Blogging for America

2012

2012-01-07T10:58:00.002-05:00

So we are now into the GOP primary season. Reality TV at its best!

Follow me on Twitter
www.twitter.com/feminista54

Rolling Over The Middle Class

2011-11-28T10:04:00.004-05:00

Below is a good analysis of the economic plight of our disappearing middle (and working) class:

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/11/galbraith-social-security-middle-class

Coupled with living pay check to pay check, crippling credit card & education debt it is no wonder that people watch what is happening to the Occupy Wall Street movement, agree that they are, too, part of the 99% but keep on with their heads down.

Here are some proposals to start with (all are negotiable):

Congress members should roll back their salaries...as of 1/2010 the salary for new members $174,000 (before adding in benefits, and realizing that seniority, chair ships, etc, add on to pay). The average family of four has an income of about $50,000 per year, so a member of Congress should earn double that--so Congressional leaders reflect who they are serving. (The same goes for the President--who also does not have housing costs during the term of office).

Congressional Ethics should stop the revolving door that President Eisenhower warned us of...how obscene it is to learn that Gingrich earned $1.6 million + from Freddie Mac.... (Serving in government should not be a get rich quick scheme!)

We should implement a 2 year community service or military service program for young people 18-20. It will teach them to give back, give them some life experiences on their own and help others. I also am in favor of a similar program for those who take "early retirement" before age 70. For the elders, they can do service in their home communities--20 hours a week working in literacy programs, libraries or soup kitchens.

FICA should be on all pay income earned, not limited to the first $106,000. That would secure Social Security.

Want students to really learn: get rid teaching to the test ways of measuring excellence (not) in schools;that will save monies, and give teachers roughly 2 more months to really teach.

Single payer health insurance--the government already provides that for the poor, the elderly, prisoners, military members and veterans, and governmental employees. It is the private health insurance companies that have jacked up the cost of health care (and are the ones who deny health care services. The US pays the most for health care, yet we are way below the top ten when it comes to infant and mother' mortality, for instance.

Legalize and tax marijuana. In fact, end the war on drugs.

That is a start...more to come...

p.s.

2011-11-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

you can also follow me on twitter @feminista54

A Must Read

2011-11-16T09:54:00.006-05:00

I have thought and said that the Patriot Act was being used against environmental activists...that the Department of Homeland Security helped coordinate the (attempts) at closing down Occupy Wall Street is another major factor that indicates our democracy is in crisis.

Yesterday the NYPD were erected a "ring of Steel" to protect financial institutions. We, as a people, the 99%ers, have not been helped out of our economic crisis; in fact it has gotten worse for many; foreclosures are happening at a faster pace, for instance. The only people who forced to live on austerity are the ones who can less afford to...more people are living paycheck to paycheck (that is if they still have a job). If you have not read Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine read it, it is what is unfolding here (and in Greece, Italy and coming soon it seems to France).

Here is the must read with info about OWS and DHS
http://www.inthesetimes.com/uprising/entry/12303/mayors_dhs_coordinated_occupy_attacks/

OWS

2011-11-15T09:29:00.005-05:00

This morning (1:19) police in full riot gear cleared out Zuccotti Park. Then Sanitation moved in to give it a thorough cleaning. And, at at bit after 8 a.m.Mayor Bloomberg held a press briefing to re:iterate that property rights trump all.
Okay, that Brookfield which owns the park asked the city to step in...and they did a bit heavy handed way ( approx 1000 police to 200ish protesters in the park)
But let us review some facts: Zuccotti has the park because they traded some development want on their part with thecity--the city no longer had to maintain the park, it was open 24/7 to the public, and Brookfield got to build bigger/higher (and rename thhe park).
So on the pretense of cleaning the park--neighbors had complained about noise, defacation, though no evidence found...(if there were public loos anywhere in the city. . .thats another post) the City raided the park in the middle of the night. hmmmmm
And, the Mayor continued in the press conference that while he and the city support first amendment rights, the property rights of Brookfield were being harmed, as were the rights of the public to express themselve in the park...hence the action.
As if, the protestors were not part of the public. As if members of the public could not express themselves in the park, with the protestors--ask my 11 year old friend Ben wose class visited OWS when they were studying the Civil Rights Movement (he was interviewed on Mike Huckabee and NY
1--discussing first amendment rights.)

I will continue this latee--now I to go to work...but here are some accounts of what transpired.

Bloomberg's press release:

http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2011b%2Fpr410-11.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1

http://www.democracynow.org/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/nyregion/police-begin-clearing-zuccotti-park-of-protesters.html?_r=1&hp

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/updates-on-the-clearing-of-zuccotti-park/?ref=nyregion

http://occupywallst.org/

20th W&S Conf

2011-10-18T15:17:00.000-04:00

The 20th annual Women & Society Conference is this weekend ( Friday Oct 21 & Saturday the 22nd) at Marist College, Poughkeepsie NY.
Women and Society is an academic conference covering all aspects of women and gender currently under study. Among the topics to be discussed this year are Sex, Violence, Counseling and Advocacy; Body and Sexuality; Media Portrayals; Reproductive Rights and Activism; Lesbians and Gays: Nature Versus Nurture; Empowering Women Through the Arts; New Ways of Thinking about Gender; and Warning Signs of Domestic Violence.

The keynote address is free and open to the public and will be given Dr. Gail Dines, a professor of sociology and women's studies at Wheelock College in Boston, on Friday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in the Nelly Goletti Theatre, located on the third floor of the college's Student Center. Dines is an internationally acclaimed speaker and author, and a feminist activist who focuses on the hypersexualization of the culture and the ways that porn images filter down into mainstream pop culture.

Dr. Dines' work on media and pornography has appeared in academic journals, magazines such as Time and Newsweek, and newspapers across the country. She is a frequent guest on radio and television and is a recipient of the Myers Center Award for the Study of Human Rights. Dr. Dines is a founding member of Stop Porn Culture, an educational and activist group made up of academics, anti-violence experts, community organizers and anyone who is concerned about the increasing "pornification" of culture.

Dr. Dines' new book "Pornland" has just been published by Beacon Press and has received coverage by the Boston Globe The Guardian, the American Spectator, Ms. Magazine, The Huffington Post, AlterNet, the New York Post, the Sacramento Book Review, and Pulse Media. She has been featured on CNN and Canadian Public Radio.

This conference aims to mentor undergraduate scholars, to do so, we allow them to attend for free. All others must pay the registration fee. Conference registration begins on site at noon Friday in the Henry Hudson Room, 3rd floor of Fontaine Hall.

For registration and further information, contact conference coordinator Dr. JoAnne Myers, associate professor of political science and co-director of Women's Studies at Marist, at joanne.myers@marist.edu or (845) 575-3000, ext. 2234. A conference schedule is available online at

http://www.marist.edu/liberalarts/womensstudies/program.html

On the Backs of Women

2011-10-12T09:23:00.000-04:00

Literally, on the backs of women, the Topeka, KS City Council voted (7:3) to decriminalize domestic violence...did they vote to decriminalize a nonviolent, non public order threatening marijuana: no! This is literally a FU to women.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/us/topeka-moves-to-decriminalize-domestic-violence.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=topeka&st=cse

Petition to decriminalize marijuana not DV in Topeka:
http://www.change.org/petitions/topeka-city-council-member-decriminalize-marijuana-not-domestic-violence

Who are the 99%

2011-09-30T17:40:00.004-04:00

99% of the wealth is in the hands of 1% of the population. 99% of the population has 1% of the wealth. See for text & charts http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

These are very poignant:

http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/rss

Democracy in Action

2011-09-24T16:50:00.003-04:00

How many of you are following the protests on Wall St? Hear anything about them on the main stream media? Why or why not? If the protests are not being reported out, are they not happening? Why is there a protest?
Here is a website to look at : https://occupywallst.org/

[What happens when news falls off the front page--does it mean that everything is X is no longer an issue?]

We, the People

2011-07-28T13:15:00.003-04:00

For the past 30 years, or better put, since the time of Reagan we Americans have lost our sense of "We, the people." The public, the community that so impressed de Tocqueville has seemingly dispersed. Oh, from time to time we come together, and become patriotic, but not to solve any problems per se.
We, the people, have come to believe that most problems are individual--for instance, if we are poor,we just are not working hard enough. That we do not need the government to step in and equalize, that the private sector will do whatever--create jobs, protect the environment, build fuel efficient vehicles. . .
We should be realizing now, that we need our government. The private sector is not creating jobs here, and not paying living wages for most jobs. The private sector is most concerned with profit.

So, the question that I put forward is: how do we regain the concept of We, the people, of public good?

Breaking Myths

2011-07-24T11:34:00.002-04:00

Myth: Al Qaeda is responsible for all acts of terrorism.
Broken (yet again) this time by a Right Wing Christian Fundamentalist in Norway (7/22/11).

Myth: Heterosexual marriages are in jeopardy, if same sex marriage occurs.
Broken again this time in NYS (7/24/11)

Myth: The Republicans are willing to negotiate with the Democrats on the debt crisis
Broken again when Boehner walked out of the meeting with the President (7/22/11)/

Myth: The Republicans care about all their constituents.
Broken when they call for cuts to social security, medicare and medicaid when SS has no impact on the debt, medicare and medicaid have minimal impact while there are NO cuts to the military wars that are being waged, and no revenues being raised. (Since 2010).

Myth: Creating jobs is Congress' number one goal.
Broken by the fact only one of the 23 bills passed by this congress & signed into law can be referred to as a jobs bill, only marginally is one: it provides continued investment in small businesses.

Myth: Private sector will create jobs.
Broken by the fact that in June the private sector only created 18,000 new jobs, not enough to cover the roughly 125,000 needed each month just to cover new wannabe entrants to the workforce.

Of the 23 bills passed by the 112th Congress and signed into law, one can marginally be referred to as a jobs bill.

Myth: The private sector will create more jobs if given tax cuts.
Still broken, in June 18,000 new jobs created fell far short of the roughly 125,000 needed each month just to cover new wannabe entrants into the workforce.

Religions' impact on our PluralisticState

2011-06-27T11:33:00.002-04:00

Archbishop Dolan fought hard against same sex marriage, and, he and others continue to fight same sex marriage....

See for example, http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/06/27/2011-06-27_sermons_mounted_pro__con_gay_unions_on_minds_of_citys_pastors.html

But most of all religions have been actively political not just when it comes to same sex marriage.
The teachings of the Church(es) have also imposed on our foreign policy: no condoms distributed in Africa, so the AIDS epidemic there continues to devastate countries;
on our military policy: female service members do not have access to full reproductive health care on military bases.
The teachings of our Temples have allowed for a pro-Israeli foreign policy, that does not grant Palestinians' their human rights.

There are more examples.

Religion should be a private matter, and not impose on others. When it imposes on others in our pluralistic democracy, it has overstepped.
Former Governor Cuomo articulately made the point about imposing religious views on others at the University of Notre Dame in 1984. The full text of his speech can be found here:
http://archives.nd.edu/research/texts/cuomo.htm

In the following excerpt, the bolded lines are the important ones, IMHO.

. . .In fact, Catholic public officials take an oath to preserve the Constitution that guarantees this freedom. And they do so gladly. Not because they love what others do with their freedom, but because they realize that in guaranteeing freedom for all, they guarantee our right to be Catholics: our right to pray, to use the sacraments, to refuse birth control devices, to reject abortion, not to divorce and remarry if we believe it to be wrong.

The Catholic public official lives the political truth most Catholics through most of American history have accepted and insisted on: the truth that to assure our freedom we must allow others the same freedom, even if occasionally it produces conduct by them which we would hold to be sinful.

I protect my right to be a Catholic by preserving your right to believe as a Jew, a Protestant or non-believer, or as anything else you choose.

We know that the price of seeking to force our beliefs on others is that they might some day force theirs on us.

This freedom is the fundamental strength of our unique experiment in government. In the complex interplay of forces and considerations that go into the making of our laws and policies, its preservation must be a pervasive and dominant concern.

But insistence on freedom is easier to accept as a general proposition than in its applications to specific situations. There are other valid general principles firmly embedded in our Constitution, which, operating at the same time, create interesting and occasionally troubling problems. Thus, the same amendment of the Constitution that forbids the establishment of a State Church affirms my legal right to argue that my religious belief would serve well as an article of our universal public morality. I may use the prescribed processes of government -- the legislative and executive and judicial processes -- to convince my fellow citizens -- Jews and Protestants and Buddhists and non-believers -- that what I propose is as beneficial for them as I believe it is for me; that it is not just parochial or narrowly sectarian but fulfills a human desire for order, peace, justice, kindness, love, any of the values most of us agree are desirable even apart from their specific religious base or context. . .

Overstep, become an imposing political force, lose your tax exemption, in my opinion.

