxpayers a dime.
Here's where my head stopped nodding. Huh? Did she just say what I thought she said?
When I ran it by a black co-worker, she got it much faster than I had the night before.
Nikki Haley's plan for failing schools and poor communities is to allow the churches to have at it; that is, allow them to be responsible for moving these people forward instead of the government. So, basically, the churches are going to help the poorest areas and the worst schools, so that Nikki won't have to increase taxes.
So... isn't that what we've been doing??? And isn't that why the poor communities are still poor, and the failing schools are still failing?
Don't let Nikki Haley's double-talk work in this debate. Talk to your friends, family, and community about this inherently racist proposal.
Take Nikki Haley's performance in the second gubernatorial debate. I felt my head nodding right along with her as she said that her plan to save failing schools would be to have faith-based communities be actively involved in poor school districts and "in the poverty areas".
In fact, she said, it won't cost the taxpayers a dime.
Here's where my head stopped nodding. Huh? Did she just say what I thought she said?
When I ran it by a black co-worker, she got it much faster than I had the night before.
Nikki Haley's plan for failing schools and poor communities is to allow the churches to have at it; that is, allow them to be responsible for moving these people forward instead of the government. So, basically, the churches are going to help the poorest areas and the worst schools, so that Nikki won't have to increase taxes.
So... isn't that what we've been doing??? And isn't that why the poor communities are still poor, and the failing schools are still failing?
Don't let Nikki Haley's double-talk work in this debate. Talk to your friends, family, and community about this inherently racist proposal.
Monday, October 25, 2010
I Worry
I know, I worry too much. The world tends to go on, people forget that some foods used to be more readily available, and we eventually just live without. Teachers make do with whatever budget shortfalls they routinely have to deal with. Parents accept that maybe their children won't get the best education, won't go to Harvard, won't end up with a well-paying job with good benefits. We all accept that we now have to pay -- a lot -- out of pocket for health insurance, which doesn't insure us being healthy anymore. Our jobs may make us sick or injured because they are stretching us too thin (increased productivity). We may be fired so that people can be hired at lower pay, and even offered the lower paying jobs, to be fair. When our company gets downsized, the stock market goes up. The folks who go on and on about values are the ones who expect us to work two jobs to make ends meet while we try to raise our children to be healthy and moral.
All this, and much more, I worry about. But right now, at the end of October, 2010, I worry about how people are not involved in the coming election. There is no one, not one person, that I work with, who will carry on a discussion with me about the candidates. And here in South Carolina, there is so much that we need to talk about.
Outside of my political affiliations, and an occasional furtive few words with a customer, it is unacceptable to talk about what is going on politically. Apparently. And that is what I worry about now, one week before this important election.
All this, and much more, I worry about. But right now, at the end of October, 2010, I worry about how people are not involved in the coming election. There is no one, not one person, that I work with, who will carry on a discussion with me about the candidates. And here in South Carolina, there is so much that we need to talk about.
Outside of my political affiliations, and an occasional furtive few words with a customer, it is unacceptable to talk about what is going on politically. Apparently. And that is what I worry about now, one week before this important election.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Time to Commit
Yesterday I did something I don't often do: I put my money where my mouth is.
I have supported Tom Clements in these pages for some time. His new advertising campaign confirms what I have felt about him: he is a man committed to helping the people of South Carolina. He is a true supporter of freedom, meaning the rights of individuals.
Jim Demint is also for freedom. He supports the freedom of the wealthy to get wealthier, unfettered by taxation or regulation. He believes in the freedom to deny individuals basic rights to privacy, the freedom to legislate what happens in your homes and doctors' offices. He believes in the freedom to stop the federal government from functioning in order to keep power and wealth in the hands of the wealthy and powerful.
Jim Demint believes we all should be free to believe what Jim Demint believes.
Tom Clements promotes a different kind of freedom. He believes workers have a right to earn a living wage. He believes our privacy needs to be protected. Tom Clements believes all Americans have the right to accessible health care, a good education, and the pursuit of renewable energy for jobs now and the preservation of our future.
Halloween is around the corner. But Jim Demint is frightening in a very non-festive way. Jim Demint is anti-American. He is anti-freedom. He is pro-wealth and power -- his own.
So we all need to get behind Tom Clements right now. He has a great web site. Tell your friends about him, and give him all the financial support you can. Our future depends on it.
I have supported Tom Clements in these pages for some time. His new advertising campaign confirms what I have felt about him: he is a man committed to helping the people of South Carolina. He is a true supporter of freedom, meaning the rights of individuals.
Jim Demint is also for freedom. He supports the freedom of the wealthy to get wealthier, unfettered by taxation or regulation. He believes in the freedom to deny individuals basic rights to privacy, the freedom to legislate what happens in your homes and doctors' offices. He believes in the freedom to stop the federal government from functioning in order to keep power and wealth in the hands of the wealthy and powerful.
Jim Demint believes we all should be free to believe what Jim Demint believes.
Tom Clements promotes a different kind of freedom. He believes workers have a right to earn a living wage. He believes our privacy needs to be protected. Tom Clements believes all Americans have the right to accessible health care, a good education, and the pursuit of renewable energy for jobs now and the preservation of our future.
Halloween is around the corner. But Jim Demint is frightening in a very non-festive way. Jim Demint is anti-American. He is anti-freedom. He is pro-wealth and power -- his own.
So we all need to get behind Tom Clements right now. He has a great web site. Tell your friends about him, and give him all the financial support you can. Our future depends on it.
ClementsforSenate.com
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Jim Demint, Freedom Fighter
"Once again we find that the only free speech Jim Demint supports is the speech with which he agrees."
The above quote was not by Jim Demint, but by me, paraphrasing Jim Demint. We used to say, back in the day of projectors, "You could run film through him," regarding Jim Demint's psychological tendency to project his own evil on his self-sworn enemies.
So, given NPR's poorly timed firing of Juan Williams, leave it to Demint to jump upon the opportunity to denouce, not just NPR, but all publicly funded broadcasting.
