Tea Party, Republicans, Democrats.... they have several things in common. They are all unwillling to go against powerful special interests and all of them seem to think that just because they were elected , that they all have a "mandate" to vote straight down party lines.
All representatives, including the president, should be more concerned with the prosperity and well being of all Americans, regardless of pressure from special interests groups. And yet, those with power and money always seem to come out on top. Everybody seems to agree that state, city and federal governments need to cut back on expenses in order to balance the budget (or at least pay the interest payment on the debt). However, when anyone suggests changing eligibility for social security or reducing benefits, nobody is willing to take on the AARP (the grey haired among us vote more and control around 80% of American financial resources) and recommend these changes effect current retirees along with our children/grandchildren. Social Security was designed as a "safety net" for Americans who had no savings or pensions..... not to provide vacation money for senior citizens with more than $1 million in assets!
How can we make home health care workers take a cut in pay, or stop coverage for organ transplants for some MediCal recipients and be unwilling to charge taxes on home loan interest exceeding $1,000.000!
And it's only getting worse! Catepillar has pitted Illinois against surrounding states, by threatening to leave the state if Illinois does not stop the increase in corporate taxes from 3%% to 7% --- most states are way above20%. Bank of America manages to subvert IRS rules and the result is 0% tax liability in corporate taxes (they say that's okay because the pay into payroll tax). The Chairman of the Board of CountryWide Bank, made billions on his easy loans and lax verification policies, is convicted, andyet stays out of jail. On the other hand, individuals who took out "liar loans" are given jail sentences of 24 months. Homeowners in foreclosure risk jail sentences as well, even those laid off and unable to find another job! Energy companies spent millions to exempt themselves from the requirements of Nixon's Clean Water and Air Act. Government is unwilling to require banks and financial service companies receiving billions in bailouts successfully. Oil lobbies push Republicans to decrease funds/capability of the EPA to monitor drilling, despite the recent catastrophe and growing concern about the lack of regulations on natural gas drilling operations.
It's really easy for local governments to fine homeowners and small businesses for code violations and yet Massey Corp. can litigate their verified safety violations for decades, despite mining tragedies that have cost the lives of many miners!
In campaign commercials, all the politicians say they are for "Main Street" and small businesses and the "American Way". It's time for all Americans to make them back up the rhetoric with action. Corporations should not control the American government. Corporations are successful because Americans buy their products and are productive workers (thanks to govt. supported schools/roads/infrastructure/research funding. Why should the US government provide major tax breaks to companies who shelter funds off shore and give out outrageous bonuses, using our money and enjoying high profits while cutting salaries, benefits and staff.
Come on guys. We are all entitled to our different opinions.... but shouldn't we all try to protect the shrinking middle class (included all the hard working people now collecting unemployment or sleeping in their car) through no fault of their own. Write your representative..... don't let them cast a vote simply because of an expected campaign contribution.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, December 11, 2010
people that I admire.... and wish more people knew about
When I Grow Up I want to be.......; Finding a Way to Change the World One Day At A Time.
Stories of Ordinary People Who’ve Accomplished Extraordinary Things
Anybody want to add some ot? Actually, I wish someone would write a book about these (and other people like them). It's not like I don't like reading about the more famous "heroes"; on the other hand, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa have enough press already I think. Also, I think these people are cool because most (well, not Gates) fell into their charities/causes and then went with it. You never know what is going to be around the next corner.,campaign to ban landmines,
Stories of Ordinary People Who’ve Accomplished Extraordinary Things
- Ben Durskin: When he was battling cancer, the Make A Wish Foundation offered to make one of his wishes come true. Instead of asking for a free trip to Disneyland, he asked for help to developing a video game which would help children deal with the stress and pain of cancer."Ben's Game" was launched on the Make-A-Wish Web site in May 2004. .As of January, 2006, this free game has been downloaded an amazing 181,920 times.
- Greg Mortenson; American ski bum/mountain climber who went from living in his car to establishing an organisation which has built over 100 schools for girls in remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Central Asia Institute)
- Jodi Williams: former American ESL teacher who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work with the International Campaign To Ban Landmines. She continues to work to encourage countries around the world to remove land mines and also get funding to help those injured by land mines.
- Nader Khalili (1936-2008), a Persian architect, developed a way to build ceramic houses that are a) dirt-cheap; b) environmentally friendly; c) earthquake resistant; d) flood- resistant; e) fireproof; and f) hurricane resistant. Used dirt and wire to create create a building material called SuperAdobe. Houses can be built without expensive equipment by unskilled laborers. First used to house refugees of the Persian Gulf War. Help establish an American based organization called CalEarth which continues to work on providing emergency housing around the world.
- Mohammad Yumos: businessman who decided that poverty could be eliminated by making loans to poor women who want to start small businesses. Won Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. Originally limited to Bangladesh, his ideas have inspired use of these MicroBanks around the world, including the United States.
- Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation: rich people who give back! Have committed over $$$$ in funding programs all over the world. Their foundation is dedicated to supporting projects developed by local organizations rather than just contributing money to large organizations. They decided that rather than giving their fortune to their children, their estate would be used to fund the foundation after their deaths.
Anybody want to add some ot? Actually, I wish someone would write a book about these (and other people like them). It's not like I don't like reading about the more famous "heroes"; on the other hand, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Mother Teresa have enough press already I think. Also, I think these people are cool because most (well, not Gates) fell into their charities/causes and then went with it. You never know what is going to be around the next corner.,campaign to ban landmines,
Thursday, August 26, 2010
more on first amendment
My friend Archy commented on my blog and I thought you'd like to see it as well. In part, he said
Indeed it might well be hardwired human nature to distort the truth or omit information in the pursuit of what one might claim as a "greater good" or something "noble", or just something "innocent" and well intentioned.
I think we are all guilty of this to some degree or another.
Thus, I wonder if the question we should ask ourselves might be whether in seeking our most sacred goals a Machiavellian approach, that is "the ends justify the means", is completely moral, absolutely immoral, or the line of right and wrong is out there in the gray somewhere.
In regard to free speech and our rights under the constitution, we could start by positing that honesty is not synonymous with truth, and that reason is often treated like a naive superstition. End.
How true! How often do we use "fact" and "research" as a means of supporting our point of view, rather than using that information to increase our understanding of the issue, or challenge our own assumptions.
more on deregulation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/25/AR2010082505965.html?wpisrc=nl_pmopinions
here's the article from the Washington Post I mentioned in previous blog.
here's the article from the Washington Post I mentioned in previous blog.
When will the next oil rig explode?
Why doesn’t the Congress pass laws that effectively regulate the food/energy/banking industry?
The last two years provided ample proof that de-regulation does not work. The American people were not protected from fraud in the banking industry; if fact the congress/fed gave investment bankers the tools that allowed them to bankrupt investors while earning billions. The oil industry was granted drilling rights and regulatory agencies did not have the power to enforce adherence to safety regulations that were in place. In the last week, we’ve seen that the egg/chicken industry has also been allowed to ignore basic safety procedures. The agriculture department and the FDA did not have the power to shut any faciility down or force recalls of contaminated food .... it could only “recommend” . Big oil companies were allowed to drill without proving that they had adequate emergency plans in case of disastrous leaks. Drilling rigs were allowed to continue operations despite safety violations.
Why? The simple answer is that Congress seems to believe that private industry can be trusted to regulate themselves.
Polls indicate a majority of Americans think that private industry is “over” regulated. Concurrently, most Americans believe that current regulations adequately protect them. They don't. Most Americans were shocked to find out that the MMA trusted the major oil companies to have an effective plan to deal with any oil spill! Most Americans are shocked when they find out that major oil and gas companies are exempted from following many environmental regulations, or are simply not required to conduct environmental impact studies. When they are faced with these facts, most Americans support increased enforcement of safety regulations.
Yet, once the crisis has passed, most Americans resist the same regulations on big business that could prevent a future crisis because they are told it would cost too much.... increase unemployment.... lower profits. etc. etc. Congress neglects to protect us from future disasters, either through self interest (campaign contributions) or lack of interest.
What is the true cost of continuing this trend towards de-regulation? People are right to be concerned about the ballooning deficit and its’ effect on future generations; they should be equally concerned that our grandchildren will not have clean water to swim in, or safe fish to eat or safe bridges, levees, airplanes and buildings unless we invest in science and education and new infrastructure as well as enforcing compliance to basic safety standards, despite the immediate cost.
Note; check out this opinion piece from the Washington Post on this subject.
The last two years provided ample proof that de-regulation does not work. The American people were not protected from fraud in the banking industry; if fact the congress/fed gave investment bankers the tools that allowed them to bankrupt investors while earning billions. The oil industry was granted drilling rights and regulatory agencies did not have the power to enforce adherence to safety regulations that were in place. In the last week, we’ve seen that the egg/chicken industry has also been allowed to ignore basic safety procedures. The agriculture department and the FDA did not have the power to shut any faciility down or force recalls of contaminated food .... it could only “recommend” . Big oil companies were allowed to drill without proving that they had adequate emergency plans in case of disastrous leaks. Drilling rigs were allowed to continue operations despite safety violations.
Why? The simple answer is that Congress seems to believe that private industry can be trusted to regulate themselves.
Polls indicate a majority of Americans think that private industry is “over” regulated. Concurrently, most Americans believe that current regulations adequately protect them. They don't. Most Americans were shocked to find out that the MMA trusted the major oil companies to have an effective plan to deal with any oil spill! Most Americans are shocked when they find out that major oil and gas companies are exempted from following many environmental regulations, or are simply not required to conduct environmental impact studies. When they are faced with these facts, most Americans support increased enforcement of safety regulations.
Yet, once the crisis has passed, most Americans resist the same regulations on big business that could prevent a future crisis because they are told it would cost too much.... increase unemployment.... lower profits. etc. etc. Congress neglects to protect us from future disasters, either through self interest (campaign contributions) or lack of interest.