Legalizing Discrimination

2011-06-26T21:53:00.007-04:00

Friday evening the NYS Legislature passed the Marriage Equality Act but not before passing an amendment that exempted religious organizations from having to celebrate (or recognize) these marriages if they are counter to te religion's principles. Also this amendment can not be severed from the who bill without causing the who bill /law to self destruct. http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A8520-2011
I would not want to celebrate my marriage where I am not welcome so that is a moot point,in my mind.
It is the second section that is worrisome to me (see what I have bolded & italicized below) for it legalizes discrimination:
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY STATE, LOCAL OR MUNICIPAL LAW OR RULE, REGU
LATION, ORDINANCE, OR OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NOTHING IN
THIS ARTICLE SHALL LIMIT OR DIMINISH THE RIGHT, PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
ELEVEN OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-SIX OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, OF ANY
RELIGIOUS OR DENOMINATIONAL INSTITUTION OR ORGANIZATION, OR ANY ORGAN
IZATION OPERATED FOR CHARITABLE OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, WHICH IS OPER
ATED, SUPERVISED OR CONTROLLED BY OR IN CONNECTION WITH A RELIGIOUS
ORGANIZATION, TO LIMIT EMPLOYMENT OR SALES OR RENTAL OF HOUSING ACCOMMO
DATIONS OR ADMISSION TO OR GIVE PREFERENCE TO PERSONS OF THE SAME RELI
GION OR DENOMINATION OR FROM TAKING SUCH ACTION AS IS CALCULATED BY SUCH
ORGANIZATION TO PROMOTE THE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES FOR WHICH IT IS ESTAB
LISHED OR MAINTAINED.

Now, I am not a lawyer, nor a religious scholar, but I can clearly see how many religiously affiliated groups--Mormons,Catholics,Orthodox Jews, Fundamental Christians, Muslims. . .-- could use this clause to discriminate. Many of these religions run not for profit service delivery and education organizations. Perhaps they will refuse to serve those who are in a same sex marriage, or who so marry. Catholic Charities went out of the business of adoptions in 2006, because under equal protection they would have been forced to place children with gay adoptive parents prior to this type of clause, with this clause in place, Catholic Charities could have just discriminated against the gay want-to-be-adoptive-parents.
I have already heard one diocese say this morning that they will not hire any married lesbians or gay men to teach or work in their parochial schools.

If this legalized discrimination is allowed to stand, I am proposing that all religious organizations that have politicked for these protections have violated their tax exempt status, and should lose that status. This means the Church of the Latter Saints which funded (the California) Proposition 8, no more tax exemptions. Catholic Church & other Christian churches which lobbied against same sex marriage, against the full reproductive health rights of women (see Health care reform) no tax exemptions.
In other words, Religions, you can not have it your way--if you want to politic, if you want not to practice equality,i.e, to discriminate, you should not be afforded tax breaks. (This might also solve many communities' budget problems. . .)

Freedom of religion is also freedom from religion, that's EQUALITY, too.

Marriage Equality

2011-06-24T22:47:00.001-04:00

Marriage Equality passed in New York...the 6th state! One step closer to equality for all!

Dirty Tricks

2011-06-03T10:20:00.002-04:00

Is it just a coincidence that our attention is directed away from important issues? Could the alleged Congressman Weiner lewd twitter be because of his investigation of Justice Thomas' apparent conflict of interest?
http://www.anthonyweiner.com/blog/125-conflicted-clarence-thomas-countdown-to-clarity

Did we win?

2011-05-02T10:34:00.003-04:00

Amid the jubilance and the flag waving, here is my question of the day: When did revenge become justice? Is that the American way now? If so, then perhaps Osama has won in a fashion--our liberal democratic principles are in shreds.
Years ago Christiana Amanapour reported that he was living comfortably in a suburb in Pakistan, though we were still being fed the media hype that he was living in Afghan caves. Do we dehumanize our enemies that much, that our thinking is distorted, that we think a man on dialysis would be cave dwelling?

April 12, 2011

2011-04-11T21:06:00.001-04:00

April 12, 2011 is the day that women's earnings equal those of males' who worked 52 weeks in 2010.

MLK,Jr words ring true today

2011-04-04T21:10:00.002-04:00

April 4th, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr was assasinated in Memphis where he was lending support to the striking Sanitation workers. Here is his speak from the evening before:
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/sayitplain/mlking.html Transcript and recording).

The Real State of our Republic

2011-04-01T08:34:00.003-04:00

Democracy should allow for all of us to participate in public debates and decision making. Our mixed Capitalist system should allow for all of us to succeed. Cornel West* on the real State of our Union--the reality behind,beyond the words--the majority of the people of the United States who are at best still living paycheck to pay check, if they have a job.
The March unemployment rate** as remained the roughly same as previous month(8.8% OR 13.5 million people)-- even as 216,000 jobs were added in March (192,000 jobs were added in Feb.)--an indication that the unemployment number is truly a number that is constructed using rose colored glasses. The number is constructed by figuring out the number on unemployment, and adding back the number who went off unemployment during that month (people using up their benefits as well as people who have gotten jobs). Most economists say the real figure of unemployed is reached by doubling the official percentage.
The number of personal bankruptcies is predicted to drop to 1.5 million, a very slight decrease from the 1.53 million filed in 2010 (actually this will be the first drop since 2006, if it does drop) according to the American Bankruptcy Institute and Fitch Ratings. 27% of personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills, even for those with health insurance. 40% suffered job loss. (Less than 10 9 % of the personal bankruptcy filings did not state medical bills, job loss, or foreclosure).

Inequality is alive and well in this liberal democracy, this republic of ours.

* Cornel West's interview:
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/rizkhan/2011/03/201132863311584728.html

** Ap 1 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf

Democracy in America

2011-03-26T16:50:00.003-04:00

Charlie Sheen has over 1.3 million followers on Twitter.
Every week millions of votes are cast for American Idol singers.
The Department of Defense said it has @$1billion to spend on Libya without asking Congress for more money... (oh, if only the DoD had to hold bake sales to raise monies, and not schools)

People are watching the democratisation of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria. . . but are they paying attention to the democracy here at home?

GE the nation's largest corporation ". . . reported worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total came from its operations in the United States. Its American tax bill? None. In fact, G.E. claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion." http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/business/economy/25tax.html

Other states are joining Wisconsin in their anti-labor move...from banning collective bargaining to making their state "business friendly" by removing WPA murals and renaming conference rooms--No more Frances Perkins room--in Maine.

Federal, State and local budgets are cutting off aid to children, cutting education spending, cutting police forces. . . most target working poor and the middle class.

The income gap is getting bigger (SEEhttp://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph).

13.7 million people are currently unemployed. According to Bob Herbert's column 3/26 there is currently only 1 job for every 5 job seekers.

Wait, I thought cutting corporate taxes would create jobs. Doesn't seem to be happening.

No, what seems to be happening is that we are losing sight of democracy.

In Wisconsin, Republicans are trying to silence William Cronon who published a study guide that begins with "After watching the sudden and impressively well-organized wave of legislation being introduced into state legislatures that all seem to be pursuing parallel goals only tangentially related to current fiscal challenges–ending collective bargaining rights for public employees, requiring photo IDs at the ballot box, rolling back environmental protections, privileging property rights over civil rights, and so on–I’ve found myself wondering where all of this legislation is coming from." His questions lead him to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)...he follows the conservative rise to power and its affects on politics, the economy and America. http://scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net/2011/03/15/alec/

Where is democracy in America? It is in everyone of us, if we are paying attention. But, most of us are distracted by Charlie "Winner" Sheen, by American Idol...

Some of the other resources mentioned, so you may read for yourself.

Obama's Budget proposal: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview/

NYS budget proposal: http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget1112/1112_budgetLegislation.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/opinion/26herbert.html?_r=4&hp

Cronin's OP Ed piece 3/22
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/opinion/22cronon.html

His 3/24 blog piece
http://scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net/2011/03/24/open-records-attack-on-academic-freedom/

100 years ago today

2011-03-25T19:59:00.003-04:00

The Triangle shirtwaist fire happened 100 years ago today. This is the fire that sparked labor reform, factory and occupational safety requirements.
Here is Frances Perkins and Eleanor Roosevelt talking about it on the 50th anniversary of the fatal fire.
http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/mar/24/listen-wnyc-archives-triangle-shirtwaist-fire/

National Teach-in

2011-03-23T20:58:00.002-04:00

April 5th 2-4:30 will be a national teach in on austerity, debt and corporate greed (and what we can do about it).

"Wall Street Banks, American corporations and their political allies have declared a one-sided war on the American people. This war is being waged at our schools and colleges, on public employee unions, in our workplaces and in our communities.

Today, Americans are working harder and earning less while corporate profits soar. Homeowners, consumers and students are seeing their wealth being stripped away by banks. Our government plunges into debt waging trillion dollar wars. Meanwhile, our infrastructure erodes, climate change proceeds unchecked, our schools, daycare centers, senior facilities, clinics, parks and emergency services are all starved while corporations and elites get billions in tax breaks!

“Austerity” policies falsely suggest that spending on social needs is the reason why governments-- at all levels-- are facing massive budget short falls. NO! Our debt and deficit problems are a direct result of corporate tax breaks and extortionist bank practices that have lead to a scandalous and unprecedented transfer of wealth-- from hardworking Americans to the richest segments of US society.

The courageous actions by the citizens in Wisconsin are an inspiring defense of the core values of this country: a civil society based on freedom of association, healthy and stable communities that value public services and the public good.

The outpouring of support nationally shows the possibilities for challenging deepening economic inequality and political marginalization of the majority of the American people. We are on the cusp of a great movement to resist and roll-back the corporate domination by banks, energy companies and war profiteers.

To join that movement and escalate the activism planned in the days, weeks and months ahead we are organizing a “National Teach-in on Debt, Austerity and How People Are Fighting Back. The live web cast Teach-in will be streamed on Tuesday, April 5th, 2011, from the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, beginning at 2:00 PM EDT. Admission to Judson is free. Social justice experts and activists from around the country will be hosted by moderators FRANCES FOX PIVEN and CORNEL WEST in New York City through a live web cast that you can join by organizing a teach-in on your own campus."

http://www.fightbackteachin.org/

Happy International Women's Day

2011-03-08T09:23:00.001-05:00

International Womens Day Celebration on the Walkway Over the Hudson

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center will celebrate International Women's Day with a walk across the Walkway over the Hudson bridge. Registration will go from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on the Poughkeepsie side of the bridge. The keynote speaker will be the inspiring, Kadiatou Di-dibe Sarassoro, who will discuss how she fled the Ivory Coast and settled in Dutchess County.She will provide information about the plight of women in other countries, serving to create awareness about women's equality elsewhere in the world, which is one of the goals on International Women's Day. The celebration is dedicated to making women of the past proud, women of the future inspired, and make women of the future envision. Women have made great strides to equality in the last century and this event will commemorate the impact that women have had. In addition to a key note speaker, local women's organizations will have information booths set up and the first 500 attendees will receive a free gift.

How are you celebrating?

The slow pace towards equality

2011-03-03T09:30:00.003-05:00

The first White House report on the status of women since the one Eleanor Roosevelt helped sheppard in 1963. While there are some slight improvements in almost 48 years, we still have a long way to go to reach equality. And at this rate. . .

Read it for yourselves:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/Women_in_America.pdf

And, then ask yyourselves: What does this mean today in 2011?

Don't drink the kool-aid, part 2

2011-02-20T19:27:00.001-05:00

See also Robert Reich's analysis:
http://www.alternet.org/economy/149981/exposing_the_republicans%27_3-part_strategy_to_tear_the_middle_class_apart_--_let%27s_stop_them_in_wisconsin/

Budget Deficit Misdirection or Drinking the KoolAid

2011-02-20T12:46:00.007-05:00

Have we drunk the deficit koolaid?

1. Public servants especially those in unions are overpaid. According to many media outlets: Employees in public service jobs (union) earn roughly 5% more than private sector jobs (roughly $2000). The average public serve worker earns $47,000 the average private sector worker $45,000 for comparable jobs. Many jobs have no private sector equivalent (fire, police) and vice versa--there are no public sector equivalent for Walmart greeter or part time after school burger flipper.
Though the Economic Policy Institute has figures that show that private sector workers earn 6,000 more per year than public sector workers, while public sector workers are better educated.

BUT, let us put this all into perspective--the average household earns less than $52,000 a year. When any of our politicians talk about tax breaks they are talking about households earning up to $250,000 (and over that if republican)...

http://www.wtma.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=114&itemid=29635274
http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2011/02/working-in-america-public-vs-private-sector.html

Over 20 years comparison: http://www.slge.org/vertical/Sites/%7BA260E1DF-5AEE-459D-84C4-876EFE1E4032%7D/uploads/%7B03E820E8-F0F9-472F-98E2-F0AE1166D116%7D.PDF

2.Have Public service unions & collective bargaining power caused State deficits?
IF this was the case than we would expect that in Right to Work states (seen as the most business friendly)that do not allow collective bargaining for their public unions would be in the black. And, the five states that fit this category are running huge budget deficits.

