The Power of Money v. The People

"Today, the US Senate ignored the will of the American people and failed to pass a bi-partisan, commonsense, moderate solution for keeping deadly weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and making our communities safer. Almost 90% of Americans said they wanted this sensible solution to be implemented, but the senators voting against the measure chose instead to obey the leaders of the powerful corporate gun lobby, instead of their constituents. We know this proposal respected the rights of lawful gun owners like ourselves, and we know it would have saved lives.

We will use every means possible to make sure the constituents of these senators know that their elected representatives ignored them, and put Washington, DC special interest politics over the effort to keep their own communities safer from the tragedy of gun violence.

Gabby has always said this would be a long, hard haul. Our work does not end today; we are committed to finding commonsense compromises that will keep us safer, and to making sure we have a congress that will put the interests of their communities ahead of the interests of the gun lobby."

"How long, how long, short sighted businessmen?  Nothing lasts for long...."  Joni Mitchell

 There is something desperately wrong with our government, we all know it, when it fails to protect the least among us.  You can't get any more innocent than a group of first graders and the adults who taught them.  And yet, this wasn't enough to sway the cold dead hearts on Capitol Hill.  The gun death stats are horrific, and yet lawmakers turn away from the awful truth.  The NRA leadership have there greedy meaty hands around the throats of lawmakers who are supposed to listen to the people.  The bill that went down yesterday was a pretty watered-down bill as far as I'm concerned, but it was still a move in the right direction.  And even it couldn't pass.

As I watched the press conference in the Rose Garden yesterday, I finally saw the President display some righteous indignation.  Finally.  I heard his call to the American people to raise our voices against the gun lobby and for common sense gun control laws.  We are the only ones who can do anything about this.  I just made a donation to Americans for Responsible Solutions.  I hope you can, too. 

Rand Paul: King of the Idiots

Were you as irked by Rand Paul's questioning Secretary of State Clinton as I was?  This photo popped up on Facebook this morning.  The fax line is already down, so don't bother.  What I did is go to his official website and sent him this email:

You sir, displayed the most disgraceful behavior in your questioning of Sect. of State Clinton.  Stick to the questions and the search for the truth, and leave your political posturing out of it.  No one cares what you would have done had you been President, and God willing, you never will be.

What a jackass.

Dear Mr. President

Goddammit we did not re-elect you to be Boehner's bitch.  I can't believe the concessions you are making to avoid the fiscal cliff.  Robert Reich's Facebook post tells the story.

I sent you an email tonight, telling you to hang tough and to protect the middle class.  That's why we re-elected you.  Maybe I'll call the White House as well -- in fact, I will.   I'd rather we go off the fiscal cliff than whittle away at the expiration of tax cuts for the wealthiest, and to further tax the middle class with payroll taxes, and to agree to cap Social Security for crying out loud.  What is wrong with you, sir?  Hope and Change -- that's what you ran on.  Please, for the love of gawd, give us some of that good stuff.

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.

Moving On

Here a Chez Crowley, we were split when it came to the Presidential race.  Two of us are very despondent over the President's win, while I, couldn't be happier.  I'm not throwing it in their face, but the folks are now ragging on about how this country is really go to go into the crapper now.  I have to listen to this when I am upstairs in their space.  Consequently, I'm not spending a lot of time there.

photo from SF Chronicle

Meanwhile, our favorite grocery, Raley's/Nob Hill is on strike and dad's going shopping there tomorrow.  I told him I would not cross a picket line.  He is looking forward to crossing it -- he blames unions for most of our ills, and certainly for the President's re-election.  I just hope he stays safe and keeps off the local news.  He's hot under the collar right now and I wouldn't put it past him to say something inflammatory to the picketers. 

 I sure wish I had the ability to wipe their memories and re-install some compassion and progressive thinking.  Sigh. 

Whew

I have a feeling we've dodged a bullet my friends.  At 7:09 pm we heard Claire McCaskill and Elizabeth Warren have won and President Obama is the projected winner.  I know, early hours, but still.  Hopeful.  I'm hanging out with The Bums and we're laughing and whooping it up!  Drinking pinot and eating chocolate.

