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.
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