There are 22 Right to Work* states (Ala,Ariz,Ark,Fl,GA,ID,IA,Ka,LA,MS,Neb,Nev,NC,ND,OK,SC.SD,Tenn,TX,Ut,VA,WY)

Of these Va, NC,SC, GA and TX prohibit collective bargaining (its explicitly illegal).

Of these 5 states, 4 have state deficits in billions (Va 2.3b,Tx 1.4b, NC 3.8b, GA 1.7b) (There are 16 states with deficits in the billions. The fifth state's deficit,SC is at 877m.

FYI: unemployment in these states
7% unemployment in VA
8.3 TX
9.7 NC
10 GA
11% SC

(see figure 3 & table 1)
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=711

http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/6796/

3. SO, Why is Gov.Walker refusing to negotiate on collective bargaining? Why are public service employees being scapegoated? The questions may be answered In part by looking at how Wisconsin went from budget surplus to budget deficit: granting corporations tax breaks.
Why are public servants--teachers, in this case-- civil servants who provide us with the necessities of what we need --education (and an educated citizenry), transportation, safety, security--being held responsible for bringing down the economy, and not the corporations (financial institutions, energy companies, industries, etc) which lobbied for less regulation, lower taxes, etc.?
For some teacher/public servant bashing see:http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerkimball/2011/02/20/watershed-moment-in-wisconsin/

4. Want a stable economy? Create jobs and make sure those who have worked can afford to live.
What happens when people do not have jobs? They do not spend money. Corporations are supposedly flush, yet they are not creating jobs, not spending, because people are not buying. So,perhaps the way to solve the budget deficits are to create and/or secure jobs so people will spend...
Instead, both sides are talking about cutting funds for things such as home heating programs--and energy costs are going up, energy costs are also not part of the equation for Cost of Living increases for Social Security increases, for instance.

5. Perhaps instead of drinking the koolaid offered, we should speak the truth, demand that corporations pay their fair share of taxes and demand that corporations give back to the public, for the public good.

*Right to Work--do not have to join union (if there is a union to join), can quit at any time, and likewise can be fired without cause or notice.

Where is Democracy found?

2011-02-12T13:02:00.001-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/opinion/12herbert.html?_r=1&ref=bobherbert

MLK, Jr

2011-01-17T13:36:00.002-05:00

Here is the speech that Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the night before he was killed. It speaks volumes about civil rights and civility.

http://www.afscme.org/about/1549.cfm

In the Aftermath

2011-01-12T13:01:00.004-05:00

Politicians, citizens, the media, we all should take advantage of the unfortunate shootings in Tucson. While shooter may or may not have been politically motivated, his access to automatic multi-rounded guns is. The interpretation of the second amendment to allow such access is very political. While there are some who do hunt their meals, most us only hunt the aisles of our local supermarket. We need to really examine our gun culture, what it means and why is it necessary.
Second, in the memory of those who died trying to exercise their civil and political rights and talk to their congressional representative, we should take advantage of the opening to really talk about what political discourse should or should be, talk about civility, the lack or not of it, talk of responsibility, public good and community. Instead I hear the blame game--not my rhetoric, the shooter was acting on his own, etc, etc. For instance, if we believe the shooter was acting on his own, why do most people seem to castigate all billion Muslims as potential terrorists because of the actions of 19+??? If crosshairs, reload, etc. are not provoking violence but are metaphors for change and voting, perhaps we need to remember that in our democracy political change has been peacefully conducted at the voting booth (for the most part). [BTW, if Gov. Palin really believed that her rhetoric was not instigating violence, she should have decried the violence at the first of the 2008 rallies when her supporters who cried out "kill him" or called Obama a terrorist. But she did not, nor did McCain.]

2011

2010-12-31T17:37:00.002-05:00

May 2011 see Democrats getting a backbone , Republicans getting a heart and actually reading Adam Smith, Tea Partiers and the middle class both getting a brain(one to be logical, and both to not vote against their own self interest)...oh, politics is such a game!

May 2011 also see the glimmers of peace and understanding everywhere!

Senate finally does the right thing!

2010-12-18T14:21:00.003-05:00

The Senate finally voted to vote on the repeal Don'T Ask, Don't Tell...so gay and lesbian members of the military can serve openly without having their freedom of expression abridged! The signnificance is that this test vote passed 63-33 thus proving the legislation will pass. Hopefully, the Senate will vote on it today.

IT PASSED 65-31 at 3:30 today!!!!

Here is President Obama's statement:

Today, the Senate has taken an historic step toward ending a policy that undermines our national security while violating the very ideals that our brave men and women in uniform risk their lives to defend. By ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” no longer will our nation be denied the service of thousands of patriotic Americans forced to leave the military, despite years of exemplary performance, because they happen to be gay. And no longer will many thousands more be asked to live a lie in order to serve the country they love.

As Commander-in-Chief, I am also absolutely convinced that making this change will only underscore the professionalism of our troops as the best led and best trained fighting force the world has ever known. And I join the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the overwhelming majority of service members asked by the Pentagon, in knowing that we can responsibly transition to a new policy while ensuring our military strength and readiness.

I want to thank Majority Leader Reid, Senators Lieberman and Collins and the countless others who have worked so hard to get this done. It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly. I urge the Senate to send this bill to my desk so that I can sign it into law.

World AIDS Day--Dec. 1

2010-12-01T11:54:00.003-05:00

While this is WORLD AIDS Day I think we need to look at what is happening here in the US. Some things to think about:

Thirty years ago the AIDS pandemic started. Yet, just last year in the US 54,000 people were newly infected with HIV. We need to be doing better at HIV/AIDS prevention.
72% of all the women in the US with AIDS/HIV contract it HIV through heterosexual intercourse with bisexual men or men on the down low or men who are intravenous drug users or men are HIV+ for whatever reason who do not use protection. Latinas and African-American women make up 80% of the HIV/AIDS cases, though they are only 25% of the female population. Marriage does not protect women from HIV/AIDS. We need to be doing better at HIV/AIDS prevention.

Here is President Obama's proclamation for today:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/30/presidential-proclamation-world-aids-day?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aidsgovnews+(AIDS.gov+News+and+Events)

Here is the National HIV/AIDS Strategy:
http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/nhas-fact-sheet.pdf
http://www.aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/

Post-election Thoughts

2010-11-03T09:05:00.002-04:00

Congrats to the winners...but listen to the drumbeat, and learn.

Major lesson number one: We need more people being groomed for candidacy and office. If qualified candidates are not sitting on the bench, what the Republicans experienced in many races, such as the NY Gubernatorial one when they ran basically a non-candidates (can you say: Lazio), it opened the door for others to jump in, such as the Tea Party candidates. Christine O'Donnell was correct in her assessment that if the GOP had backed her candidacy right away, things might have been a bit different--but she lost (as did most of the Republicans in Delaware by 20%).

We actually might be witnessing the death of a political party (the Republicans really have to re-invent themselves) if not political parties...since the 1930s their major function has been grooming potential candidates. But ever since 1980 when Anderson ran as an independent after not getting the Republican nod for President, people have not been registering in political parties (except for in closed primary states, such as NY), and people outside the party apparatus have run, and in some cases won the primaries, and the election. Or, maybe we will see more third parties step up....

On another note:
My prediction for the House, even though it has a republican majority, not all of the tea partiers fit comfortably under the republican tent, nor do they all understand the purpose and workings of government.
S0, the so-called R majority will split, or tend to be a lot more conservative...and produce gridlock, since the Senate is still democratic... This, btw, is what the founders had in mind when they talked about a limited government--they did not foresee the two houses agreeing on much legislation...thus, limiting government.

How to Strengthen the Military

2010-10-14T09:08:00.003-04:00

Judge Virginia Phillips ruled Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) unconstitutional in Log Cabin Republicans v United States the other day. DADT deprives gay and lesbian servicemembers of both their right to due process and freedom of speech, besides it was harmful to military readiness. She also ordered the military to stop enforcing the ban immediately.
It should not be that hard to follow this directive. Many accused of violating DADT were not discharged until their combat deployments were completed,thus, their service appears to have been crucial to the military. of the almost 14,000 servicemembers who have been discharged under DADT, many were translators, counter terrorism and military intelligence officers. Closeted and not so closeted gay men and women have been serving (and living) next to their straight comrades for years (see Randy Shilts' Coming Out Under Fire for an historical overview). The military is having such a hard time recruiting soldiers that the requirements have been lowered--education, physical and criminal-- moral waivers have been given to felons so that they may serve! Not to mention that we are recruiting more foreign nationals to serve, with the idea that they can fast track to become American citizens (BTW foreign nationals have always served in our military,too).
And, though the President, the Secretary of Defense,the chair of the Joint Chief of Staff, the House of Representatives and 70% of the American public think that DADT should be lifted, the Senate is delaying a vote and the Justice Department feels they might have to appeal this decision.
I believe that if you want a strong military defense it is only common sense that DADT needs to be lifted now. I suggest that the Justice department sit on their hands, President Obama issue an executive order (such as Truman did in 1949 integrating the military), and Senator Reid tell his fellow senators to do the right thing now for a real strong defense--that their inaction is just continually has been weakening our military.

First Amendment, Privacy, Decency?

2010-10-07T09:25:00.005-04:00

The Supreme Court head the oral arguments yesterday in the case that pits the Westboro Baptist Church against the bereaved father of a fallen soldier--do the members of the Phelps family (most of the members of the Westboro Church) have the right to their antigay speech used at intrusive but legal protests at the funeral of fallen soldiers?
The Phelps family church believes that "God hates homosexuality and hates and punishes America for its tolerance of homosexuality" especially in the military. (note to self: Don't Ask, Don't Tell equals tolerance???????)

Read the arguments:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/09-751.pdf

And some analysis:
www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/snyder-v-phelps/

What we do not know

2010-09-30T09:45:00.003-04:00

http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php

http://www.economist.com/node/17103701

Book for October

2010-09-17T22:57:00.002-04:00

Michael Kimmel's Guyland will be the next book we will be reading. In our discussion last night, we mentioned that young women seem to either think equality has been reached or they seem to be wanting to be heading back to the idealized 1950s/early 1960s. Perhaps, to achieve equality we need to reach out to the men, grow some male feminists, or ????
Michael Kimmel is the led scholar on masculinity studies, he will also be talking the evening of Oct. 22 at marist as part of the Women & Society conference...

Happy Labor Day

2010-09-06T09:28:00.002-04:00

Most of us consider Labor Day the official end of summer--its the end of summer vacations. (And, while most of us are no longer in school we still measure time by the start of the school year.)
We celebrate the end of summer with a bbq or a day at the beach or in the stores at the Back to School and Labor Day Sales. Once Labor Day was a day of speechifying and parades, but no more. Labor Day began back in the 1880s Labor Day by the NY labor unions to celebrate the workers. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1894, after the Pullman Strike resulted in the death of some strikers.
I think it fitting that we take a moment to think of the worker today--in today's economy. We are told the economy is getting better. Yet many of us are still economically insecure: the cost of living is still very high; there is still high unemployment (9.6%); little to no job growth to speak of--and the competition for those new jobs is fierce among the newly minted graduates/job seekers and the under- and un-employed; and foreclosures are still the order of the day. . .

Respecting Ground Zero

2010-08-19T18:17:00.004-04:00

Mark Fiore's take on the Muslim Community Center:

http://www.markfiore.com/political-cartoons/watch-ground-zero-mosque-islam-ramadan-cordoba-house-animated-video-mark-fiore-animation?t=1282256171

But around Ground Zero, there already is a mosque or two in the area, Masjid Mosque on Warren St--since 1970 and Masjid Al Farah, on West Broadway.

But if we are really talking about respect--what of all the bars, the cheap stuff stores, the strip club?
The fact that the 9/11 responders health bill that did not pass?
That we are disrespecting the colonists, founders and the Constitution's Bill of Rights when we try to limit (or impose) religion.

Activist Justices

2010-08-13T13:12:00.002-04:00

The so-called activist justices, Judges Walker and Bolton, are just doing their jobs: upholding the constitution. In both of the cases in front of the judges--same sex marriage in California and immigration in Arizona the critical constitutional amendment was the 14th.
Judge Walker's decision declared California's Prop 8 unconstitutional because it denied equal protection and due process to lesbians and gay men who were seeking to marry. His decision also stated that making laws based on disgust/morality have little standing. But that's another post.
Judge Bolton temporarily struck down Arizona's immigration law, because States do not "do" immigration, immigration is the purview of the Federal government (Federalism 101) and it is the federal government that declares who are citizens--again the 14th amendment.