I've been a nervous wreck all day, but I can finally feel the tension in my chest beginning to abate.

PS 8:30 West Coast time: many news outlets announcing the President has won re-election.  Oh happy day!

Beyond Outrage

I just purchased Dr. Robert Reich's book, Beyond Outrage (9/2012).  I've got to see how I can be a part of the solution in America.  Here's what he posted today on his Facebook page.  It's a very scary scenario if Romney wins.  I'm going to spend election night with my good friends Roger and Robin.  We'll eat good food, drink good wine, and shout at the television set.

"It's time for a final summary of the worldview of Mitt Romney. Despite its contradictions and ellipses, Romneyism, as this creed might be called, has an internal coherence. Here are its ten core principles:

1. Corporations are the basic units of society. Corporations are people, and the overriding purpose of an economy is to maximize corporate profits. When profits are maximized, the economy grow

s fastest. This growth benefits everyone in the form greater output, better products and services, and higher share prices.

2. Workers are a means to the goal of maximizing corporate profits. If workers do not contribute to that goal, they should be fired. If they cannot then find other work that helps maximize profits in another company, their wages must be too high, and they must therefore accept steadily lower wages until they find a job.

3. All factors of production – capital, physical plant and equipment, workers – are fungible and should be treated the same. Any that fail to deliver high competitive returns should be replaced or discarded. This keeps an economy efficient. Fairness is and should be irrelevant.

4. Pollution, unsafe products, unsafe working conditions, financial fraud, and other negative side effects of the pursuit of profits are the price society pays for profit-driven growth. They should not be used as excuses to constrain the pursuit of profits through regulation.

5. Individual worth depends on net worth — how much money one has made, and the value of the assets that money has been invested in. Any person with enough intelligence and ambition can make a fortune. Failure to do so is sign of moral and intellectual inferiority.

6. People who fail in the economy should not be coddled. They should not receive food stamps, Medicaid, or any other form of social subsidy. Coddling leads to a weaker society and a weaker economy.

7. Taxes are inherently bad because they constrain profit-making. It is the right and responsibility of individuals and corporations to exploit every tax loophole they (and their tax attorneys) can find in order to pay the lowest taxes possible.

8. Politics is a game whose only purpose is to win. Any means used to win the game is legitimate even if it involves lying and cheating, as long as it gains more supporters.

 

9. Democracy is dangerous because it is forever vulnerable to the votes of a majority intent on capturing the wealth of the successful minority, on whom the economy depends. The rich must therefore do whatever is necessary to prevent the majority from exercising its will, including spending large sums of money on lobbyists and political campaigns. The most virtuous among the rich will go a step further and run for president.

10. The three most important aspects of life are family, religion, and money. Patriotism is a matter of guarding our economy from unfair traders and undocumented immigrants, rather than joining together for the common good. We owe nothing to one another as citizens of the same society.

On Tuesday America will decide whether these ten ideas should be the guiding principles of the nation."

Oh My Dear Country

My dear country - Norah Jones

"'Twas Halloween and the ghosts were out,
And everywhere they'd go, they shout,
And though I covered my eyes I knew,
They'd go away.

But fear's the only thing I saw,
And three days later 'twas clear to all,
That nothing is as scary as election day.

But the day after is darker,
And darker and darker it goes,
Who knows, maybe the plans will change,
Who knows, maybe he's not deranged.

The news men know what they know, but they,
Know even less than what they say,
And I don't know who I can trust,
For they come what may.

'cause we believed in our candidate,
But even more it's the one we hate,
I needed someone I could shake,
On election day.

But the day after is darker,
And deeper and deeper we go,
Who knows, maybe it's all a dream,
Who knows if I'll wake up and scream.

I love the things that you've given me,
I cherish you my dear country,
But sometimes I don't understand,
The way we play.