The issue is not, of course, the firing of Williams. The debate, to be honest, is of the conflicting roles of news and commentary. Of course, most of us are able to distinguish, for example, Williams' airing his opinions on Fox, versus an actual news broadcast. NPR, just as did the Agriculture Department with Shirley Sherrod just a few months ago, overreacted. They overreacted fearing complaints by not just their critics but by their supporters. In other words, they fell victim to the Democrats' fear of conflict.
By doing so, NPR has opened itself up to sworn enemies like Demint, who have, since the Reagan anti-government crusade began, been slowly decimating publicly funded media. With the decline in government funding, NPR has been forced to depend increasingly on corporate sponsorship. Meanwhile, Demint and his cronies continue to attempt to further cut funding, while increasing the amount of control they have over this once truly public media.
Considering the constant attacks and the need to beg for funding, it is amazing that NPR continues to be a strong and respected source for news. So far, when funding is threatened, the American people speak up. But there will always be attacks from people like Demint, and truly free and objective news will always be vulnerable.
I long for a return to the days when NPR did not have corporate sponsorship. I remember when NPR did not have to fear repercussions from their government funders for decisions made in their best judgment. If NPR did not have to live under the dictates of people like corporate senator Jim Demint, and their unfortunate corporate sponsorship, and of course, donations begged from their listening audience, they would be less fearful of controversy. Perhaps Juan Williams' confused fears about Moslems on airplanes would have been just another strange day at Bill O'Reilly's place.
The above quote was not by Jim Demint, but by me, paraphrasing Jim Demint. We used to say, back in the day of projectors, "You could run film through him," regarding Jim Demint's psychological tendency to project his own evil on his self-sworn enemies.
So, given NPR's poorly timed firing of Juan Williams, leave it to Demint to jump upon the opportunity to denouce, not just NPR, but all publicly funded broadcasting.
The issue is not, of course, the firing of Williams. The debate, to be honest, is of the conflicting roles of news and commentary. Of course, most of us are able to distinguish, for example, Williams' airing his opinions on Fox, versus an actual news broadcast. NPR, just as did the Agriculture Department with Shirley Sherrod just a few months ago, overreacted. They overreacted fearing complaints by not just their critics but by their supporters. In other words, they fell victim to the Democrats' fear of conflict.
By doing so, NPR has opened itself up to sworn enemies like Demint, who have, since the Reagan anti-government crusade began, been slowly decimating publicly funded media. With the decline in government funding, NPR has been forced to depend increasingly on corporate sponsorship. Meanwhile, Demint and his cronies continue to attempt to further cut funding, while increasing the amount of control they have over this once truly public media.
Considering the constant attacks and the need to beg for funding, it is amazing that NPR continues to be a strong and respected source for news. So far, when funding is threatened, the American people speak up. But there will always be attacks from people like Demint, and truly free and objective news will always be vulnerable.
I long for a return to the days when NPR did not have corporate sponsorship. I remember when NPR did not have to fear repercussions from their government funders for decisions made in their best judgment. If NPR did not have to live under the dictates of people like corporate senator Jim Demint, and their unfortunate corporate sponsorship, and of course, donations begged from their listening audience, they would be less fearful of controversy. Perhaps Juan Williams' confused fears about Moslems on airplanes would have been just another strange day at Bill O'Reilly's place.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
A Breaking Heart
This morning I had decided to return to my blog of a couple of years ago, that dealt with the tragedies of the workplace. I am dealing with the tragedy of my workplace, a library. I realized today that I can no longer say, "I hate work, but I love my job", or other such nonsense. I would love my job if I was empowered to do the best I can do. I once felt that, in spite of the ridiculous obstacles inflicted by bureaucracy, and regardless of draconian budget cutting problems, I could make a difference. Today I went to work feeling overwhelmed and defeated. I decided that I needed to accept the fact that my little library would continue to decline, and I was beginning to do myself harm by continuing to try to prevent the damage.
Today books are being taken off the shelves and deleted from our inventory by virtue of a directorial dictate. It is a dictate, I believe, I hope, that is being addressed with some flexibility in branches with managers who actually care about their collections and the needs of their communities.
I have guarded our collection for as long as I have worked there, and for the most part, I have been left alone to do so. I have brought to the task, not a Library Science degree, but more knowledge and understanding of libraries and books than an MLS could ever provide.
No one asks for my input, in fact, I usually learn about changes, new policies and such by accident. And now I am helpless when books that should stay on our shelves are removed. And it is so painful.
And when I came home and was faced with continuing my old blog, and getting serious about issues dealing with jobs, I couldn't do it. I'm not ready yet. But I will.
Today books are being taken off the shelves and deleted from our inventory by virtue of a directorial dictate. It is a dictate, I believe, I hope, that is being addressed with some flexibility in branches with managers who actually care about their collections and the needs of their communities.
I have guarded our collection for as long as I have worked there, and for the most part, I have been left alone to do so. I have brought to the task, not a Library Science degree, but more knowledge and understanding of libraries and books than an MLS could ever provide.
No one asks for my input, in fact, I usually learn about changes, new policies and such by accident. And now I am helpless when books that should stay on our shelves are removed. And it is so painful.
And when I came home and was faced with continuing my old blog, and getting serious about issues dealing with jobs, I couldn't do it. I'm not ready yet. But I will.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
If It's So Obvious...?
I had a conversation with a co-worker that left even me momentarily speechless. A staunch republican, she and I had had some tense disagreements until I decided I should just not approach her with my political ideas, ever.
But she brought up health care. And said, in words I cannot exactly recall, that she had been anticipating single payer health reform, because there is so much abuse by the insurance industry.
After my head exploded as though I were a cartoon character who swallowed an Acme explosive, I agreed with her, and said I couldn't understand why Congress wasn't pushing for single payer.
Well, I know why some of Congress is not pushing for single payer. Because they are totally owned subsidiaries of corporate interests. And I know that various Blue Dog Democrats, also beholding to, and brainwashed by, corporate sponsorship, quake with the fear that their constituents, middle class folks like me, will reject them if they support a government sponsored health care plan.