The 14th Amendment in its entirety follows,but the crucual section for both laws that were struck down is Section 1.

Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2.
Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state.

Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4.
The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5.
The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Here is another article on activist justices: http://www.slate.com/id/2263347/

Law, Marriage & Morality

2010-08-05T10:11:00.002-04:00

Judge Walker issued his finding that Proposition 8 which rescinded same sex marriage in California was unconstitutional yesterday*. The ruling was based on due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution's Bill of Rights. He also said
"Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians.The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples." (P.135)

The decision will most likely be appealed to the 9th Circuit, and then potentially on to the Supreme Court.

Some might find that the decision has one troubling aspect: it denies the result of citizens' votes and majority rule. But we do have to remember tht the majority is not always right: slavery? segregation? miscegnation?

* http://www.scribd.com/doc/35374462/Prop-8-Ruling-FINAL

Hot Air (not a weather report)

2010-08-04T09:35:00.005-04:00

The last thing we need this summer is more hot air, yet that is exactly what many esteemed members of congress--Senators Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina),and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), among others-- seem to be blowing off regarding immigration. The latest is a call to repeal or at least change the opening sentence of the 14th amendment to exclude children born to non-US citizens or birthright citizenship.

The opening sentence of the 14th amendment reads:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."

This call for repeal or amendment is an election year ploy. Even Lou Dobbs, who leads the charge for strong immigration laws is against this action. He told Fox News: "We have a law in which they become American citizens for being born here. If you’re going to insist upon the rule of law and order—and I do—I have to insist that we recognize these anchor babies as US citizens."

The 14th amendment, adopted in 1868, was the first time that the Constitution defined citizen, to ensure that former slaves, among others, would be citizens. BTW, the amendment was promoted and passed by Republicans to help ensure the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (my, how times have changed!).

Half the Sky

2010-07-22T10:06:00.009-04:00

The latest volley in the so-called Gender War is a peaceable, even handed one, aimed at men by a man. Nicholas Kristof's column today makes the point why gender equality is necessary. "[M]en have typically benefited as women have gained greater equality." [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/opinion/22kristof.html?_r=1&hp]

Kristof makes the point today that my father realized, and what made my father call himself a feminist, back in the seventies. Men do not want to witness their daughters and wives coming up against sexual harassment, pay inequity and inequality in the workplace.

While in this recession women are making up more of the labor force currently employed, they are paid substantially less--25 to up to 40%less-- than males in the same or comparable jobs. In households that are relying on this paycheck, that is a significant amount of money, which in turn means less discretionary spending money.

Before Kate Millett, Barbara Love and others picketed outside the New York Times in 1968 demanding that help wanted ads not be sex segregated, the jobs women could apply for were teachers, nurses, housekeepers, secretaries, stewardesses, waitresses. If women applied for a man's job, the employer could offer it to her, at a 25% pay reduction. Today, while job ads are not segregated, men still earn more, even if they are working in jobs that historically had been female ones.

Pay inequity is actually an holdover from when men were considered to be the primary breadwinners and head of households--this was actually a negotiating tactic for labor unions in the 1890s! If women are now the breadwinners, and head of households, shouldn't their pay be equitabloe to that of a man's?

In a working lifetime (40 years), men on average earn $431,000 more than a woman (Center for American Progress, via Kristof's article). This is very substantial, especially since it also impacts how much women earn towards social security and their pensions, and since women live longer. . .do the math: more elderly women live in poverty.

The Chinese have a saying: "Women hold up have the sky." We need everyone to work towards equality so we do not have a lopsided sky.

A Critical Mass

2010-07-20T15:43:00.003-04:00

Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The 13-6 vote pretty much along party lines, except that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) joined the majority Democrats.

Her confirmation by the Senate is expected early next month, then there will be three female justices--Justices Ginsberg, Sotomayer and Kagan- one third of the Supreme Court. And, this is very important, this one third proportion.

While women are not a monolith, and just being a woman does not make one a feminist, the fact that 33% of the Supreme Court Justices will be women is significant. Most political analysts say that when women make up 20-33% of any group including political bodies--than they have reached the critical mass needed to be a minority that is heard, and changes happen that include their perspective. The majority will not be able to overlook the women's different perspectives; these different perspectives will have to be taken in to account. It is at this point that the dominant perpsective becomes inclusive, and we are one step closer to equality in our liberal democracy.

In the article below, Justice Ginsberg discusses the issue:
See the Vanity Fair article:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2009/07/why-the-supreme-court-needs-a-critical-mass-of-women.html

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T09:15:00.005-04:00

Before the fireworks, before you light the grill, or chill that beer take a moment to think about what today really stands for: the day that our founders signed the document that laid forth their grievances and call for independence. We,today, have truncated the list of grievances to "no taxation without representation." We also focus on the 2nd paragraph: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Liberty and equality are the two American values that we hold and cherish,, yet these are the two values that have been contested throughout our history. Today, we are still seeing the tension between individual liberty and our need for national security. Today, equality is still not a given for women, for lesbians and gay men, for minorities, for the poor.
Here are a few examples, a few grievances, if I may, in which equality is still not for all:
Women's inequality
* Women still do not earn the same as males in the same positions or comparable ones. (http://www.nwlc.org/fairpay/ http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/C350.pdf)
* Women still do not have full control over their own reproductive health.
(http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/11/3/gpr110306.html, or more recently the debate on whether or not birth control is preventative medicine :
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/190570.php or when women's lives are trumped by religious doctrine when they go to religiously affiliated hospitals:http://www.aclu.org/reproductive-freedom/aclu-letter-centers-medicare-and-medicaid-regarding-denial-reproductive-health- )
* victim of domestic violence with orders of protection are not guaranteed that the police will respond (see Gonzales v Castle Rock).
Lesbian and Gay inequality
* Gays and lesbians may serve in our military and die for our freedoms but they do not have their own freedom under Don't Ask Don't Tell; and coming to the Supreme Court soon the Westboro Baptist Church claim of freedom of expression to picket outside military funerals. . .
* The majority still thinks that they may reserve the civil and legal benefits and social recognition of marriage to those of the opposite sex ( see for over view of prop 8 case http://prop8trialtracker.com/ http://www.marriageequality.org/ )
* In many states lesbians, gays, anyone who employers think are sexually othered may be legally fired or not hired ( See http://www.hrc.org/laws_and_elections/enda.asp )
http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/index.htm )
Minorities and inequality
* That minorities do not have the same freedoms one only has to look at NYC police practices of stop and frisking people of color
(http://www.nyclu.org/issues/racial-justice/stop-and-frisk-practices) or Arizona's new anti-immigration law.
The Poor and inequality
* The poor are treated as if they are the cause of their own poverty and punished. If they live in public housing they do not have 4th amendment rights. Minimum wage is not a living wage. The Personal Responsibility Act (Welfare Reform)requires mothers of children age 3 and above to work, yet there is no child care provision, the act also says that women who get said monies must not be sexually active, and the purpose of the act is to make poor women marriageable, because marriage cures poverty (NOT!).
And, of course, the recent Senate decisions not to extend unemployment insurance because that is just extending the economic recession.

So take a moment to re-read the Declaration of Independence
http://www.ushistory.org/DECLARATION/document/index.htm

and think about liberty and equality before you chill the beer, light the grill and watch the fireworks.

Trickle down still in effect, or its still the economy

2010-06-23T10:03:00.003-04:00

It seems that Congress still believes in Reagan's trickle down theory of economics. There are tax cuts for the wealthy and the connected, bailouts for the banks, two expensive very long term wars that were not necessary or have completely changed missions. There is not enough for those who need a safety net, who have lost their jobs, who are still losing their homes.
Coupled with the oil spill in the Gulf which is having a very negative affect on not only the environment, the food chain, animals, but those whose livelihoods depend on the oil industry, fishing, tourists. . .
IF our economy is going to turn around, it needs to do so with a solid base of workers who could then afford the costs of living, and who then may be able to spend.

My suggestion to Congress and the President [with a big reminder that the median household income in 2009 was $52,029--only twenty percent of households have incomes over $100,000]:
Extend unemployment benefits in the short term.
Use half the BP monies to train (and pay) the workers in the Gulf states on environmental cleanup--from animals, to beaches, to the waters.
Extend aid to states, so that education and other necessaties are not cut, because of state budget cuts.
Put some real money into alternative energy.
Focus on our failing infrastructure -- bridges, sewers, water tunnels, mass transit.
Use a means test for social security--for instance, those with pension incomes over $100,000 per year might be overqualified for social security payments.
Social Security/FICA payments should be required on all income.

Free Speech & a Teachable Moment

2010-06-09T09:30:00.007-04:00

Free speech is integral to a democracy. We might not always welcome the ideas, we might in fact think that the ideas are wrong, detrimental, even inflammatory, but in the democratic public square ideas of all sorts hold currency.
Even those ideas we deem wrong, detrimental and inflammatory get to be heard and examined. These ideas allow us to re-examine our own ideas.
This past week we all witnessed Helen Thomas resigning her position and ending her long and distinguished career as the grande dame of the White House Press Corps--she covered every President from Kennedy forward, she broke the Press Corps' glass ceilings-- because of her comment that Palestine was being occupied, and that the occupiers should return from whence they came. I do agree that telling Israelis that they should return to Germany and Poland is offensive, but in the entire quote she also says they should return to America. . . Here is the original video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc4OeRu7cfs
She also did apologize for her statement (as opposed to many others who make much more offensive statements and continue to do so, or even lied and caused many many deaths). "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."
I talked with her earlier this Spring about the Middle East, Israel and the plight of the Palestinians. She truly wants peace in the Middle East.
The meat of her original statement that the Israeli government is treating the Palestinians in inhumane ways is an idea that we need to understand. Israel is occupying the Gaza Strip, and treating the Palestinians as second class people (not even citizens!). I am not sure what part of "never again" the Israeli government does not get. Human rights are for everyone, not just one group.
That is what we need to be discussing, but that has been silenced. So much for free speech in America. So much for human rights.

On Helen Thomas:

helenthomas.org/

www.salon.com/life/broadsheet/2010/06/07/helen_thomas/index.html (Though this writer misquotes Ms. Thomas and says she said Jews should get out of Pakestine, when Ms. Thomas said Israel...see the clip yourself!)

www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/07/helen_thomas_retires/index.html
www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/06/07/thomas_ethnic_cleansing/index.html

On The Gaza Strip
www.fair.org/index.php?page=4081

www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE658
usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/7531820E20100609

Adam Smith Would Beg to Differ

2010-05-24T08:36:00.003-04:00

Adam Smith would beg to differ with Rand Paul, John Stossel and the other "libertarian tea party members: private businesses do have a relationship with government, without which they would not see any profits. It is because government provides services such as roads, sanitation, education that the private business does not have to spend their time, resources and money doing so individually. This is the reason that Smith gives for businesses paying their fair share of taxes. And, if you are going to say that the roads, sanitation and education systems are not up to par, I would say that is because businesses have NOT been paying their full share of taxes.
Smith would also make this same argument for businesses following the Civil Rights Act and NOT discriminating. (BTW every one's money is the same color.)

So, I suggest that that we revisit Smith's The Wealth of Nations
if we believe in capitalism and especially in our Republic.

p.s. Remember James Madison's statement for why government is necessary (and then just think of BP, Goldman Sachs, Bernie Madoff and others if you think business is going to operate in anything other than their own pprofit motive):
"If all men were angels no government would be necessary" (Federalist Paper # 51)

Arizona: Vigilante Paradise

2010-04-24T22:08:00.008-04:00

The new immigration law in Arizona raises a few questions:

What does an illegal alien look like?
Can anyone prove that they are a citizen without carrying around their passport (BTW only 21.7% of Americans had passports as of November 2009) or birth certificate (I sure do not look like the 6Lb 1 oz 21 inch long baby listed on my birth certificate)?
Do Arizonians realize that there are many "Mexicans" living in Arizona who never moved out of Mexico, the borders just moved in 1848?
Do the Republicans think they will ever have the support of the Hispanic Vote?

Will any one vacation in Arizona again?

The Senate Fact Sheet memo for Arizona SB 1070:

http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/summary/s.1070pshs.doc.htm

And, for Senator McCain his support of this legislation is just a straight line from his support of Arizona's non-recognition of Martin Luther King Jr's birthday as a national holiday (1983), and his statement that endorsing an equal pay bill for women would just cause a flood of lawsuits (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/04/24/by_juliet_eilperin_washington.html).

Another Mother's Day

2010-04-22T08:57:00.002-04:00

So what are you doing for (as oposed to to) or giving to Mother Earth today (and everyday?)