I love the things that you've given me,
And most of all that I am free,
To have a song that I can sing,
On election day."

I just so desperately want this election to be over.  The suspense is killing me.   So much at stake.   Campaign finance reform is the most critical issue on our political landscape, and Robert Reich has a strategy to bring this message to the American people.  Again.  I'll lend support in any way I can.  The madness has got to stop.

TGIF

President Obama on the Daily Show

• Trusting the electorate to do the right thing and re-elect the President!
• Grateful that there are only 18 days left in this damned election cycle because I am tired of all the b.s. back and forthing and the endless television commercials. 
• Inspired by the folks who run our elections -- especially all the poll workers who make it happen!  What a huge job.

Dad is Voting for Romney! Really!

Finally received my bumper sticker (magnetic) in the mail yesterday.  I'm putting it on Dad's car.  Let's see how long it takes him to notice.

Working Class America

Deer Hunting with Jesus is about one of the most important books I've read. By Joe Bagent, it's about keeping the masses doped up on religion and mindless consumption. He returns to his rural childhood home and explores an undereducated underclass, who try as they might, cannot escape the mighty forces of small town thinking, religious constructs and overwhelming poverty. 

This video is as relevant to day as when it was filmed.  Joe is no longer with us, but his work goes on. Thank you, Joe.

What A Liberal Looks Like

I'm inspired by my friend Rain to write this post.  It is often the case that nothing explodes a stereotype like personal revelation and connection.  I was offended, as many of you were, by Romney's comments about the 47% of America that he will never win over -- you know, the liberals, the layabouts, the takers of handouts and such.  So, inspired by Rain and her post about what her liberal family looks like, I decided to share a bit about my liberal family - because we are true and good citizens of the United States and we contribute with our efforts and our taxes to our community, our state, our nation.  I urge you to post your "What a Liberal Looks Like" story as well.

I come from a white, middle-class, quasi-Christian but mostly agnostic, 2 heterosexual parent family.  I enjoyed the benefits of a moderately good public education, and was a high school student in the crazy early to mid 1970s.  Witness:

Look at the hippies we were!  There I am at the bottom of the shot, sitting with some of my friends and teachers having our lunch.  Actually, I was kind of preppy, but I had my hippie outfits, too.

My 2 sisters and I are college graduates, and my sisters also have advanced degrees, so they are super smart and ambitious.

I have supported democratic party candidates, with few exceptions.  I have occasionally crossed over when a republican or independent has made sense to me.

I worked for 22 years at a major university, paid taxes, raised my daughter, divorced my husband, married my wife (oops - here comes the real liberal part....) marched in anti-war demonstrations (oops more liberal stuff), paid my taxes, bought a home, sold a home, volunteered in my community and was a troop leader for my daughter's Girl Scout Brownie troop.

What?  Not "gimme gimme" enough for you, Mitt? 

I retired a few years ago and have a very small pension (I know.  Those pushy, grabby pension-seekers).  Even though my fixed income is very low, guess what?  I still pay income tax!  Out of pocket!  Crazy, right?  I know.

I now have a lovely grandson, thanks to my darling daughter and her stellar husband.  She is becoming a teacher, and her husband is a hard-working, tax paying citizen who was an Eagle Scout.  Doesn't get more American than that, eh?  Those kids were so liberal that they had their son at home -- no hospital for them.

Oh, and my liberal sisters?  Lifelong democrats, married homeowners with children and grandchildren of their own.  Small business owners (yes, really, we liberals are also business owners and job creators!) and involved in their communities. 

We are just one family.  And we have a few republican party members, but we tolerate them.

Mr. I-Make-My-Dog-Ride-On-Top-of-My-Car Romney never did have our support.  But really, is he so stupid that he risks alienating those on the fence with his ignorant and insensitive remarks about 47% of our country's population? 

Don't answer that.  We know.  We know.

A House Divided

Man, last night was sheer torture.  My folks were watching the GOP convention in Tampa and they had both television sets on - the living room for mom and the kitchen/dining room where dad was cooking.   There was no escape.  Even in my apartment downstairs I could hear it.  I put in ear buds and listened to some good music.