What I don't understand is why the rest of Congress, and the White House, haven't shouted from the rooftops and pursued universal health care with every breath they've taken since November of 2008. It is so obviously the least expensive and most civilized way to provide health care. And the alternative is so obviously, with so much evidence to back it up, evil.
It's been embarrassing, listening to liberal pundits wondering why the Dems haven't been pushing health care reform during this election season. What it amounts to is, "Did you guys really believe in this, or not?" They are, and have been since the corporate Tea Party assault on town halls in the summer of 2009, cowering as though they have been caught doing something dirty.
Which leaves brave souls like Dennis Kucinich, Anthony Weiner and Nancy Pelosi to defend not just the Democratic Party ideals, but the whole middle and lower classes, all 97% of us, from the 3% who own the whole damned thing.
It makes me just want to say, "Put your man-pants on." Or something equally ridiculous.
But she brought up health care. And said, in words I cannot exactly recall, that she had been anticipating single payer health reform, because there is so much abuse by the insurance industry.
After my head exploded as though I were a cartoon character who swallowed an Acme explosive, I agreed with her, and said I couldn't understand why Congress wasn't pushing for single payer.
Well, I know why some of Congress is not pushing for single payer. Because they are totally owned subsidiaries of corporate interests. And I know that various Blue Dog Democrats, also beholding to, and brainwashed by, corporate sponsorship, quake with the fear that their constituents, middle class folks like me, will reject them if they support a government sponsored health care plan.
What I don't understand is why the rest of Congress, and the White House, haven't shouted from the rooftops and pursued universal health care with every breath they've taken since November of 2008. It is so obviously the least expensive and most civilized way to provide health care. And the alternative is so obviously, with so much evidence to back it up, evil.
It's been embarrassing, listening to liberal pundits wondering why the Dems haven't been pushing health care reform during this election season. What it amounts to is, "Did you guys really believe in this, or not?" They are, and have been since the corporate Tea Party assault on town halls in the summer of 2009, cowering as though they have been caught doing something dirty.
Which leaves brave souls like Dennis Kucinich, Anthony Weiner and Nancy Pelosi to defend not just the Democratic Party ideals, but the whole middle and lower classes, all 97% of us, from the 3% who own the whole damned thing.
It makes me just want to say, "Put your man-pants on." Or something equally ridiculous.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Is It Over Yet???
Every once in a blue moon, less often for David Gregory, an interviewer asks a relevant question. Sometimes they even make an astute comment. Not about whether Christine O'Donnell is competent, or what are the voters angry about. Questions like, what do you propose to do about low wages, poor schools, internet access for all?
Lots of good questions, and when they are asked, the candidates tend to scurry into a corner like roaches, using pat phrases like "ensure the safety of our homeland", "giving businesses the opportunity to compete", and "strong families are the true strength of America". Now, I didn't make those phrases up; they came directly from Jim Demint's web site, and you have to know I didn't spend too much time wandering around in there to find that stuff. There is only so much a thinking person can be expected to take.
The point is, those pat phrases are like the oil that once floated in the Gulf and is now coating the bottom. And, to mix metaphors in an unappetizing sort of way, they are the meat and potatoes of election season.
I miss Tim Russert, but before he died, I would watch Meet the Press and yell at him because, since the election of 2006, he had been obsessed with the campaign of 2008, and not in a good way, but in a gossipy, sporting event kind of way.
I'm tired of hearing about Carl Paladino's dirty nasty emails and about Christine O'Donnell and witches -- have we all missed that in her ad denying she is a witch, and the creepy "I'm you" (no, you're not), she tossed out the same meaningless crap about the bad stuff Congress is doing in Washington and that she won't do. And let's not expect her, or anyone else, to get more specific than that.
And if one does happen to back one of them into a corner, for example about jobs, the answer is always, renew the tax cuts, or better, stop trying to raise taxes.
So, I'm exhausted. I keep watching and listening, but I can't imagine I'll hear anything new. I just wish Matt Taibbi would do his next interview on Olbermann in his Viking costume.
Lots of good questions, and when they are asked, the candidates tend to scurry into a corner like roaches, using pat phrases like "ensure the safety of our homeland", "giving businesses the opportunity to compete", and "strong families are the true strength of America". Now, I didn't make those phrases up; they came directly from Jim Demint's web site, and you have to know I didn't spend too much time wandering around in there to find that stuff. There is only so much a thinking person can be expected to take.
The point is, those pat phrases are like the oil that once floated in the Gulf and is now coating the bottom. And, to mix metaphors in an unappetizing sort of way, they are the meat and potatoes of election season.
I miss Tim Russert, but before he died, I would watch Meet the Press and yell at him because, since the election of 2006, he had been obsessed with the campaign of 2008, and not in a good way, but in a gossipy, sporting event kind of way.
I'm tired of hearing about Carl Paladino's dirty nasty emails and about Christine O'Donnell and witches -- have we all missed that in her ad denying she is a witch, and the creepy "I'm you" (no, you're not), she tossed out the same meaningless crap about the bad stuff Congress is doing in Washington and that she won't do. And let's not expect her, or anyone else, to get more specific than that.
And if one does happen to back one of them into a corner, for example about jobs, the answer is always, renew the tax cuts, or better, stop trying to raise taxes.
So, I'm exhausted. I keep watching and listening, but I can't imagine I'll hear anything new. I just wish Matt Taibbi would do his next interview on Olbermann in his Viking costume.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Shame and Loathing
I got my property tax bill a couple of weeks ago, and today I realized I have been simmering, subconsciously, about it. It was lower than last year's bill.
That's right folks, government services are dying in South Carolina. Government jobs frozen, salaries, ridiculously low to begin with, cut by forced furlough days and COLA a thing of the past. Schools, libraries, police and fire fighters, roads and bridges (except for improvements paid for by federal stimulus money, which South Carolina's governor tried to refuse), all dying.
And my property taxes on my $125,000 home, WENT DOWN.
I am embarrassed, feel ashamed, want to send a check to at least make up the difference from last year. But I am one of those government workers whose wages are lower than the legal definition of poverty. And I wonder how it must feel to have a truly secure income, health care and a car with less than 100,000 miles, iPods and iPads, vacations without agonizing over cost, a tidy retirement savings...