A Very Small Tea Party

2010-04-17T07:16:00.006-04:00

Only 18% of the American population identies themselves as being members of The Tea Party. But by the coverage in all the media you would think it was over 50%. The Tea Party has grabbed the imagination of the media (not to mention taht if the angry maried republican white men over the age of 45 according to Thursday's NYT article [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/us/politics/15poll.html?scp=2&sq=zernike&st=nyt]).

So why are we paying so much attention to this vocal--though one note "anti-government" except for when it affects them-- group? It might be that having a former vice presidential candidate --and former Governor--who is now a Fox News pundit (Sarah Palin) and Congressional Representative (Michele Bachman)are news worthy in themselves. While this group claims to be protecting the Cionstitution, it seems to be protecting their rights over those of others....

Where were these anti-government protesters during the Bush Adminstration--when the tax relief was only for the very very rich, the debt incurred for entering into at least one war will indebt our great grandchildren, when our infrastructure was failing at a major rate which lead to Katrina tragedy, when the banks and housing mortgage industry failed and we the tax payers bailed them out, so that they could realize a major profit????

Truth or Ideology

2010-04-14T09:16:00.003-04:00

I believe that this clip from Jon Stewart's The Daily Show illustrates the prblem with some of today's media repeating lies (if you say them enough, they are still lies, even if more people believe them) and with some public figures being ahistoric--including an history professor (Newt).
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-april-8-2010/the-big-bang-treaty

Finally!

2010-04-14T09:15:00.000-04:00

From my other blog:
Finally, after 60 years we English speakers/readers have the complete unabridged version of Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex.
de Beauvoir set out to anaylze the concept of woman--coming to the conclusion that women are "othered" by society. This study in the making and mintaining of women's inequality was eye opening when it was abridged, the unabridged version (What is a 2 volume paperback version in French is a 700 + page book in English) should only solidify more her argument.

Unfortunately, sixty years after she wrote this foundational book, women are still othered. Our rights are traded away as if they were baseball cards when legislation is written. Women are still earning roughly a quarter of what men earn--and those earnings matter from quality of life to political support to retirement.

Hopefully the republication of this book will spur on this generation of young women as it did thier mothers and grandmothers before them.

On the Backs of Women...

2010-03-25T07:54:00.002-04:00

Yesterday the President issued an executive order re-iterating restrictions on using federal funds for elective abortions, as per the last minute health care reform negotiations.
To read this Executive Order: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-patient-protection-and-affordable-care-acts-consistency-with-longst

The exact language from the Executive Order (which has the standing of law) reads:

The Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to the newly created health insurance exchanges. Under the Act, longstanding Federal laws to protect conscience (such as the Church Amendment, 42 U.S.C. 300a-7, and the Weldon Amendment, section 508(d)(1) of Public Law 111-8) remain intact and new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

The President said that health care reform should not change any "long standing precedents" referring to the bans on abortion. The current federal bans on funding abortions are on the backs of poor women and women who serve in the military. If you are a poor woman receiving TANF and Medicaid, you must find a way to fund a legal abortion; if you are a woman serving in the military you must go outside the military's health care and off base to obtain (at your own cost) an abortion--not so easy if you are serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. . .

Mr. President, a longer standing precedent is the right of women to choose abortion (Roe v Wade).

But I also want to draw our attention to the second part of that paragraph from the Executive Order. It reads: new protections prohibit discrimination against health care facilities and health care providers because of an unwillingness to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.

Thus, protecting those who discriminate against women's autonomy and right to choose from discrimination????!!!! Planned Parenthood and all full service women's health clnics should have complementary protection, no?

So much for a pro-choice president.

A Baby Step

2010-03-22T09:22:00.003-04:00

What passes and passed as health care reform last night is a baby step. Oh yes, I am glad that this step was taken--that 30 million people will now have affordable health insurance (but its not quite universal health care even by 2019), that the health insurance industry will not be able to renege on people's health insurance when they need it most, pre-existing conditions and all (but not until 2014). That for a fee, parents may cover their children's health care insurance until their children are 26. That access to reproductive health care will be affordable to all women

. . .Except for access to abortions---85% of the health insurance companies did cover abortions prior, but now women will have to make 2 payments for the same coverage. . . can you say GENDER DISCRIMINATION LIVES in the halls of Washington DC?

That there will be tax credits for small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees, and said tax credits are immediate...yet health care remains still very linked to employment.

But our elected officials did not take the one best step (IMHO) single payer -- the system is in place and working. There are 5 populations that are well served by a single payer governmental system--medicaid, medicare, Veteran's Administration, the military and prisoners.

But let us hope that with this one baby step, soon health care reform will be walking, and running!

Morning Humor?

2010-03-03T09:02:00.003-05:00

Goofy Opposition Party (aka GOP).

This party has one plank, based on its hero's (Reagan) successful anti-drug program (not):
"Just Say No."

Does not require thinking, but does require a does of hypocrisy. See:

http://www.markfiore.com/political-cartoons/watch-newly-frugal-guy-attack-the-deficit-animation-mark-fiore

Democracy: Slip, Sliding Away (part 1)

2010-02-06T11:38:00.004-05:00

"We, the people..." those are the first 3 words of our constitution which underline the principle that we are a democracy...

Unfortunately for We, the people that democracy that we so value--the principles, rights and freedoms that we enjoy--has been eroding from under us.

The government that we put in place via our votes (we are a Republic) to protect our country, our rights, our democracy has been privatizing their responsibility to do so. The moral and legal mission of the government has been outsourced. These private corporations are paid for by public dollars, yet are not responsive to the needs of public, nor accountable to the public (or even our Constitution. Governmental functions have been transferred to private corporations, via deregulation or privatization--from military and intelligence functions ( Blackwater, now known as Xe Services is the largest State Department private security contractor, they are also under contract to the CIA) to allowing pharmaceutical companies to verify the safety of their drugs (think: Vioxx, for instance).

While some private-public partnerships are budgetary and mission positive. For instance, many federal and local parks have "friends of.." or not-for- profit organizations to help maintain the park, provide programming, etc. The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill (ERVK) is a partner with the National Parks Service in Hyde Park, in fact without ERVK's work, Val-Kill would have been sold to a developer for senior housing.

We need to remember that the primary function of our government is to uphold the Constitution--protecting and empowering the public; the primary function of corporations is to maximize their profits. Protection of the public and our rights are subordinated to profits.

Now with the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v FEC, corporations (for profit and not for profit) are going to be able to hold (more) $way over our election$ and our elected official$ because there will be no limit on the amount of money corporation$ may directly $pend to $ell their brand /candidate. [Our elected officials have long relied on the expertise of lobbyists to navigate specialized bills.] $o much for free elections.

We still have a Faith Based Initiative that still channels public monies to religious organizations to carry out programming and "to ensur[ing] that these groups are a part of the government's disaster response efforts. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/02/03/we-approach-one-year-anniversary-white-house-office-faith-based-and-neighborhood-par). So much for separation of Church and State.

"We, the people" need to be paying attention and demanding our government be responsive, responsible and Democratic.

Howard Zinn (1922-2010)

2010-01-27T22:43:00.004-05:00

Howard Zinn died today. An historian best known for A People's History of the United States (1980) an alternative history that told more than the mythical history of America, but told the history of labor organizers, native americans, blacks and women. Dr. Zinn was known for his activism for civil rights and anti-war mvement from Viet Nam to Iraq. He also wrote a play about Emma Goldman "Emma" (1976).

He modeled activist teaching. From his autobiography You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train (1994): "From the start, my teaching was infused with my own history. I would try to be fair to other points of view, but I wanted more than 'objectivity' ; I wanted students to leave my classes not just better informed, but more prepared to relinquish the safety of silence, more prepared to speak up, to act against injustice wherever they saw it."

Howard Zinn's voice today was silenced, but his words still move me/us to action.

Define: Person

2010-01-26T09:32:00.004-05:00

I have slogged through the Citizens United v FEC opinion [558 US ___ 2010]. The majority opinion hinges on the conceit* that corporations are persons, and thus, must be given the same rights as natural persons (equal rights**), especially those rights of free speech in the political sphere.
Corporations (for profit and not for profit) are made up of persons, and the corporate structure protects those persons. So, pehaps corporations should give up these protections? Or, IMHO, perhaps we need to re-define "person(s)" in our constitution (as in an amendment to our constitution).

10 steps to curtail the corporate state from Fran Korten on Common Dreams:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/26-3
The problem with these are that they require Congress to act against their own self interest (to be re-elected using corporate $$$$$).
We need a real grassroots movement--perhaps a revolution to recapture the government that was supposed to be "We, the people."

* The term Justice Stevens used in his dissent, p.2
** The absurdist in me is thinking... If corporations have equal rights with persons, I guess they can marry--oh, they already can: there are marriages (aka mergers) between corporations--perhaps then hostile takeovers would be prohibited, since in the USA the concept of freedom of choice is very prevalent in our marriage laws. Exception alert: save the freedom of same sex couples to marry. Does that mean that corporations are more of a person than lesbians and gay men ??

Corporate Citizens?, More like a Corporate State

2010-01-22T17:21:00.004-05:00

Yesterday the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Citizens United V FEC that in short states that corporations are citizens and thus, can not be censored; they have first amendment rights to free speech.
I am making my way through the 183 page decision.. .[ http://media.npr.org/documents/2010/jan/scotus_campaign_finance.pdf for those of you who want to read it]

As I said this Fall at the Constitution Day event, if corporations are given the same rights as citizens, they also need to be given the same responsibilities. For instance, they need to be making decisions not just with their own self interest in mind (read: profit) but with the public good in mind. Perhaps using this mindset, we might not have had people mortgaged over their means with interest only mortgages because the mortgage brokers would have thought about the consequences and impact on the community five years out when the balloon payment hit, and could not be paid. Likewise the development and sale of derivatives might have been curtailed.
But, for a court which the majority are suppose to be strict constructionalists and not judicial activists, this decision is more than activist it remakes our Republic into a Corporate State.

Chris Hedges' view on this situation:http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/25

Help Haiti

2010-01-14T09:54:00.002-05:00

Here is an article with some of the aid for Haiti groups listed:

www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow/516315/helping_haiti

Here is another list of groups & what they do on the ground in Haiti to donate funds :

•Americares – provides health care materials and relief aid via partners on the ground http://www.americares.org/newsroom/news/deadly-earthquake-strikes-haiti-2010.html

•Doctors without Borders – has already set up emergency relief clinics on the ground, (may need supplies later as well)http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4148&cat=field-news

•Grassroots Online – partners w/local social justice organizations to help distribute food, medical supplies, & other needs identified by Haitian social justice workers; http://www.grassrootsonline.org/news/blog/all-hands-responding-haiti-emergency

•Haiti Emergency Relief Fund – has been working on social, political, and human rights issues in Haiti for 6 years, http://www.haitiaction.net/About/HERF/HERF.html

•Madre – works with community based Haitian women’s organizations, will be helping women in crisis, needs: water tablets, antibiotics, medical supplies, also distributing food & clean water asking for: donate $$ or supplies, call for more info 212 627 0444 www.madre.org/index.php?s=4&news=26

•Quixote Center – long term grassroots organization working in US & Haiti, works w/ women’s groups & is sending earthquake aid https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/531/t/7451/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=3837

•Red Cross has already allotted funds to relief effort; you can give money via link or text “Haiti” to #90999 to give $10; NO volunteer opportunities @ this time

•UNICEF – emergency teams already in Haiti or volunteer

•World Concern – offering food, clean water, blankets, and temp shelter to victims,

•World Food Programme – provides emergency meals and clean water,

•Yele - donate $5 by texting the word “yele” to #501501

If you are a relative of a US citizen in Haiti and are trying to get information about their safety, you can call 1-888-407-4747 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225 202-647-5225

New Year's Wish 2010

2009-12-25T09:39:00.000-05:00

May all promises be kept.

International Human Rights Day

2009-12-10T15:05:00.002-05:00

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”

To read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T10:08:00.003-05:00

I give thanks to all the people who have the courage or who just can not take (pick one or all) discrimination, oppression, social injustice, unjust war, environmental degradation, ignorance, economic injustice, or selfishness any more and take a stand --large or small-- to help make the world a better place.

In today's NYT there is an article about Claudette Colvin--she was the first black person who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery Alabama bus. But she was seen as too black, too emotional, too mouthy, and unwed pregnant teen to be the real test case. So, was the next teen arrested Mary Louise Smith deemed unsuitable to be the test case because her father drank.. Rosa Parks--lighter skinned and who worked for the NAACP (as a secretary, she was a woman, afterall) was chosen to take a seat on the bus, not give it up and become the impetus for the bus boycott.

I give thanks for our Bill of Rights which allows us to redress wrongs, to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which sets forth the concept that all people deserve to be respected, to Convention on the Elimination ofl Discrimination Against Women (which the US has not ratified and now has been transformed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination--even though 50+% of the world's population are still discriminated against--only 1% of property for instance is owned by women, laws are still made on women's bodies-- including the current health care reform bills under discussion-- need I go on....)