Even so, I had to venture upstairs occasionally, and what I heard just cut like a knife.  I felt assaulted, really I did.  I heard a snippet from New Mexico's Gov.'s wife, where she boasted that she carried a 357 magnum for protection. Or was it the governor?  I don't know, I was trying not to listen.

My dad thinks I'm intolerant, and maybe I am.  But, to me, it's akin to telling a German citizen during the rise of the Nazis that they're being intolerant.  Really.  Read the platform. 

I've got my own issues with Obama, but I still think he's the best choice for the future of our country.  It scares me no end to think of the Republicans getting into office in January.  History shows how dismal they are on the economy, and with the Tea Party firmly in control, they will (and are) rolling back rights that were affirmed a long time ago.

How can our country survive this political chasm?  I look at my household as the country in microcosm. The sides are firmly entrenched, there is no compromise.  I am so disgusted with what I perceive to be my parents' ignorance on the issues, and they feel the same way about me.  We are a house divided.

I knew this election season was going to be a difficult one for my little domestic sphere.  I had no idea.

Read 'em and Weep

Here are key elements of the Republican platform:

JOB CREATION:

It states that the best jobs program is economic growth. "We do not offer yet another made-in-Washington package of subsidies and spending to create temporary or artificial jobs."
___
SMALL BUSINESS:
The GOP pledges to reform the tax code to make it easier for businesses to generate more capital and create more jobs.
___
TAXES:
"We reject the use of taxation to redistribute income, fund unnecessary or ineffective programs or foster the crony capitalism that corrupts both politicians and corporations."
It says a Republican administration would extend the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, pending reform of the tax code. It says the party would strive to eliminate taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains altogether for lower- and middle-income taxpayers. It also would work to repeal the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax.
The party backs constitutional amendments to balance the federal budget and require a super majority for any tax increases.
___
MARRIAGE:
The platform affirms the rights of states and the federal government not to recognize same-sex marriage. It backs a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
___
VOTER INTEGRITY:
"Voter fraud is a political poison," the platform says. It praises legislation to require photo identification for voting and to prevent election fraud.
___
GUN CONTROL:
The party says it opposes legislation intended to restrict Second Amendment rights by limiting the capacity of clips or magazines or otherwise restoring the assault weapons ban passed during the Clinton presidency.
___
ABORTION:
The party states that "the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." It opposes using public revenues to promote or perform abortion or to fund organizations that perform or advocate abortions. It says the party will not fund or subsidize health care that includes abortion coverage.
___
ENERGY:
The party is committed to domestic energy independence and an "all-of-the-above" energy policy, backing the exploration and development of the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. It criticizes the Obama administration for picking winners and losers in the energy sector and expresses support for new coal-fired plants that will be low-cost, environmentally responsible and efficient.
It adds: "We will end the EPA's war on coal and encourage the increased safe development in all regions of the nation's coal resources." It calls on Congress to prohibit the EPA from moving forward with new greenhouse gas regulations "that will harm the nation's economy and threaten millions of jobs over the next quarter century."
____
MEDICARE and MEDICAID:
The platform pledges to move both Medicare and Medicaid away from "the current unsustainable defined-benefit entitlement model to a fiscally sound defined-contribution model." It supports a Medicare transition to a premium-support model with an income-adjusted contribution toward a health plan of the enrollee's choice. Age eligibility in Medicare must be made more realistic in light of longer life spans.
Medicaid services for low income people would be transformed into a block grant program in which the states would be given the flexibility to determine the best programs for their residents.
____
IMMIGRATION:
The platform makes clear that "we oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by intentionally violating the law, disadvantage those who have obeyed it." It demands that the Justice Department halt lawsuits against Arizona, Alabama and other states that have enacted tough measures against illegal immigrants. It says federal funding should be denied to universities that provide in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants. It advocates making English the official national language.
____
HEALTH CARE:
It states that a Republican president on his first day in office would use his waiver authority to halt progress in carrying out the health care act pushed through by President Barack Obama and that Republican victories in November would guarantee that the act is never implemented. It proposes a Republican plan based on improving health care quality and lowering costs and a system that promotes the free market and gives consumers more choice.
____
EDUCATION:
Republicans support consumer choice, including home schooling, local innovations such as single-sex classes, full-day school hours and year-round schools. It says Republicans renew their call for replacing family planning programs for teens "with abstinence education which teaches abstinence until marriage as the responsible and respected standard of behavior."
____
DEFENSE:
The platform says Republicans are "the party of peace through strength" and support the concept of American exceptionalism – "the conviction that our country holds a unique place and role in human history." It criticizes the current administration for its weak positions toward such countries as North Korea, China and Iran and its reductions in military spending. The Republican national military strategy "restores as a principal objective the deterrence using the full spectrum of our military capabilities."