How does it feel to have more than what you need, and see your property tax go down???
And then there are the middle income people, who have what they need, but don't feel too secure about it. Capitalism unfettered, and republicans espousing Reagan's trickle-down fantasy have led us all to feel insecure and afraid. So even though we still have what we need, maybe even a little more, we are the Tea Party society, demanding more for less, a government that should spend money on keeping others out of the country and law breakers in prison but NOT MY MONEY. And not for your kids to go to school. And not for your retirement. And DEFINITELY not for your family's health care.
If you have a secure job, secure income, affordable health care, and you look at your tax bill and feel good that your republican leaders have cut your taxes, shame on you.
That's right folks, government services are dying in South Carolina. Government jobs frozen, salaries, ridiculously low to begin with, cut by forced furlough days and COLA a thing of the past. Schools, libraries, police and fire fighters, roads and bridges (except for improvements paid for by federal stimulus money, which South Carolina's governor tried to refuse), all dying.
And my property taxes on my $125,000 home, WENT DOWN.
I am embarrassed, feel ashamed, want to send a check to at least make up the difference from last year. But I am one of those government workers whose wages are lower than the legal definition of poverty. And I wonder how it must feel to have a truly secure income, health care and a car with less than 100,000 miles, iPods and iPads, vacations without agonizing over cost, a tidy retirement savings...
How does it feel to have more than what you need, and see your property tax go down???
And then there are the middle income people, who have what they need, but don't feel too secure about it. Capitalism unfettered, and republicans espousing Reagan's trickle-down fantasy have led us all to feel insecure and afraid. So even though we still have what we need, maybe even a little more, we are the Tea Party society, demanding more for less, a government that should spend money on keeping others out of the country and law breakers in prison but NOT MY MONEY. And not for your kids to go to school. And not for your retirement. And DEFINITELY not for your family's health care.
If you have a secure job, secure income, affordable health care, and you look at your tax bill and feel good that your republican leaders have cut your taxes, shame on you.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Taxpayers Against Other People
I was at the Charleston Animal Shelter today, getting shots for my two adorable foster kitties. While I was there, a disgruntled gentleman came in to get his dog, which had been picked up by Animal Control. It sounded like a routine that happens quite often there, and was handled far more professionally than I would have.
They got some information about the dog, whether it had a license, current with shots (like rabies), and informed the gentleman that he would be responsible for some fees, like to update vaccinations, $35 for picking up the dog, and $10 per night for the one night the dog was sheltered.
The guy was polite and fairly quiet about all this, at least until he got his dog. Then he indicated that that $35 fine wasn't right, because "I pay it in my taxes." They tried to explain to him that this was the charge for picking up a roaming dog, but he (fairly politely) restated his position. They offered to let him talk to the manager, and then she came out (she had obviously done this before as well), and explained that the $35 was a county fee for picking up the dog, and the officer could have given him a $1,000 fine for a loose dog, plus $1,000 for not being up to date on vaccines.
He restated his case, that is, that he had paid his taxes, and she restated her case, and offered to have an Animal Patrol officer talk with him. At which case he backed off, I'm sure with the $2,000 in potential fines helping to persuade. When he next said that his dog needed to relieve himself, they kept a discreet eye on him through the window. Very experienced, very professional.
I, on the other hand, wished that I was the kind of person who could walk up to him and explain to him that he had a hell of a nerve thinking that my tax dollars should pay for his failure to follow the law. That I am sure that his tax dollars don't hardly cover the shelter, much less the cost of the Animal Patrol and the Animal Patrol van.
But I just listened, and thought, and they say liberals whine???
So I might just as well go all the way and be totally politically incorrect.
I thought that Keith Olbermann reached a new low when he interviewed the man whose house burned down while firefighters watched. Now, I think there's plenty of blame to go around on this one. That firefighters would stand by and watch a home burn down is bad enough, there were layers and layers of administrators that created and enforced this policy.
And we all know it wasn't the $75. The point was that if you only paid when your house was burning down, the whole firefighting thing wouldn't work. The point is that people need to pay taxes, just in case they need a government service. You may not have kids in school, but you probably have family that does, and you probably did. Most of you surely don't use the prison system, but we pay a lot more to keep criminals off the streets than we do for firefighters.
And along the way, the money you pay in taxes does cover a tremendous amount of government service.
While I was watching Olbermann gush with sympathy and rant over this admittedly bizarre and cruel policy, I muttered about the offended citizen -- not his refusal to pay the damned $75, but the likelihood that he believes he is taxed too much, and the government shouldn't take his hard-earned money, and, "damn it, I'm not paying no $75 for no fire department."
"I PAY TAXES."
Please hold me down, because I might hit the next person that whines about paying taxes. We don't, most of us, pay a lot of taxes. And the biggest whiners of all, the wealthy, don't pay a drop in a bucket of taxes for the use and abuse of our society that they commit. Subsidies, tax breaks, tax shelters. And don't forget the profit they make off us poor slobs. Privatize my ass. This country, in Ariana Huffington's words, is becoming a third world nation thanks to the greed and poor business ethics of the private sector.
I'd put my money in the government over private industry any day.
And stop whining.
They got some information about the dog, whether it had a license, current with shots (like rabies), and informed the gentleman that he would be responsible for some fees, like to update vaccinations, $35 for picking up the dog, and $10 per night for the one night the dog was sheltered.
The guy was polite and fairly quiet about all this, at least until he got his dog. Then he indicated that that $35 fine wasn't right, because "I pay it in my taxes." They tried to explain to him that this was the charge for picking up a roaming dog, but he (fairly politely) restated his position. They offered to let him talk to the manager, and then she came out (she had obviously done this before as well), and explained that the $35 was a county fee for picking up the dog, and the officer could have given him a $1,000 fine for a loose dog, plus $1,000 for not being up to date on vaccines.
He restated his case, that is, that he had paid his taxes, and she restated her case, and offered to have an Animal Patrol officer talk with him. At which case he backed off, I'm sure with the $2,000 in potential fines helping to persuade. When he next said that his dog needed to relieve himself, they kept a discreet eye on him through the window. Very experienced, very professional.