I give thanks for the idea of equality, and I work towards seeinthat concept fulfilled.

Obama is walking in W's shoes

2009-11-25T21:24:00.003-05:00

and he is stepping in all the crap that was left him (besides making his own mistakes).
Chances are that Obama is going to increase troop strength in Afghanistan. I am saying this because of the location of the speech: West Point.
He should realize that Afghanistan is a no win situation--we have forgotten why we are even there, and the chances that Osama Bin Laden is still waiting around for us to find him,are slim to none. We are just recruiting more terrorists for them as long as we occupy any country.

Recognizing Women

2009-11-19T09:42:00.004-05:00

In Modern Political Thought class the other day we read Olympe de Gouges (1791), Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) and the Declaration of Sentiments (1848)--all criticizing the new modern liberal states for not recognizing women. De Gouges literally lost her head for criticizing the French Constitution of 1791.

I asked my students who was the first woman to run for US President. I gave them hints after Hillary Clinton's name came up--such as her running mate was a black man; and the date was 1872. None knew Victoria Woodhull's name, there was some recognition of Frederick Douglas.

I then asked: Would it have made a difference if young women and men learned about this try for the presidency, when they studied the abolition movement the Civil War, Reconstruction and women's suffrage in middle or high school?

I then asked in college, which female philosophers did they studied in Phil. 101--Introduction to Philosophy, or in the 3rd year class on Ethics...only 1 said they studied maybe 1 or 2 women (Wollstonecraft and Ayn Rand), the rest they read only male philosophers.

What of Sappho, who ran an academy; who Plato called wise and the tenth muse? What of all the 93 women who are listed on Women-Philosophers.com's index? There were women doing philosophy from 2354 BCE to today.

And, then we wonder why a health care bill can discount the needs of women.

Corporations & Some Senators v Women

2009-10-23T08:27:00.003-04:00

I wrote the following in response to a series of discussions about generalizations about people because someone wrote that 30% of Republican Senators voted against an amendment that would deny appropriations to corporations which denied their employees their day in court. There were many "Republicans are people,too" replies. Here is my response:

In the United States we as reasonable beings persuade others by facts.
And, what ALL of you are forgetting is that WOMEN are people, deserving of respect, dignity, the protection of law, taking article 78 action, and taking legal action against the corporation when raped, assaulted or discriminated against when the corporation is protecting such actions. Corporations are not people though they have had the standing of citizens ever since Chief Justice Waite made a pre-argument statement that was recorded by the court reporter in Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific Railroad [118 U.S. 394 (1886)] . (I discussed this, and the implications at Constitution Day, which a lot of you missed).

What happened was Sen. Franken offered an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriation bill which would deny contracts to corporations which restrict their employees from having their day in court--due process.
Here are the details that prompted this from Think Progress :
In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. She was detained in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and "warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she'd be out of a job." (Jones was not an isolated case.) Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.
GOP Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions of Alabama called the Franken amendment a "political attack" of Halliburton, and was overreaching by ( somehow ) denying corporations due process. (Remember it was Halliburton/KBR which denies its employees due process in court.

Let me remind us all that there are stipulations about government appropriations that say if X happens or does not happen, appropriations will be withheld--for instance, if States want 100% of their Highway funds, they have to have alcohol drinking and purchase prohibitions on their books and enforced--aka the 21 year old drinking age; likewise States have to enforce the speed limit on federally funded interstates. . .
The Senators that voted against the amendment are listed below. Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Gregg (R-NH) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kyl (R-AZ) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Wicker (R-MS)
Reach your own conclusion. Mine is that women are not afforded the same equality, same protections of our Constitution as corporations by some members of the Senate, who are in this case male and Republican. You are free to have your opinions, but you just can't have your own set of facts.

Hope & the Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T07:43:00.002-04:00

Obama became the 3rd sitting US president to earn a Nobel Peace Prize---and at the time of nomination had only been a sitting for 2 weeks. It was his message of hope and peace, of nuclear disarmament and diplomacy, of cooperation rather than aggression that won the prize.
As Archbishop Tutu says " It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope."
May this honor encourage him forward.

Citizen Corporation

2009-09-30T09:12:00.003-04:00

Montesquieu defined Political Virtue as the love of law and of one's country. And, that political virtue was arduous and hard to come by because to achieve it one had to move passed self interest to acting in the best public interest of all.

In the first case that the Supreme Court heard this year, in fact they came back early to hear it was a case concerning a corporation which is claiming that since corporations have the right of free speech, and that the FEC is trying to abridge this right (Citizens United v FEC). This standing of citizen is courtesy of a pre-oral argument made by the Chief Justice Waite in 1886 that the court was then of the opinion that the 14th amendment applied to corporations Citizens [ Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad (118US394, 1886)] that has become ingrained as precedent.

The interest of corporations is not equal to that of citizens--they have no vested interest in the state, in the community, in anything save turning a profit.

It is time that corporations either are held as citizens--and thus, must act not in their own self-interest (i.e., their own profit), but in the best interest of the public good--or they cease to exist.

The oral argument of Citizens United V FEC
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/08-205[Reargued].pdf

editorial with history of the impact of Ch.Justice Waite's pre-argument statement
http://media.www.lawrentian.com/media/storage/paper409/news/2001/11/16/OpinionsEditorials/Editorial.Corporations.Citizens-146509.shtml

http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/?s=Citizens+United+v.+Federal+Election+Commission

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2008/2008_08_205

51% need health care reform NOW!

2009-09-16T09:35:00.003-04:00

And that is because 51% of the people living in the United States are women who are regularly denied by the current health care insurance for being victims of domestic abuse (can we say re-victimized?) or for having delivered a baby via C-section; who are charged more for maternity coverage; and women pay higher premiums than males (on top of average women earning substantially less than men).

This information is from a report by the National Women's Law Center. http://nwlc.org/reformmatters/NWLCReport-NowhereToTurn-WEB.pdf

We need a health care reform now!
At minimum, if we keep the private health care insurance companies they should be made provide equal coverage to women (without raising the cost to males to insure profits). For instance, New York State has a law that says that there can not be "gender-ratings" when figuring out premium costs. Women should not be penalized or re-victimized by health care insurance companies.

This report should open all our eyes to the bias in the profit driven health care insurance industry. This report should be mandatory reading for all our legislators.

We need single payer health insurance.

Labor Day 2009

2009-09-07T11:46:00.004-04:00

Labor Day, a day which for most of us marks the unofficial end of summer, after picnicking or beaching it today one last time we put away our proverbial white shoes and bathing suits, and look forward to the fall and the new school year. We have forgotten that Labor Day was first started by the Labor Movement in the late 1800s to honor the workers --the first Labor Day celebrated was in NYC in 1882. Labor Day did not become a national holiday until 1894.
We should take a moment today to reflect on what the labor movement gave to us--the 40 hour work week, safe(r) working conditions, child labor laws, minimum wages.

Of course, in today's economic climate some people blame the labor movement for our economic woes. the high wages paid to the auto workers are often cited for the collapse of the American auto industry is instead of auto executives for having tin ears and lack of foresight to build energy efficient vehicles and being paid too much, even as their companies were failing.

So, on this Labor Day in the time of high unemployment, stagnating wages, foreclosures, let us give thanks to the labor movement for the benefits we all enjoy. If we have to put the blame for our economic condition anywhere, put it on those who were/are so greedy their only concern is with the bottom line, not humankind.

Read Robert Reich's article: http://www.truthout.org/090609U?n

The Economy needs Health Care Reform!

2009-09-02T08:55:00.005-04:00

The need for health care reform reaches passed the medical needs to the financial needs of those currently with and without health insurance. Nicholas Kristof reported that a study from the American Journal of Medicine found that 62% of all bankruptcies in 2007 were because of medical debts--an increase of 50% since 2001; and most shockingly, 78% of the people declaring bankruptcy had health insurance.
The are are also many people whose claims are denied for many reasons--the illness or procedure is not covered by the health insurance contract, it is a pre-existing condition, the procedure is considered by the company to be experimental. . .
This points to a major concern--that the health insurance industry is not in business to protect health, but for profit. (see video clip below).
We need a program that will insure a healthy America--in more ways than one.
IMHO, Medicare for all.

Kristof's Op-Ed piece in Sunday's NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/opinion/30kristof.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Kristof&st=cse

The study from the American Journal of Medicine: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0002-9343/PIIS0002934309004045.pdf

video re: health care claims denied:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/06/denied-claims-placed-at-h_n_253160.html

Facts, Truth & other Things

2009-08-19T13:50:00.005-04:00

It seems that there are two versions of the facts about Health Care Reform. The Democrats' version and the Republicans' version. Recent research has shown that these versions are strongly held. Unfortunately, while people may hold their own opinions, they can not make up their own facts.
The other day a friend was told that she had her facts wrong, because she only listened to mainstream media. And her friend knows the truth about health care reform because "[she] think[s] Glenn Beck is the ONLY middle of the road libertarian that is right on. I am NOT liking what Obama is doing .. the health care issue sucks.. How can these fools vote if they don't read the damn bill.. and we hire them to do it.. It's their job to read it. It takes 10 professionals just to interpret it.. The seniors are not organized.. they are reading the bill and siting [sic] specifics."

So, I suggest that we all read the bill for ourselves, and not rely on second hand sources...and, surprise we might find that there are no "death panels," for instance. We might not like the bill, for any number of reasons, but we do not have to make up lies and "sell" them as facts.

HR 3200: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.3200:

We should also ask the media and politicians from both sides of the aisle to be responsible, and promote truth. Call people on lies, correct misinformation.
While we can disagree about the role of government in health care, for instance, facts are facts. Medicare is a government health care program.

Bill Maher on Rachel Maddow http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#32469231

NBC Survey http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/NBC-WSJ_Poll.pdf

Daily Kos /Research 2000 poll http://www.dailykos.com/statepoll/2009/8/13/US/346

And, from Campus Progressives how we can civilly counter some of the tactics:

http://www.campusprogress.org/cribsheets/4449/rules-for-dealing-with-radicals

Reality Check

2009-08-12T09:53:00.004-04:00

Since when is a family earning under $250,000 or even $200,000 considered middle class? Those are the numbers that Obama and others are batting around saying there will be no tax increase for those earning below those lofty threshholds....
Let's take a look at some real earning numbers--in 2007 the national median* income for families was $50,233. Single men earned $45,113, and women earned $35,102. [The May 2008 figures for NY state were mean** income $49,590 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics].
Only 1.93% of households earn over $250,000. The bottom 20% earned less than $19,178 --12.3% of the households fell below the federal poverty level (for a family of four that's $22,050, for a single pers on its $10,830--for additional persons in household add roughly $3700).

So, I would like our politicians to get realistic when talking about middle income households. Use figures that actually reflect middle income earnings say $35,000-90,000. And tax those who earn over $10,000 more.
Also, I would suggest raising the bar for social security pay-ins (FICA); at this point, one pays 6.2% to Social Security (FICA) on earnings up to $106800, and nothing thereafter. Raise that limit to $250,000 or more, those who earn more can afford to pay more. 6.2% of 50,233 is $3114.45 which before other taxes leaves the family with less than $47,000 to live on....
A household earning $200,000 would pay FICA $12,400, which would still leave them $187,600 before other taxes to live on . . .

[And, we are not even touching those who are unemployed--June's figures were 9.7% is the national figure, 8.6% is NYS and for Ulster County , 8.2%-- note that these numbers do not reflect those who are under-ewmployed, working part time, undert he table or have just given up looking for a job. I have heard some economists say to find the real number, just double the reported number. . .]

* median = the actual number that separates the top half from the bottom half
**mean= the average (add up all the wages and divide equally by number of wage earners)

Targeting Women

2009-08-08T10:31:00.002-04:00

Bob Herbert's column today "Women at Risk" is about the prevalent misogyny in our society--not only the mass shootings but the pornography industry, wife and girlfriend battering, violence against women serving in our armed services (by their colleagues).(http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/opinion/08herbert.html?_r=1)
He equates our misogynistic mainstream culture, men trying to prove their manhood and the easy access to guns as not only a deadly mix but "a toxic mix of tragic proportions."

See also my two recent posts on DEMWOMENNY.blogspot.com regarding misogyny in our society (Targeting Women, and Targeting Women II).

Advice Column (part one)

2009-08-05T09:37:00.009-04:00

In the USA change happens when we persuade others to our way of thinking, our candidate, our brand of soap. But, over the course of the past few years I have seen the destruction of discourse (oral and written) by people who hold strong opinions but ignore facts, cherry pick facts,, take facts out of context or even make up their own "facts" to support their opinions, who shout over those who disagree with them, who lob names and epithets. This is not persuasive speech, this is browbeating.
Advice: Think before you speak!

