Reading the Paul Ryan "healthcare plan"..looking at what Betsy Davis wants to do to public education, all while adding money to the already largest and most capable military the world has ever seen...and I'm starting to understand. This is becoming the movie "300".
These doughy, over fed rich white men imagine themselves the ripped and cut heros of Sparta. Strong with their sixpack wallets full of the gains of a rigged economic system, full of overpriced wine they can brag about but not appreciate and with none of the character or dignity of any of the leaders of our storied past, they swagger in front of the masses, proclaiming all who lack their capabilities as "weak".
THIS IS SPARTA!! They say to single women without access to birth control or healthcare, to the children in poverty without access to a decent meal or public school, to the children with leukemia in a family without healthcare.
To the old or aging..to the veteran returning from war. To the manufacturing worker made obsolete by factory closings or automation. To the full time workers in poverty due to an inability to make a minimum wage a living wage. THIS IS SPARTA!!
To drug offenders corralled and brought to private prisons..their only crime trying to profit in the same way big pharma does selling oxy to the desperately poor and disenfranchised. A never ending war on the poor.
THIS IS SPARTA!! Is the rallying cry as we kick all these people to the edges of our culture, ignore the plight of the systematically oppressed, their children and all those who in the course of their lives sustain a tragedy from which they cannot recover or continue without help.
This is the culture of our overfed, over indulged, over tolerated congress and political class, enabled by the very people who are being kicked to the curb - sold the lie that they are Spartans and that its the OTHERS who are the weak free loaders.
Here's the truth - its a fucking movie. A myth. None of us are Spartans. None of us never fall. None of us are beyond a life destroying tragedy. None of us are beyond the risk of unemployment with all that that entails. We will all get sick, grow old, die, lose loved ones.
We don't throw our children out to a freezing wilderness with a spear, and hope they return having killed their first dire wolf. Most suburban mothers I know check parental references for play dates. So clearly we are not Spartans.
All of our children need to grow up in safe, nurturing environments - with access to healthcare, education and all the tools that will help them make a go of this life. Not all of them have parents who are Spartans either.
It's so much easier when we can look at those who have less or are homeless and tell ourselves a story about how they did that to themselves, how we are so much better. How do you know who you would be if your roles from birth were reversed? How do you know what you'd be willing to do (or give up on) if brought to desperate enough circumstances? THEY ARE NOT SPARTANS LIKE ME!! THEY ARE WEAK, I AM STRONG! THIS IS SPARTA!
...no...not really. There, but for the grace of God, go I..go us all.
With income disparity at highs not seen since the age of the robber barons, and a President channeling Charles Lindbergh and his fascist "America First" bullshit, the first things we can think to do is take even more away from those who have the least, and expand the military so the strongest of them can serve in future wars for oil. This is not America. Not even close. It's not even Sparta ..which wouldn't allow itself to be led by men who cowered from any opportunity to serve their country.
This is a con job, defrauding millions, run by con men selling a dream that has been eroded to the point of non existence....and we are easily conned, having discredited education and the wise. We lack the courage to help the oppressed, and so are easy to oppress. We lack the tenacity and wisdom to find the truth, and so we are easy to lie to. We lack the courage to face each other and decide to change our country, and so we are divided by those who have power. We lack the courage to care, and so grow to expect we are not worthy of care. Most of all, we have forgotten to aspire to a dream of America, that all men are created equal and are truly free..that we welcome others to join us in this grand adventure that is our country.
We are not Spartans. We are not even Americans. We are the conned sheep of a billionaire class. Helplessly fighting for a place at an ever diminishing trough, all the while blaming our fellow sheep for want of anything to eat, without an ounce of compassion for those left in the cold.
There but for the grace of God go I.
A quiet acknowledgement of our shared humanity. This is a phrase one can build a human soul on, and with enough human souls, a country with a human soul. One with mercy, compassion, wisdom...and from those things...courage. To stand and defend the weak, that is a warriors code.
We are not Spartans.
There but for the grace of God go I.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Why I resist.
Why am I protesting this president? I'm male, white, and I have a job in the financial industry. I have a great company health plan. I stand to get a tax break.. see Wall Street get to produce another bubble.. in short, this administration is entirely in my favor.