What is the true cost of continuing this trend towards de-regulation? People are right to be concerned about the ballooning deficit and its’ effect on future generations; they should be equally concerned that our grandchildren will not have clean water to swim in, or safe fish to eat or safe bridges, levees, airplanes and buildings unless we invest in science and education and new infrastructure as well as enforcing compliance to basic safety standards, despite the immediate cost.
Note; check out this opinion piece from the Washington Post on this subject.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
protect the first amendment
Here's my message to the Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Pelosi, McCain, Boehner, Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, NBC and Fox News..etc. etc. etc...............................not everyone who you disagree with is a demon, a Nazi, a bigot, or un American.
I don't mean that there are no monsters among us. McVee is a monster. Those who use their religion as an excuse to fly into the World Trade Center or blow up innocent people in Bagdad and Afghanistan are monsters. Hitler was a monster. Stalin too.
However, I think these people are monsters because of what they did..... not because of their beliefs!
I admire people who devote their lives to something they believe in .... this includes those who picket outside abortion clinics. However, I condemn the person who takes a gun into a church and murders a doctor! I was against our involvement in Vietnam and supported student activism.... but those who bombed buildings and killed innocent people are simply killers who should be punished by our legal system and not hide behind the First Amendment.These days, as in the past, there have been people who want to demonize the opposition. That is not the America that I want to live in.
Anyway, I wish that we all could stop the name calling. Why don't we try to tell the truth and condemn all those who lie and distort the truth?
I don't mean that there are no monsters among us. McVee is a monster. Those who use their religion as an excuse to fly into the World Trade Center or blow up innocent people in Bagdad and Afghanistan are monsters. Hitler was a monster. Stalin too.
However, I think these people are monsters because of what they did..... not because of their beliefs!
I admire people who devote their lives to something they believe in .... this includes those who picket outside abortion clinics. However, I condemn the person who takes a gun into a church and murders a doctor! I was against our involvement in Vietnam and supported student activism.... but those who bombed buildings and killed innocent people are simply killers who should be punished by our legal system and not hide behind the First Amendment.These days, as in the past, there have been people who want to demonize the opposition. That is not the America that I want to live in.
Anyway, I wish that we all could stop the name calling. Why don't we try to tell the truth and condemn all those who lie and distort the truth?
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Is Palin saying oil companies are not responsible for this disaster??
Just saw Palin's newest rants about the Gulf Coast disaster on Fox News..... she says environmentalists are somehow to blame since they are asking for stricter regulations on shallow drilling of oil; consequently allowing deep water drilling by foreign oil companies.
Does this make sense to anyone????
It seems that she has a very short memory since she has a long record of recommending ALL drilling (inc. deep water drilling) as well as insisting that private industry can be trusted to ensure the safety of these drilling projects.
It is apparent that oil companies (in this case BP) can not be trusted to take adequate safety precautions; in fact, there is mounting evidence that BP consistently ignored the law and failed to correct even those safety violations for which they had been fined (over 700 in the last year).
If there is to be any lesson to be learned it is that we have to give the EPA and other regulatory agencies more effective tools to enforce the laws that we have on the books.
BP said that it had technologies and plans in place to quickly and effectively deal with any oil spill (deluge is a better word); maybe they have the "plan" or the "research" but they certainly did not spend the money to put these emergency measures in place.
If the federal government is to faulted, it is that they allowed the oil rig to go online before these safety precautions were in place.
If this is not an issue to address in a non-partisan way, what is? As the ex-governer of Alaska and staunch advocate of the expansion of oil drilling, shouldn't Palin be more concerned about the safety of oil rigs already on line in her state?
Not to mention the governor of Louisiana, who is still advocating the expansion of oil drilling in the Gulf for the sake of the economy???
Does this make sense to anyone????
It seems that she has a very short memory since she has a long record of recommending ALL drilling (inc. deep water drilling) as well as insisting that private industry can be trusted to ensure the safety of these drilling projects.
It is apparent that oil companies (in this case BP) can not be trusted to take adequate safety precautions; in fact, there is mounting evidence that BP consistently ignored the law and failed to correct even those safety violations for which they had been fined (over 700 in the last year).
If there is to be any lesson to be learned it is that we have to give the EPA and other regulatory agencies more effective tools to enforce the laws that we have on the books.
BP said that it had technologies and plans in place to quickly and effectively deal with any oil spill (deluge is a better word); maybe they have the "plan" or the "research" but they certainly did not spend the money to put these emergency measures in place.
If the federal government is to faulted, it is that they allowed the oil rig to go online before these safety precautions were in place.
If this is not an issue to address in a non-partisan way, what is? As the ex-governer of Alaska and staunch advocate of the expansion of oil drilling, shouldn't Palin be more concerned about the safety of oil rigs already on line in her state?
Not to mention the governor of Louisiana, who is still advocating the expansion of oil drilling in the Gulf for the sake of the economy???
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