No, Not Post-Race Yet.

2009-07-24T08:47:00.006-04:00

The arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. the other day in Cambridge has opened up another opportunity to discuss race in America. Dr. Gates is Harvard's Director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. What complicates the scenario--woman sees (black) men pushing in (stuck) front door of (his) house in nice neighborhood, police respond-- is that the responding and arresting officer Sgt. Crowley also teaches other officers about racial profiling. He claims he was only following procedure; and, Dr. Gates was confrontational. (Note: Police Officers are authority figures with guns and must be treated with deference.)

While the charges have been dropped, and it appears to be a he said/ he said situation the result is an opportunity to discuss race some more, in more depth. Oh, yes, I know we have had a Black Secretary of State or two, Oprah is among the most admired and richest people and we have a President who is black--but that does not mean we are any where near post-race in this country. In fact, after Obama's election, neo-nazi/ex-clan leader David Duke called the president a "visual aid" in recruiting separatists to hate organizations. The FBI and The Southern Poverty Law Center (http://www.splc.org/) have noted increased sales of arms and increased membership in these white separatist (hate) groups.

Race is a social construction that has become institutionalized. There are (at least) two books that look how we have institutionalized racism--one by Gloria Browne-Marshall Race, Law, and American Society : 1607 to Present (2007),and the other is Ian Lopez' White by Law 10th Anniversary Edition : The Legal Construction of Race (2006).

Racism is a form of, and a misuse of , power. Because you are X you can______; if you are Y you can _______. And only Xs with a few Ys can make these rules. So people try to pass as Xs--they are the privileged ones. Racism can be upfront or it can be disguised in the minutiae of life. See for instance, yesterday's New York Times Op Ed "Racial Bias in Fire Exams Can Lurk in the Details" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/nyregion/24firefighters.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=fire%20fighters%20race&st=cse

So, what do we need to do, to move beyond race? Some people are taking the tactic that since we have a few black people of note, we do not need affirmative action programs and we can return to a meritocracy. This same meritocracy that gave a pass to white men who have merit based on their legacies not their ability. . . Meritocracy, like racism is insidious.
In my humble opinion, the first step is to really discuss the issue, the problems, with everyone at the table, and really listen. The next steps should follow based on everyones' input.

BUT we have to take the FIRST step--we can not just blithely skip over it thinking we are post-race because of Obama-Oprah-Powell-Rice.....

p.s. W.E.B. Du Bois' childhold home (or its foundation) is on Rte 23 just west of Great Barrington.

On Neutrality

2009-07-20T14:50:00.002-04:00

Judge Sottomayer's hearings last week brought to light the racism and misogyny inherent in our society. While these seem to be invisible to many of the older-white-men-in-suits, feminists and others have been pointing out this problem for a long time. Simone de Beauvoir explored why and how women become othered in The Second Sex (1949).

While white men in suits have held power, they are not the majority: white men are only 32% of the population. Women make up 52% of the population.

Unfortunately no one seemed to effectively call them out on their racism and misogyny while they were trying to hold on to their power. We need to be able to call people out on their statements instead of looking the other way, or ignoring them.

Steven Colbert did so with humor. Here is Steven Colbert's take on why white people might think they are the default or neutral, and every one else is "othered." From the color of band-aids(tm) before designs & cool colors to the color of the crayon in that big box of Crayola Crayons (tm) named "flesh" Colbert reflects back the non-neutrality of it all.

Steven Colbert on White as Neutral:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/238783/july-16-2009/the-word---neutral-man-s-burden

On a more serious note: Joan Tronto & I wrote "Truth and Advocacy" about the very gendered concept of citizen: http://www.apsanet.org/imgtest/TruthMyersTronto.pdf

Pay Equity???

2009-07-14T17:18:00.003-04:00

Seems that even at the White House there is no pay equity--so much for "practice what you preach..."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Annual-Report-to-Congress-on-White-House-Staff-2009/

a LOL (or Aha!) moment

2009-07-08T09:01:00.005-04:00

One of the Google (tm) ads that popped up on this blog after my short memo to Gov. Palin was for her newest pac: SarahPAC (http://www.sarahpac.com/). Trolling (phishing?) for new supporters, no doubt.
So, after a brief chuckle came the Aha! moment when I clicked on the ad which took me to the pac's webpage. SarahPAC claims at the bottom of its homepage that it is"not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee." Yet the main text notes: "Please note: There are many websites claiming to support Sarah Palin. SarahPAC.com is the ONLY political action committee authorized by Sarah Palin."
So I deduce: that since the Governor is not NOW a candidate, both statements on the surface are true.
I investigate a bit more:
The FAQ page answers the question about how donations will be spent as follows:

"Your support of SarahPac will make it possible for Gov. Palin to continue to be a strong voice for energy independence and reform. By supporting SarahPac, you will allow Gov. Palin to help find and create solutions for America's most pressing problems; priority number one is building a strong and prosperous economy that recognizes hard work, innovation and integrity by rewarding small businesses and hard working American families. SarahPac will support local and national candidates who share Gov. Palin's ideas and goals for our country. "

"[r]ecognizing hard work. . ." I am not that sure that she could (see Memo to Gov. Palin).

But as to the future GOP candidate, that is a different story. According to the Boston Herald today
"Romney leads all Republican presidential contenders, garnering 25 percent of the vote, edging out Palin (24 percent), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (22) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (14 percent) in the Rasmussen poll released yesterday."
The article continues with "The poll also found that 40 percent believe Palin’s resignation hurts her presidential hopes while 24 percent said it helps. But Palin still led all potential candidates in favorabiltyy with 76 percent. Romney was second with a 73 percent favorability rating."

S0, as a means to create a network of supporters--political and financial--the Governor's pac might be on to something.

Memo to Gov. Palin

2009-07-07T09:49:00.002-04:00

"When the going gets tough the tough get going" means that they get motivated and working to produce results, they do not quit.

Five Men in Robes

2009-07-07T08:45:00.003-04:00

Five men in robes are actively interpreting law and some would say: misinterpreting laws that go
against the American values of equality and justice. These three cases all have in common that these men in robes disregarded legal precedent, and the plain reading of the statutory language.

For many, these cases only affect a few, who are really the majority: women, people of color and with the last decision, older workers.

In Castle Rock V Gonzales* which in 2005 said that the police do not have to respond to every violation of an order of protection--this case was tragic: 3 young girls died because the police did not respond to their mother's 6 (!) calls over the course of an evening that her ex-husband had violated the order and had taken the girls. In this case, the justices found that police enforcement of even mandatory arrest statutes when there is a violation of a protective order is not a constitutionally protected property interest. Protective Orders according to the Court are “benefits” that are not constitutionally protected entitlement property interests. And, though the Colorado law had stated if there was a violation the police shall arrest the violator, reinterpreted the word shall to mean may--as in may or may not. Congress did add a section to the Violence Against Women Act authorization in 2005 which set up Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistants to serve as liaisons between DV victims and law enforcement agencies in order to effectively enforce protection orders.

In 2007, in Ledbetter V Good Year Tire Co. the Justices decided that suits based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act over race or gender pay discrimination have no standing if the claims are based on decisions made by the employer 180 days ago or more--even if the employee had no knowledge of the original pay discrimination (and many do not, since it is considered gauche to talk about one's pay and in some companies grounds for punitive action). It has taken an act of Congress to re-state the original intent of Title VII (Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009).

And, in this session which just ended the 5-4 decision in an AGE discrimination case***, re-directs the burden of proof to rest solely with the worker who now must prove that age was a deciding factor previously, age only had to be one of the factors in a demotion or layoff. Congress needs to take corrective action.

So much for these justices and their ideological base who claim not to be activist judges

*Castle Rock v. Gonzales, 545 U.S. 748 (2005).
**Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 550 U.S. 618 (2007)
***Gross v. FBL Financial Services Inc. (No. 08-441) 526 F. 3d 356, vacated and remanded.

Defining Justice

2009-06-23T09:28:00.004-04:00

I ask my students to define "justice." It is a term we use a lot, it is one of the chief cornerstones of our modern liberal state--up there with liberty and equality. It is the purpose of the Constitution, stated in the Preamble: "to establish Justice." Think, also, of the last line of the Pledge of Allegiance: "With liberty and justice for all."
So, what is "Justice"--Is it fairness? How is that defined? Is it playing by the rules? does it matter who establishes the rules? Is it "due process of the law" and if so, does due process have limits?
And, just as importantly, what does justice do? Does it seek truth? Right wrongs? Level the playing field? Allow for equality? Allow for liberties? Enforce any of these?

Justice, is not seeking the truth by all possible means but is a decision best left to the states and their elected officials and the strict following of established criminal justice proceedings. It is "a prompt and considered legislative response" according to Chief Justice Roberts writing for the majority in this case that involved an Alaskan man, Osborne, incarcerated for rape and attempted murder. The case and conviction can not be reopened, because, in other words, justice had already been served. Justice is procedural.

[Osborne had asked to test the DNA evidence since DNA technology is much advanced since the time he was convicted. He had even offered to pay for the testing himself. (Pass your cursor over the title of this post will get you the link for the June 19th 5-4 opinion).]

One baby step

2009-06-17T10:03:00.005-04:00

Today, President Obama is supposed to sign a Presidential Memorandum on Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination that will grant same sex federal employees' domestic partners, the same benefits that federal employees have as heterosexual couples, domestic partners or married.
Well, not exactly the same benefits...seems that according to a White Paper circulating (see below) there is a problem with full health benefits and the Defense of Marriage Act--or how the administration is reading DOMA.
(http:/thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c104:h.r.3396.ENR:)

Perchance, also, someone in the White House needs a dictionary to define "non-discrimination"

http://politics.theatlantic/2009/06/white_house_white_paper_on_same-sex_benefits.php

On Not Walking His Campaign Talk

2009-06-16T09:14:00.003-04:00

We thought Obama was going to be the first"gay" president in the same vein that Clinton was the first "black" president. But all he has done is talk about gay pride.
He has done nothing but pass the hot potato --in the case of Don't Ask, Don't Tell --to Congress. And, now his administration in defense of the Defense of Marriage Act--remember that 1996 act signed into being by a bunch of serial monogamists and adulterers, that undid the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution? -- has liken same sex marriage to incest and pedophilia, while claiming to maintain a " cautious policy of federal neutrality." And the claim that marriage is traditional and universally recognized--sort of like the marriage of Chrysler to Daimler, I mean, Fiat????

So much about our pride!

1. re: Don't Ask Don't Tell
The President as Commander in Chief can decide that the national guard personnel who are being separated from the military due to DA,DT are critical to our national security and mission, as per the USMC, and keep them on, without an act of Congress, because this ability is already in the USC! Those personnel being separated are critical--they are linguists, for instance, and citizens. In their place we are recruiting foreign nationals. . .with the signing bonus that they will become American citizens on a fast track.

Or, the President can just issue an Executive Order that has the standing of law.

2. re DOMA

The President can order his/our Justice Department to really remain neutral, and not make an argument for a piece of legislation that is the antithesis of his campaign promise. Or, to file a brief that supports equality of same sex marriages. After all, same sex couples pay taxes just like heterosexual couples do, and thus, deserve the same benefits and recognition.

We need to pressure the President to do the right thing. Inequality is not tolerable, anymore! Here is his e-mail
www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Stay Tuned, Just Back

2009-06-08T09:44:00.005-04:00

Yesterday's NYTimes Style Section had an article about the many blogs that get abandoned, even though I have not written in almost a month, this blog is alive and well. I was just busy with finals, re-reading theses, writing a paper myself so that right after graduation LK and I could leave on our almost 5000 mile epic road trip. We visited or drove through 14 states. The trip included: a visit (or two) to Rose (LK's Mom in Mason City IA), a great conference in Denver (Law & Society Association), a visit with an old friend, back to Iowa via back roads through the mountains of Colorado to Wyoming (where the deer, antelope & buffalo roam) & South Dakota, including Deadwood, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Wall Drug and the Corn Palace. On the trip home a most wonderful tour through one of Eleanor Roosevelt's projects: Arthurdale West Virgina, meeting some of the sons and daughters of the original homesteaders.
What a wondrous country we live in--the scenery is breathtaking, the people friendly, and everything is buttered or fried (yes, today begins another diet).
Yet politics and economics were part of our trip --we drove through Elkhart Indiana, where the unemployment rate has hit almost 20 % as well as through Iowa City Iowa which has the lowest unemployment rate at just over 3%. We drove on a Wyoming road being widened courtesy of the stimulus bill. We talked to two family members who are real estate agents/brokers who say that things are picking up. We saw the gas prices go up and up for the weekends and now stay there for summer. We heard and read reports that people are taking more stayvacations and only spending on necessities. We drove past closed factories, empty strip malls and car dealerships with too many cars to sell.
We listened to books on tape--David McCullough's Truman and Jonathan Alter's Defining Moment (about FDR's first 100 days) besides a few suspense stories--we drove A LOT! And, while things are not as dire as they were during the Great Depression (unemployment was at its height 24.9%), we are experiencing a paradigm shift in the American Dream.