I, on the other hand, wished that I was the kind of person who could walk up to him and explain to him that he had a hell of a nerve thinking that my tax dollars should pay for his failure to follow the law. That I am sure that his tax dollars don't hardly cover the shelter, much less the cost of the Animal Patrol and the Animal Patrol van.
But I just listened, and thought, and they say liberals whine???
So I might just as well go all the way and be totally politically incorrect.
I thought that Keith Olbermann reached a new low when he interviewed the man whose house burned down while firefighters watched. Now, I think there's plenty of blame to go around on this one. That firefighters would stand by and watch a home burn down is bad enough, there were layers and layers of administrators that created and enforced this policy.
And we all know it wasn't the $75. The point was that if you only paid when your house was burning down, the whole firefighting thing wouldn't work. The point is that people need to pay taxes, just in case they need a government service. You may not have kids in school, but you probably have family that does, and you probably did. Most of you surely don't use the prison system, but we pay a lot more to keep criminals off the streets than we do for firefighters.
And along the way, the money you pay in taxes does cover a tremendous amount of government service.
While I was watching Olbermann gush with sympathy and rant over this admittedly bizarre and cruel policy, I muttered about the offended citizen -- not his refusal to pay the damned $75, but the likelihood that he believes he is taxed too much, and the government shouldn't take his hard-earned money, and, "damn it, I'm not paying no $75 for no fire department."
"I PAY TAXES."
Please hold me down, because I might hit the next person that whines about paying taxes. We don't, most of us, pay a lot of taxes. And the biggest whiners of all, the wealthy, don't pay a drop in a bucket of taxes for the use and abuse of our society that they commit. Subsidies, tax breaks, tax shelters. And don't forget the profit they make off us poor slobs. Privatize my ass. This country, in Ariana Huffington's words, is becoming a third world nation thanks to the greed and poor business ethics of the private sector.
I'd put my money in the government over private industry any day.
And stop whining.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Library Confidential
A short break from the election campaign to another kind of campaign: the fight to save our libraries.
Everyone knows that libraries "weed" books. A growing library needs to make room for newer books, and weeds out those that don't circulate. We are fortunate at our library that as of a couple of years ago, instead of throwing the weeds out in the trash, we began to recycle them by sending them on to the Friends of the Library to be sold at book sales. Book goes to a good home, people get to buy affordable books, there's room on the shelves at the library for more growth, everybody's happy.
Except now, suppose there is a new director, from another part of the world, who has come in with the attitude that he is going to get us into shape. So many issues, so little time. So I will focus on the most recent, and, something we can do something about.
I don't know if the term "dusty bookshelf" is a common library expression, and for once, neither Google nor wikipedia would help. But at our library, every couple of years a list was generated, of books that had not circulated for five years or more. At the branch manager's discretion, they would be "weeded" out of the collection. Not a terrible plan.
But now we are given a "dusty bookshelf" list of books that have not circulated in TWO years (talked up from one!), and told to weed.
The books that people like me have left on the shelf without circulating for more than two years, first of all, are few and far between -- we need the space -- but when left, are left because they have some kind of value: a classic that does circulate, but rarely, an author that has some value.
So what can you do about this? Check it out!!! If you see a book that you think has value but may be getting old, or you are afraid that it just may not be getting out and about as often as it should be, check it out! You can return it next time you come in, you can even drop it in the book drop on your way out. The important thing is to keep the important books circulating.
We may not be able do to anything about this year's purge, but we can take preventable measures for the future.
These crazy times call for crazy solutions, yes?
Everyone knows that libraries "weed" books. A growing library needs to make room for newer books, and weeds out those that don't circulate. We are fortunate at our library that as of a couple of years ago, instead of throwing the weeds out in the trash, we began to recycle them by sending them on to the Friends of the Library to be sold at book sales. Book goes to a good home, people get to buy affordable books, there's room on the shelves at the library for more growth, everybody's happy.
Except now, suppose there is a new director, from another part of the world, who has come in with the attitude that he is going to get us into shape. So many issues, so little time. So I will focus on the most recent, and, something we can do something about.
I don't know if the term "dusty bookshelf" is a common library expression, and for once, neither Google nor wikipedia would help. But at our library, every couple of years a list was generated, of books that had not circulated for five years or more. At the branch manager's discretion, they would be "weeded" out of the collection. Not a terrible plan.
But now we are given a "dusty bookshelf" list of books that have not circulated in TWO years (talked up from one!), and told to weed.
The books that people like me have left on the shelf without circulating for more than two years, first of all, are few and far between -- we need the space -- but when left, are left because they have some kind of value: a classic that does circulate, but rarely, an author that has some value.
So what can you do about this? Check it out!!! If you see a book that you think has value but may be getting old, or you are afraid that it just may not be getting out and about as often as it should be, check it out! You can return it next time you come in, you can even drop it in the book drop on your way out. The important thing is to keep the important books circulating.
We may not be able do to anything about this year's purge, but we can take preventable measures for the future.
These crazy times call for crazy solutions, yes?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Freedom-Lovers Strike Again
I noticed a few days ago that my car had been keyed, no doubt by some freedom-loving Demint supporter who was expressing his disapproval of my radical left-wing socialist bumper stickers. It's an old car, and I just see the scratch as a battle scar in the "freedom" war.
Demint, as you may have noticed if you actually are awake for a few hours a day, likes to talk about freedom. Some of the freedoms he believes have been sold down the river to the devil are the freedom to practice Christianity, the freedom for businesses to prosper, and the freedom of the wealthy to keep their vast wealth. He claims his Christianity is the right one, the one God himself would approve of.
Businesses of course, deserve to prosper because we need them. He does believe that if we allow businesses to do what they like free of regulation or taxation, we will all be free to prosper.
And if we don't prosper, it is because we are lax and lazy, and/or God just doesn't think we deserve prosperity.
Of course, Demint has been blessed by God. I am assuming the person who keyed my car does not feel thus blessed.