I do not want these clowns to be in control of the White House.  Everything in the platform stated above is repugnant to me, and much of it is based on falsehoods.  Tax cuts for the rich will benefit job growth?  Hasn't happened yet.  Might as well say, "We support tax cuts because we don't want to give our fair share to a country that has made it possible for us to prosper. Fuck everybody else."
Replace family planning education with a 'just say no' plan?  Uh, yeah, that has NEVER worked.  Voter fraud is an issue?  Really?  They need to do their homework.  Oh, but that would mean they couldn't continue their scare-o-rama which is designed to disenfranchise voters all over the country. 

And I don't think I even have to mention their stand on marriage in America, do I?  No, I do not.

This is truly the party platform of make-believe, bury your head in the sand, sadistic malcontents. 

 

GOP Loves Ayn Rand

I confess I have never read Ayn Rand.  The world view expressed in her novels is something I loathe, and so, I never felt motivated to immerse myself in her words.

This interview is chilling, and provides insight into the GOP and their passion for Rand.  Scarey.

Church and State

A good discussion about the 'separation of church and state' can be found here. Though the constitution says the government may not interfere with religious practice, clearly the government does when practice clashes with civil law, in the case of polygamy and use of illegal drugs in religious practice, to name two examples. It's important to understand what the amendment actually says about the relationship between government and religion.

I was reminded that the amendment actually does not use the words "separation between church and state," and that these words were used later by President Jefferson in an 1802 letter he wrote to discuss the intent of the constitutional language in the first amendment.

In the 1950's the words "under God" were placed in the US Pledge of Allegiance.  Clearly this ascribes a belief in a higher being and is endorsed by the government.  So what about those who do not believe in any kind of higher being?  This is not the government endorsing any particular religion, but it is endorsing a belief in God.  

God is invoked in the oath of office, in the swearing in of jurors, on our currency.  Clearly, this is a government that, while establishing no official religion, sets by example that a belief in God is essential to a moral life.

Many of us believe differently; believe that a moral life can easily be led by the belief that a moral life is a good life and produces positive outcomes instead of negative ones.

Romney's discussion about the separation of church and state in public life is not an anomaly.  Many people of many belief systems share his opinion.  Even people who are not overtly religious have grown up in a Judeo-Christian country and are used to hearing the name of God invoked.  It bothers me more as I get older -- I don't believe in what most people mean when they say "God."  When it is spoken of in the public square or in political discussions, it makes me nervous and it makes me feel as if I am 'lesser than' because I don't believe.  Could an agnostic successfully run for high political office in this country, much less an atheist?  I don't think so.

But getting back to the constitution, namely the first amendment, I think it provides a lot more leeway for religious involvement in public life (which can include political life) than I previously did.  Should it?  I don't think so.  I'd like stronger words such as "separation of church and state" to be articulated.  But that would take a constitutional amendment. 

The Cost of Care

I was in the hospital four times at the end of May and beginning of June.  Two visits were ER only, 2 visits were ER, then ICU, then Cardiac Care, then General floor.  Never got a diagnosis.  Nope.  Had to be taken in by ambulance twice.  Scared the crap out of my family and friends.