The short answer is that I care about OUR country. I would rather give more of my income to insure that everyone has healthcare, that we work to reduce climate change and find cleaner energy. That we educate all our children. That we act responsibly as a global citizen.
I vote and pay taxes to build a better country, not to burn it down.
And that's why I will #resist
Yes, we can.
The short answer is that I care about OUR country. I would rather give more of my income to insure that everyone has healthcare, that we work to reduce climate change and find cleaner energy. That we educate all our children. That we act responsibly as a global citizen.
I vote and pay taxes to build a better country, not to burn it down.
And that's why I will #resist
Yes, we can.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Violence is not the answer.
After Dallas, I started hearing people say that violence is not the answer, and I heartily agree. What struck me about this is when it was introduced to the conversation. We don't say it in response to mass shootings..or in response to excessive force or deaths at the hands of police.
It is easy for people to agree on this statement when its made broadly..just like theres a sentiment, and perhaps a good one, behind saying that all lives matter....but these saccharine platitudes are also used as billy clubs to curtail discussion of our problems of race and violence in this country.
It is easy for people to agree on this statement when its made broadly..just like theres a sentiment, and perhaps a good one, behind saying that all lives matter....but these saccharine platitudes are also used as billy clubs to curtail discussion of our problems of race and violence in this country.
If "violence is not the answer" is to have any real meaning then not taking up arms against the police ALSO applies to the idea that we should demilitirize the police..end no knock raids..increase penalties for violent offenses and illegal weapons. End the targeting of people of color for stop and frisk.
When we say "violence is not the answer" and apply it only to situations where the aggrieved pick up the gun, then we are really saying "their violence is not the answer", and accepting the violence done in our name towards the aggrieved.
If you really believe that violence is not the answer, then stop dropping bombs in the middle east. All we are creating is more violence that comes back to us. People who have watched their children, families and loved ones incinerated by bombs will never stop fighting. Would you? Would I?
If you believe violence is not the answer, then work towards changing drug enforcement policies - which have led to the disproportionate targeting of black communities. Have real, enforced licensing requirements for firearms. Mandatory training. Laws that enforce responsible gun ownership. End stop and frisk and racial profiling. Enforce police body cam adoption. Institute new rules of engagement that require scaled back use of firearms and tasers.
If you believe violence is not the answer, then do not allow it to be done in your name. Do not allow voting rights to be (re)stolen from those who are already second class citizens in our country. Save and create opportunities for those who have been systematically denied them.
Share power and privilege. We have created an apartheid state that is enforced at a distance we don't see, but we know exists all while pretending it doesn't. Look at our neighborhoods. There are walls of police enforcement around the areas we drive through while locking our doors. We know this is true. This separation and unspoken fear and prejudice is a quiet form of violence that we do casually and without thinking. The police we criticize are enforcing the world that we have decided we want. It is hypocrisy to criticize the police while failing to look deeply into our own souls..policing is an extension of our society and of us.
Teach your children not to fear people who look differently. Integrate our kindergartens and our elementary schools. Children who grow up playing with each other, and going to school together will change our country, and for the better. For all of us raised with the baggage of our generation, we can say, as Bobby Sands did, our revenge will be the laughter of our children, not because one group needs to create a revolt against another, but because we must have the revolutionary courage to come together and create an America that is truly better, for all of us.
When we learn to embrace the idea of building communities together, where there isn't a black america and a white america, and the police are not a tool of our unspoken apartheid, then perhaps we can say that all lives matter. Until then, we MUST repeat, loudly and with the full weight of our belief in a better world, that #blacklivesmatter.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
The One you Feed
A whole lot of the bad and the ugly about America is being brought to the front of our national consciousness through this mockery of a Republican primary process, and put on display before the entire world. All this ugly, all at once.
Our ever present difficulty with race is reflected in police shootings, campus protests, the black lives matter movement. The white response from those older than millenials is largely lacking empathy or downright racist. "All lives matter" is a statement that simply says "I negate your right to highlight anything you perceive as my racsim, even if it may threaten your life."
Our police continue to march towards militarization. Andy Griffith and Don Knotts are gone, replaced by armored soldiers in SWAT gear carrying assault rifles and shotguns. I guess we're not in Mayberry anymore.