Demint's Christianity reeks of the bitter and paranoid fables not of Christ but of Tim Lahaye. In those fables, God serves man and man adores God because God serves him. There is no turning the other cheek, or aiding the poor and weak. So if you believe in Demint's God, your anger at the poor and weak is justified.
But Demint's Christianity serves Demint. That leaves a whole lot of his supporters angry at what they have lost: their jobs, their homes, their marriages, their security.
If they rail at Demint, and by his own assertion, God, they will be striking at their own long-held beliefs. Insecurity does not lead to self-scrutiny. Instead they rail at the enemy as Demint proclaims the enemy: the poor, the needy, the suffering. They call it "communism" and "socialism" because that is the name Demint has given the enemy.
And they fight that enemy by taking a key to my car. When they walk away they are still angry, but feel better.
Demint, as you may have noticed if you actually are awake for a few hours a day, likes to talk about freedom. Some of the freedoms he believes have been sold down the river to the devil are the freedom to practice Christianity, the freedom for businesses to prosper, and the freedom of the wealthy to keep their vast wealth. He claims his Christianity is the right one, the one God himself would approve of.
Businesses of course, deserve to prosper because we need them. He does believe that if we allow businesses to do what they like free of regulation or taxation, we will all be free to prosper.
And if we don't prosper, it is because we are lax and lazy, and/or God just doesn't think we deserve prosperity.
Of course, Demint has been blessed by God. I am assuming the person who keyed my car does not feel thus blessed.
Demint's Christianity reeks of the bitter and paranoid fables not of Christ but of Tim Lahaye. In those fables, God serves man and man adores God because God serves him. There is no turning the other cheek, or aiding the poor and weak. So if you believe in Demint's God, your anger at the poor and weak is justified.
But Demint's Christianity serves Demint. That leaves a whole lot of his supporters angry at what they have lost: their jobs, their homes, their marriages, their security.
If they rail at Demint, and by his own assertion, God, they will be striking at their own long-held beliefs. Insecurity does not lead to self-scrutiny. Instead they rail at the enemy as Demint proclaims the enemy: the poor, the needy, the suffering. They call it "communism" and "socialism" because that is the name Demint has given the enemy.
And they fight that enemy by taking a key to my car. When they walk away they are still angry, but feel better.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Just Who Does Demint Represent?
Jim Demint has a lot to say about "freedom". But for Demint, it means the freedom to be a self-righteous faux-Christian bigot. And I believe he has the right to be that self-righteous faux-Christian bigot. But NOT on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
Demint believes that it is his God-given right to legislate his morality -- or, immorality, actually. Like Joe McCarthy before him, he is a paranoid megalomaniac who clings rigidly to his hates and biases. AND he has the power and capital to enact laws based on those hateful beliefs.
I wonder that, rather than demand his resignation, or that Congress reprimand Demint for his bigoted remarks, people are "demanding" an apology. I imagine that Demint is facing a great deal of ostracism from members of his own party, so close to Election Day. But he has apologized before.
In the Washington Post, Rachel Weiner points out that in 2004, Demint "apologized" for commenting that an unwed pregnant woman should not be allowed to teach in public schools. He apologized by saying,
"[S]ometimes my heart disengages from my head and I say something I shouldn't - and that's what happened yesterday. I clearly said something as a dad that I just shouldn't have said. And I apologize."
Some apology.
Now, six years later, pockets full of cash from corporate interests determined to use Demint to enflame the voters, Demint is happy to spread his gospel of bigotry. Now he relates that experience of six years prior as, really, a victory for, of course, Freedom:
"...everyone would come to me and whisper that I shouldn't back down. They don't want government purging their rights and their freedom to religion."
In true Demint-speak, "everyone" was glad he was defending their freedom to religion. That means that in a public school, Jim Demint and his followers have the freedom to express their bigoted religious beliefs.
My head hurts when I try to follow his logic, really.
But, the most important thing about this is that the Post goes on to talk about Tom Clements and his opposition to Jim Demint:
Tom Clements, the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, weighed in. "The public has the right to know the full extent of DeMint's plans to put public employees to a morals test and he should reveal details of who he would target and what the criteria for judgment are," said Clements. "DeMint's efforts to push his own zealous beliefs on all of us clearly demonstrate the extent of his radical agenda and show that he is not fit to be a senator."
We need Tom Clements in the Senate, fighting for our freedom.
We need right now to be free from Jim Demint
Demint believes that it is his God-given right to legislate his morality -- or, immorality, actually. Like Joe McCarthy before him, he is a paranoid megalomaniac who clings rigidly to his hates and biases. AND he has the power and capital to enact laws based on those hateful beliefs.
I wonder that, rather than demand his resignation, or that Congress reprimand Demint for his bigoted remarks, people are "demanding" an apology. I imagine that Demint is facing a great deal of ostracism from members of his own party, so close to Election Day. But he has apologized before.
In the Washington Post, Rachel Weiner points out that in 2004, Demint "apologized" for commenting that an unwed pregnant woman should not be allowed to teach in public schools. He apologized by saying,
"[S]ometimes my heart disengages from my head and I say something I shouldn't - and that's what happened yesterday. I clearly said something as a dad that I just shouldn't have said. And I apologize."
Some apology.
Now, six years later, pockets full of cash from corporate interests determined to use Demint to enflame the voters, Demint is happy to spread his gospel of bigotry. Now he relates that experience of six years prior as, really, a victory for, of course, Freedom:
"...everyone would come to me and whisper that I shouldn't back down. They don't want government purging their rights and their freedom to religion."
In true Demint-speak, "everyone" was glad he was defending their freedom to religion. That means that in a public school, Jim Demint and his followers have the freedom to express their bigoted religious beliefs.
My head hurts when I try to follow his logic, really.
But, the most important thing about this is that the Post goes on to talk about Tom Clements and his opposition to Jim Demint:
Tom Clements, the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, weighed in. "The public has the right to know the full extent of DeMint's plans to put public employees to a morals test and he should reveal details of who he would target and what the criteria for judgment are," said Clements. "DeMint's efforts to push his own zealous beliefs on all of us clearly demonstrate the extent of his radical agenda and show that he is not fit to be a senator."