So, the inevitable bills have begun to arrive.  If you've ever been in the hospital you know what's coming:  $116,000 for two of those visits which required being admitted.  Granted, it's better than the alternative, which was I was gonna die.  My insurance company is also picking up the bulk of this.  I'm liable for a total of $600.

But still.

I'm just a lay person, so what do I know?  But the cost of being on the cardiac floor for 24 hours was $10k.  IV fluids for 7 bags of fluid was $7k.  Laboratory costs, nuclear medicine, pharmacy, repository services, radiology, one MRT scan alone was $5k.  It sounds crazy.  Is it all about covering the costs of R & D, manufacturing, or indigent patients?  Is it possible to fix a system so broke, to pry corporations' hands off the for-profit medical business?  It's the gravy train, seems to me.  Everyone is making big bucks off of my unfortunate circumstances.  Then they pass it off to the insurance company which pays it.  And the insurance company is making a profit.

If I didn't have insurance, I could negotiate some of these charges and work out a payment plan.  But then I'd go broke.  If I owned a house, I would lose it.  Many people do.  After the trauma of disease, people lose everything to pay for their care.  What an insult.  What an outrage.

When are insurance and health care reforms going to kick in and avert this disaster we call the health care system in our country?  2014 seems like a long time to wait.

And the food mostly sucked.  This was one of the better meals.

Happy Birthday, Grandson

Here's the little peanut a year ago today.  And here's the little goober just recently - can you believe how time has flown?

Can we get it together in this damned old world so that all the little grandchildren can grow up safe, healthy and happy?  A Bubbie can dream.

Love Me Some Rachel

I'm a big fan of Rachel Maddow. I listened to an interview with her on Terry Gross' Fresh Air today, and my admiration is even greater, if that's possible.

Rachel talked about her on-going cyclical depression, which she's had since childhood. She is forthright and factual, and has not a hint of embarrassment or shame around it: it's a medical issue. She manages it, she can tell when it's coming, she gets physical as well as psychological symptoms. I admire anyone who talks openly about mental health issues, because there is such discrimination and misinformation about a wide variety of mental diseases. 

Maddow's new book is Drift: The Unmooring of the American Military. She obtained a positive review from Roger Ailes of all people. This ability to reach out to people of very different politic views is one of the reasons I like her reporting. She may seem exceptionally radical to some, but I see she uses reason and intellect. So she uses Ailes to get buy-in from conservatives who might otherwise never read her book. And, as Ira Glass says, "she espouses some of the most conservative values: a suspicion of big government and unbridled federal power, a zeal to cut wasteful spending and a yearning to return to the intentions of the Founding Fathers.” That would appeal to Fox News viewer, would it not?

The lighter side of Ms. Maddow, on the Today Show.
The book is available for Kindle.  I will be downloading it.

International Women's Day

Sent to me by my sister.  We're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it anymore.  How about you?

This image has been circulating around Facebook; If politicians doubt the strength, numbers and determination of women in this country, they need to watch the movie Iron Jawed Angels about the struggle for women's right to vote in this country.

And lastly, I leave you with a column by Donna Smith, who says, in part, "Providing healthcare for all as a matter of human right – under a Medicare for all model -- would be an astonishing advancement for the women in this nation. All women. All men. Imagine the freedom that could come from knowing should you become sick or be injured you would not search or fight for care or be given care you might not need or be denied care that could be life-saving. This does not have to forever stay in our imaginations. It is not imaginary in much of the rest of the world. The impact on gender inequality in America would be so enormous."

Exactly.

Religious Freedom or Poppycock?

Well, I think it's poppycock, but Bill would never say it that plainly.  You've got to watch this Bill Moyers video.  He is so reasoned, and possesses a long view of our history that few others do.

I'm so rattled by all the shit rolling downhill from the GOP and rightwingnuts.  I swear there is something in the water...I'm switching to gin until the madness subsides.

Have a great weekend!