And, now we are home. I will write more.

On Arthudale:
http://www.arthurdaleheritage.org/

The article on the abandonment of blogging:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/07/fashion/07blogs.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=blogs&st=cse

The Story of Stuff, Reprised

2009-05-11T09:31:00.003-04:00

Today's NYT has a front page story on Annie Leonard and her wonderful quirky envionmental video "The Story of Stuff."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/education/11stuff.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1242048781-5BqctYHzXSJPufLXJgIm7A

For those who missed the first posting of the video, or those who just want to see again:

www.storyofstuff.com

Re-framing Citizenship, Part One the issue.

2009-05-02T08:07:00.010-04:00

The other evening I was part of a discussion on President Obama's first 100 days in office (sponsored by the Gillespie Forum held at the Wallace Center, FDR). One of the questions posed was how or what structural changes will be made or need to be made. While this question was made regarding the current economic crisis, I think that a major part of the answer lies in re-framing citizenship.
For too long we have been the nation of individuals, only concerned with our own issues, material and spiritual wealth, following the rules and laws (sometimes begrudgingly, as is, paying our fair share of taxes). What we do is make our own lives and nests as comfortable as possible, with very little sacrifice for the greater good of our democracy, of our communities. Or, if we do volunteer service, it is for a few hours per month, squeezed in, or perhaps we just write checks to those charities and not for profits that "do good." Some of us have jobs that are in the best public interest--teaching, coaching, protecting, healing--but
For instance, without a draft, our military is recruiting those without a high school education, with criminal records and foreign nationals in order to keep our forces at fighting strength. Medical students are forgoing obstetrics, family or internal medicine practices and are going into the more lucrative practices of cardiology and dermatology. We have a major crisis in family medical practice not to mention ob/gyns. More jails and prisons are being built at exorbient cost, as YM& WCAs and other programs where our young can learn skills, values and compassion are being unfunded and closed. We have a fully functional prison industrial complex that needs more prisoners to sustain itself, thus, without these programs we are insuring that there will be inmates.
We also have forgotten how to sacrifice for the good of all. Even when gas was over $4 last summer there was very little self rationing, carpooling and because there is limited public transportation, there are few options to driving in many areas outside of cities. The moment gas prices dropped so did the thoughts of fuel efficient cars, car pooling and better public transportation for most people.

Identity crisis

2009-04-30T09:16:00.003-04:00

The Republicans are having an identity crisis--there are two major factions within the party, and a divorce seems to be in the offering. Arlen Spector has left because of the infighting, and because differences of thought were not being welcomed under the Republican tent. (The Democrat's tent, on the other hand, is so full of difference that its hard for them to come together sometimes).
It was very evident in the Bush/Cheney administration (it actually, I believe, began with Mr. Reagan's wooing of the Religious Right) Bush was a religious conservative Republican, one who thought that the role of the federal government was protecting people from threats from outside our borders and those threats to our traditional way of life included legislating morality. He, for instance, wanted to amend the constitution to define marriage. Mr. Cheney believed that the role of government was protecting people from threats from outside, but on issues of citizens health and welfare (aka as police powers), such as defining who may marry, those were decisions that each state should make. The McCain/Palin ticket was a marriage of convenience once more between these two factions in the Republican party. With the failure of the McCain/Palin campaign, the Republicans do not have a strong vision/leader to hold the moderates, the conservatives and very religious Republicans together.

Moderate Republicans--Olympia Snowe the day before yesterday, and Christine Todd Whitman in today's NYTimes are beseeching the Republican party to re-evaluate the split that is now a chasm, it may be too late. The Republican party of Lincoln, of Goldwater, of Rockefeller may be history.

Snowe's column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/29/opinion/29snowe.html?scp=1&sq=olymia%20Snow&st=cse
Whitman's column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/opinion/30whitman.html?ref=opinion

Score one for a flyover state!

2009-04-10T09:32:00.004-04:00

Well, for me, Iowa is not a flyover state--its a drive- to- state; we drive there a couple times a year, because that its where LK's family is. The following OP Ed from 4/9/09's NYT helps to correct a misperception of Iowa as a conservative state.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/opinion/09thrasher.html?_r=1
And, Iowa also took a stance and in 1998 adopted an Equal Rights Amendment to its State Constitution in a referenda even though Pat Robertson sent a letter to most households--my mother-in-law received one--that urged Iowans to defeat the referenda because Equal Rights would turn the women into feminists and "Feminists encourage women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, become lesbians, and destroy capitalism."
The Iowan ERA reads as follows: “All men and women are, by nature, free and equal and have certain inalienable rights — among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty,
acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and
happiness.” Iowa Constitution, Article I, §1 (1998).

Background: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/us/04iowa.html?scp=3&sq=iowa%20same%20sex%20marriage&st=cse

"Soldiers in the Army"

2009-04-03T09:31:00.003-04:00

12,000 service members have lost their positions, and the military has lost their service, because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue."
See the discussion on Rachel Maddow last night 4/2/09 with Colin Powell and Clifford Alexander.

We are now allowing non-citizens to enlist, yet are removing citizens from their service because of their sexual orientation, when sexuality is actually not a requirement for service, service personnel are not to be sexual when in uniform.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#30021162 Scroll down to "Right to Serve" next to Colin Powell's picture

Wage Gap

2009-03-02T12:46:00.003-05:00

This is a great graphic from yesterday (3/1) NYT that sets forth the gendered pay gap for specific jobs (just roll over the dots)...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/01/business/20090301_WageGap.html?8dpc

Nullification of Committment?

2009-02-25T08:07:00.002-05:00

This video clip poignantly points out why the same sex marriages performed in California prior to the passage of Prop 8 should stand:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce

And then there are the legal reasons--the 14th amendment of our constitution for instance established equality before the law, nullifying the States' rights to nullification of certain federal laws based on religious grounds (oh, and there is that pesky 1st amendment right of freedom for/from religion).

For those who see an "out" of this dilemma with civil unions: first off, all marriages are civil unions--you all have heard that phrase "by the powers invested in me by the state of _____I now pronounce you (married)." The government grants many many privileges, rights and responsibilities to married couples (the Government Accounting Office counted 1049 when the Defense of Marriage Act was enacted --1996. Since then an additional 120 benefits or rights can be added to that list). Second, is the concept of "separate but equal"--we all know that separate is NOT equal.

But as I have said before, who one loves and commits to, as long as it is mutual should not get others' shorts up in a knot.

[That marriage as an institution needs to be examined, is yet another issue. But, perhaps same sex marriage does help rock the patriarchal love boat, at least a bit.]

Lilly Ledbetter

2009-01-29T21:00:00.003-05:00

Gail Collins' column in today's NYT puts Lilly Ledbetter in a small crowd of other women who have taken on their employers in the name of fair pay, and while they might not have seen the rewards of their actions for themselves, they have helped other women workers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/opinion/29collins.html?_r=1&em

Today President Obama signed into being the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Its been a long time coming.

44

2009-01-20T08:58:00.002-05:00

May the 44th president harness the hope that he has kindled.
May we re-gain a sense of the public good for all.

May the anti-intellectualism that is rampart dissipate.
May people take responsibility for their actions, and their inactions.
(Silence is the voice of complicity afterall).

Today our imagination soars in hope.
May that hope turn into action.

There is a lot riding on the hope that is Obama,
the hope like a wave he rode into leadership on.

Hope is more than just a word.

Here's to hoping you will meet the great expectations
of ethos--of our Republic and for all she stands for.

Here's to hoping we will meet the great expectations
of ethos--of our Republic and for all she stands for.

Truth, Justice and the American Way.
Obama, oh not quite superman.
A lot is riding on your shoulders.

But remember:
Hope.
It takes a country.

Farewell Good Bye Adieu

2009-01-15T09:47:00.003-05:00

Tonight is President Bush's Farewell address to the nation. In my heart of hearts I would love it to be an apology--for an uncalled for war, for disregarding human rights and civil rights, for shredding the Constitution, for redefining justice, torture and the executive office, for continuing policies that have laid our economy in ruins.
But based on his last formal press conference, he will take responsibility for nothing--it was not his fault that he relied on faulty intelligence that lead to our preemptive invasion of Iraq --Operation Iraqi Freedom (and our development of more hatred towards and potential threats against America); that FEMA did respond correctly to Katrina (just tell that to the still displaced people of New Orleans and Gulf Coast).
His administration's legacy is one of total disregard for human rights and civil rights, an administration that operated without being accountable to the people of the United States which it was to serve, an administration that was flagrant in its disregard of the Constitution, of laws that Congress passed (signing statements,anyone), and of decisions of the Supreme Court not to mention international laws.
I will watch his address tonight and hope that he will be held accountable for his disservice to America.

Fair Pay

2009-01-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act were passed in the House this week and are scheduled fo a vote in the Seante this coming week. Contact your Senators and tell them how important fair and equal wages are, how restoring the means to fight inequality is so very important to the concept of equality.
https://secure2.convio.net/npwf/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=223&AddInterest=1343&JServSessionIdr006=73386tyy32.app5bn

The last days of W

2009-01-03T23:07:00.003-05:00

Frank Rich's column in Sunday's (1/4/09) NYT http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/opinion/04rich.html?_r=1 is about the re-visioning of the W presidency and "[T]he man who emerges is a narcissist with no self-awareness whatsoever. It’s that arrogance that allowed him to tune out even the most calamitous of realities, freeing him to compound them without missing a step."

Unfortunately, we will be cleaning up the mess he and his cronies made for a long long time.

Re-visioning History a la W

2008-12-31T09:26:00.004-05:00

Even though President Bush has stated that "The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and you and I will not be around to see it " he is having his term re-visioned...in case we can not remember it correctly...
From blaming the collapse of the economy on his father's administration "I think when the history of this period is written, people will realize a lot of the decisions that were made on Wall Street took place over a decade or so, before I arrived." (12/3/08)
He also blamed the invasion of Iraq on faulty intelligence from the Clinton era...
to having his wife say that Katrina was not the castrophe that the media reported :this is from Fox News Sunday (12/28)LAURA BUSH, U.S. FIRST LADY: "I feel terrible about Hurricane Katrina and I‘m sad that the response, it wasn‘t faster. The other thing that happened right after it was—really not true reporting. There was—the reporting was ended up being not really factual. But many, many people heard the first reporting and that‘s what they think happened, that 10,000 people died or, you know, whatever that things were, that were not true."
Condi Rice portrayed her role (CBS Sunday Morning) in Bush's foreign policy is to "lay a foundation for history‘s judgment."

American Dream/Nightmare

2008-12-21T09:39:00.003-05:00

Reader advisement: Sit Down, I am coming to the defense of President Bush. [ Well, sort of.:) ]

In today's New York Times (Sunday 12/21/08) the blame for the mortgage melt down was put at President Bush's feet. The blame was placed Bush's philosophy that homeownership
was the way out of poverty “We can put light where there’s darkness, and hope where there’s despondency in this country. And part of it is working together as a nation to encourage folks to own their own home.” — President Bush, Oct. 15, 2002
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/business/21admin.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&pagewanted=print

Are you sitting down?

President Bush's philosophy of home ownership is not to blame. It is an articulation of is the American Dream, of our founders' concept of vested citizenship. Property ownership gives people ownership in more than just their home, but in their community --they are less likely to litter, and more likely to participate.

Okay, you may relax now. . .

Where he needs to take responsibility and blame is in his free market anti-regulation arrogant philosophy and his old boy network of yes men.
". . .From his earliest days in office, Mr. Bush paired his belief that Americans do best when they own their own home with his conviction that markets do best when let alone. . .But his housing policies and hands-off approach to regulation encouraged lax lending standards.
Mr. Bush did foresee the danger posed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage finance giants. The president spent years pushing a recalcitrant Congress to toughen regulation of the companies, but was unwilling to compromise when his former Treasury secretary wanted to cut a deal. And the regulator Mr. Bush chose to oversee them — an old prep school buddy — pronounced the companies sound even as they headed toward insolvency. . ."

Here is the White House's response http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/21/white-house-accuses-ny-ti_n_152713.html to the NYT article...which says in short that the NYT has been against the president,and this NYT article is "gross negligence" with cherry picked quotes to suit the writers. The real reason for the housing meltdown is, according to the President, the cheap money flowing into the US: "For example, the President highlighted a factor that economists agree on: that the most significant factor leading to the housing crisis was cheap money flowing into the U.S. from the rest of the world, so that there was no natural restraint on flush lenders to push loans on Americans in risky ways."