We need Tom Clements in the Senate, fighting for our freedom.
We need right now to be free from Jim Demint
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A Greater Cynic Than I
I picked up Matt Taibbi's Spanking the Donkey because it was subtitled "Dispatches from the Dumb Season". I was doing election reading as I was simultaneously reading Stephen King and Bentley Little in honor of the Halloween season. It was a good choice, because I needed to be reading someone whose observations were even more jaded than mine.
I discovered Taibbi as he was leaving True/Slant. I am a relatively new blogger, and just now beginning to be aware of the wealth of opinion that is out there. But I live in a library, and I do read voraciously. So, instead of checking out his current blog at "Rolling Stone", I immersed myself in Spanking the Donkey.
Many of the articles are from "Rolling Stone" and document Taibbi's growing depression and psychosis as he documents the 2004 election campaign. We have two parties, and they are one. We have a media that serves the parties. Instead of sitting through yet more of the candidates' choreographed appearances, he slips off to the parts of town that the candidates never see, and interviews the residents. He sneaks up on the candidates despite all attempts to shield them from awkward encounters. At times he dons a gorilla suit, or dresses as a Viking. He is as critical of the populist hero Howard Dean as he is of John Kerry as he is of George W. Bush as he is of the journalists who tag along eating campaign food and then, sated, submit their souls as well as their articles.
So if you're really, really tired of yet another election season, this is the book, and the writer, for you.
I discovered Taibbi as he was leaving True/Slant. I am a relatively new blogger, and just now beginning to be aware of the wealth of opinion that is out there. But I live in a library, and I do read voraciously. So, instead of checking out his current blog at "Rolling Stone", I immersed myself in Spanking the Donkey.
Many of the articles are from "Rolling Stone" and document Taibbi's growing depression and psychosis as he documents the 2004 election campaign. We have two parties, and they are one. We have a media that serves the parties. Instead of sitting through yet more of the candidates' choreographed appearances, he slips off to the parts of town that the candidates never see, and interviews the residents. He sneaks up on the candidates despite all attempts to shield them from awkward encounters. At times he dons a gorilla suit, or dresses as a Viking. He is as critical of the populist hero Howard Dean as he is of John Kerry as he is of George W. Bush as he is of the journalists who tag along eating campaign food and then, sated, submit their souls as well as their articles.
So if you're really, really tired of yet another election season, this is the book, and the writer, for you.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Saving Freedom from Jim Demint
I have tried, twice, to read Jim Demint's 2009 Saving Freedom. Can't do it. His short history of Jim Demint was at least short, and we were able to learn that he is a typical, God-fearing, American. Oh, and don't forget freedom-loving.
He tells stories, too. Like the plot of one of the episodes of the Andy Griffith Show where Andy lets Opie fight it out, even though he loses. He doesn't pander to Opie because that would be taking away his freedom to learn to take his licks.
He tells the story of the Gingerbread Man, and then wraps it up for us by saying, "There may be no better metaphor for America than the Gingerbread Man."! Now, stay with me. How, you wonder, is the Gingerbread Man the quintessential metaphor for America? You got it, freedom.
Are you starting to see a pattern here?
So I thought that, instead of reading the book, I would just count the number of times the word freedom appears. Then I thought, while I'm doing that, I could count the number of times the word socialism appears. Then, on the freedom side, you could tote up the word values. On the socialism side, you would have to add big-government, which really, really is one-word.
Anyway, I figured if I had the time to read the book, it might just be better for my mental health if I added up the key words. Because reading Jim Demint is like listening to Jim Demint. Which is like falling into a giant marshmallow, but not as sweet.
In other words, as an American, I value my freedom too much to waste my time trying to follow Demint's non sequiturs and delusions, and I value my mental health too much to listen to his thinly disguised lack of respect for MY freedom.
He tells stories, too. Like the plot of one of the episodes of the Andy Griffith Show where Andy lets Opie fight it out, even though he loses. He doesn't pander to Opie because that would be taking away his freedom to learn to take his licks.
He tells the story of the Gingerbread Man, and then wraps it up for us by saying, "There may be no better metaphor for America than the Gingerbread Man."! Now, stay with me. How, you wonder, is the Gingerbread Man the quintessential metaphor for America? You got it, freedom.
Are you starting to see a pattern here?
So I thought that, instead of reading the book, I would just count the number of times the word freedom appears. Then I thought, while I'm doing that, I could count the number of times the word socialism appears. Then, on the freedom side, you could tote up the word values. On the socialism side, you would have to add big-government, which really, really is one-word.
Anyway, I figured if I had the time to read the book, it might just be better for my mental health if I added up the key words. Because reading Jim Demint is like listening to Jim Demint. Which is like falling into a giant marshmallow, but not as sweet.
In other words, as an American, I value my freedom too much to waste my time trying to follow Demint's non sequiturs and delusions, and I value my mental health too much to listen to his thinly disguised lack of respect for MY freedom.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Keep an Eye on Opie
You heard it here, I believe that Jim Demint is going to implode. He may still have his pockets full of filthy lucre, and may still be spreading it around, but some day the boy is going to look around and realize nobody likes him.
So things aren't looking as grim for South Carolina, and now's the time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (for a change).
Send messes of emails to all your friends and family and let them know about Tom Clements. He is the man that can bring us out of the dark ages.
Let's take advantage of all the good opportunity that comes our way whenever Jim Demint opens his mouth.
So things aren't looking as grim for South Carolina, and now's the time to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat (for a change).
Send messes of emails to all your friends and family and let them know about Tom Clements. He is the man that can bring us out of the dark ages.
Let's take advantage of all the good opportunity that comes our way whenever Jim Demint opens his mouth.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
But Really, We Have a Candidate
I think it's wonderful that Charleston's own Nathalie Dupree has offered to throw her hat into the ring against the evil Jim Demint. But this race is really feeling like South Carolina's version of Alice Through the Looking Glass.
First, unknown Alvin Greene shows up and upsets Vic Rawl, as well as a lot of voters, myself included, in the primary.
Greene's comedic lack of enthusiasm as well as frightening lack of credentials versus the extreme evil of Jim Demint led to the candidacy of Tom Clements.
Clements has the kind of background and enthusiasm that should cause us to breathe a sigh of relief and jump on his bandwagon. Instead, there has been a bizarre invisibility thing going on, which tends to happen whenever a brave third party candidate tries to get involved in a race, regardless of how good he looks and how bad are the alternatives.
Now, after just a few days vacation in, yes, I'll admit it, a blue state, I come home to find that Nathalie Dupree has jumped in to save us from the likes of Jim Demint and Alvin Greene.
Which leaves me scratching my head and thinking, "Why doesn't somebody tell her about Tom Clements???"
So I thought I'd send this fine lady an email and ask her to send her support Tom's way. Maybe you could do the same.
First, unknown Alvin Greene shows up and upsets Vic Rawl, as well as a lot of voters, myself included, in the primary.
Greene's comedic lack of enthusiasm as well as frightening lack of credentials versus the extreme evil of Jim Demint led to the candidacy of Tom Clements.
Clements has the kind of background and enthusiasm that should cause us to breathe a sigh of relief and jump on his bandwagon. Instead, there has been a bizarre invisibility thing going on, which tends to happen whenever a brave third party candidate tries to get involved in a race, regardless of how good he looks and how bad are the alternatives.
Now, after just a few days vacation in, yes, I'll admit it, a blue state, I come home to find that Nathalie Dupree has jumped in to save us from the likes of Jim Demint and Alvin Greene.
Which leaves me scratching my head and thinking, "Why doesn't somebody tell her about Tom Clements???"
So I thought I'd send this fine lady an email and ask her to send her support Tom's way. Maybe you could do the same.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Who's Going to Control Opie?
Jim Demint, head swelled from flattery by the easily impressed media, has decided to step up and become the de facto head of the Senate republicans. He has said that he will block any bills before the session ends unless they are on his desk 24 hours prior.
Now, I can imagine that our Jim is a slow reader, but we can be fairly certain he is too busy doing the work of the voices in his head to actually read any bills. Apparently, this is the Demint version of holding one's breath so people won't forget you are there.
I know this is not the caliber of professional that I want in the US Senate. But I also wonder what his "fellow" republicans are thinking about his bullying. Are they actually afraid of Demint to the point where they won't just send him to his room? I hesitate to say that a smack upside the head probably wouldn't hurt.
But here we all are, taking this bully seriously. Just like they kowtowed to Joe McCarthy back in the 50's.
We need to seriously look at how dysfunctional this man is. Other than an occasional appearance on Jon Stewart's Thank you, South Carolina segment, Demint was pretty much a nonentity until he found his home in the Tea Party. With a campaign bankroll that he doesn't need in South Carolina, he has been giving favors to Tea Party candidates most likely to return those favors in Congress.
His views of how government should be run are no less extreme than McCarthy's were 60 years ago.
Our overstimulated media has once again focussed on the "kingmaker" idea rather than his actual positions, which are, quite frankly, scary. Jim Demint is a scary person. His faux-Christian views remind one of a Salem witch-hunt, but he's not going after witches, he is going after single parents and gays. He has learned to keep his radical views to himself and his kind, and has been able to do so by avoiding any public forum that does not cater to his extremist views.
Whether the South Carolina primary results were due to fraud or voter stupidity, it conveniently left him with no one to force him into public debates, and coffers full of gold. Just too convenient, in my opinion.
So what do we do about Demint? I think everyone of all parties, in every state in the country, need to listen carefully to every word he says. Because he is NOT kidding. He will destroy our government. He will kill our schools, our jobs, our way of life, and do it in the name of his "God".
The media needs to pay attention to Jim Demint. They need to wake up and tune in to what he is saying. They need to report his candidacy in terms of what he is campaigning on, and what his actions have proved in his six years in the Senate.
If Jim Demint gets re-elected, and brings along his Tea Party followers, it will be a bad time for we the people of this state, and of this country.
Now, I can imagine that our Jim is a slow reader, but we can be fairly certain he is too busy doing the work of the voices in his head to actually read any bills. Apparently, this is the Demint version of holding one's breath so people won't forget you are there.
I know this is not the caliber of professional that I want in the US Senate. But I also wonder what his "fellow" republicans are thinking about his bullying. Are they actually afraid of Demint to the point where they won't just send him to his room? I hesitate to say that a smack upside the head probably wouldn't hurt.
But here we all are, taking this bully seriously. Just like they kowtowed to Joe McCarthy back in the 50's.
We need to seriously look at how dysfunctional this man is. Other than an occasional appearance on Jon Stewart's Thank you, South Carolina segment, Demint was pretty much a nonentity until he found his home in the Tea Party. With a campaign bankroll that he doesn't need in South Carolina, he has been giving favors to Tea Party candidates most likely to return those favors in Congress.
His views of how government should be run are no less extreme than McCarthy's were 60 years ago.
Our overstimulated media has once again focussed on the "kingmaker" idea rather than his actual positions, which are, quite frankly, scary. Jim Demint is a scary person. His faux-Christian views remind one of a Salem witch-hunt, but he's not going after witches, he is going after single parents and gays. He has learned to keep his radical views to himself and his kind, and has been able to do so by avoiding any public forum that does not cater to his extremist views.
Whether the South Carolina primary results were due to fraud or voter stupidity, it conveniently left him with no one to force him into public debates, and coffers full of gold. Just too convenient, in my opinion.
So what do we do about Demint? I think everyone of all parties, in every state in the country, need to listen carefully to every word he says. Because he is NOT kidding. He will destroy our government. He will kill our schools, our jobs, our way of life, and do it in the name of his "God".
The media needs to pay attention to Jim Demint. They need to wake up and tune in to what he is saying. They need to report his candidacy in terms of what he is campaigning on, and what his actions have proved in his six years in the Senate.
If Jim Demint gets re-elected, and brings along his Tea Party followers, it will be a bad time for we the people of this state, and of this country.
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