We are anti immigration, even for refugees fleeing horrific poverty and violence. Even for children.
We continue to drop bombs and deploy drone strikes throughout the middle east. People die. Sometimes our targets. Sometimes not. Collateral damage. Ebola breaks out in Africa. The American impulse? Close the border!! Doctors who go to help are just stupid. They can't come back.
On immigration, if they aren't stealing our jobs (the ones citizens wouldn't take without unionizing or fighting for improve wages and conditions), they must be rapists and criminals...and some, I assume, are good people. When we could link (specifically) latin american immigration to ebola, or terrorism, we leapt at the chance, despite the fact that there was never a shred of real evidence.
Meanwhile on foreign policy, 300,000 Iraqis and tens of thousands more of largely innocent people have died and will die based on our continued manipulation and interventions in the region for our ongoing geopolitical energy strategy.
For those of you who don't know, Russia's interest in keeping Assad in power is the construction of a pipeline to Europe that they want to control with their Assad puppet. Our interest in ousting Assad is we want our friends and allies (our Saudi Sunni Wahabbist) friends to control the pipeline.
Turkey also has an unsung part to play. They too, would like an Assad regime change as they would also have a stake in the pipeline. Thats why their bombs for Isis keep falling on Kurds, and why so much of ISIS oil is purchased by them..and why ISIS fighters have been treated in Turkish hospitals.
In case you didn't know, Turkey is a part of NATO.
Its interesting to me that we are turning innocent Syrian refugees away from our border, and so many people went crazy over a treaty with IRAN, when fifteen of the nineteen plotters of 9/11 were Saudi citizens, and Saudi Arabia bankrolls and exports Islamic extremism globally. Their princes get to go to American Universities...but I guess if you have oil and money, we'll overlook the color of your skin and your religion. Saudi Arabia gets a US crony oil pass.
On the one hand, ISIS fighting Assad is in the west's interests. On the other, ISIS is a terrorist group. ISIS wouldn't even exist if it hadn't been for our misguided invasion of Iraq and the disbanding of the Iraqi army. So you can begin to understand our difficulty (and Russia's) in pretending to fight ISIS when the reality is it's all about Syrian regime change, or opposing it.
If you can examine this and come away with the impression that we are some kind of shining city on the hill, I admire your myopia.
Based on the data we have, we are killing more than 100 people for every one westerner killed in terrorism OR in war. I'm sure some of you are saying "good" as you read this. Many of those people are women and children. Some are just old men. Some are fathers. Most were people just caught in the middle between extremists and the west. Keep saying good. I'm sure it helps your soul.
For the past seventy years we have continuously meddled in the middle east, either by meddling in governments, through direct or indirect military interventions, or through proxy campaigns by our regional allies or puppets. Saddam was one of those, once. Remember the Iran/Iraq war? Bin Laden was too. Remember the Afghan defeat of the Soviets? He was an American hero back then.
All this blood on our hands for fossil fuels. The same fossil fuels that enrich those who control them. The same fossil fuels that are destroying our planet. The fossil fuels that enrich those who pay the lobbyists who fund the superpacs ....well, you get the idea. The world will be carpeted in skulls, and still we will drill for oil and fight over it.
I don't expect everyone to read up on all of this and to be horrified at what we do in the name of maintaining dominance over the global energy supply. If you haven't figured that out by now, you never will.
I do expect people to have empathy. To have a soul. To see the darkness in their own hearts and have the courage to reject it. I expect people to see a father holding his sons drowned body and think, "there but for the grace of God go I".
I expect people hearing about an ebola outbreak wanting to do everything to stop the suffering, and not react in panic, demanding that non existent flights from Africa be halted.
I at least expect our leaders, and news organizations, to try to rally the best in us, and not to turn us into cowards by feeding us misinformation and pandering to our basest prejudice and fear.
I expect people seeing child refugees fleeing from south america, child refugees fleeing gang violence, horrific poverty, and a drug trade (which largely serves an American consumer) as the victims they are - and not "ebola carriers" or potential middle east terrorists.
In case you're wondering, it was our politicians and news organizations that helped to create that impression, without one fact.
I expect people seeing what has happened to create the Syrian refugee situation, and to see those refugees, fleeing with their children, dying on the way, drowning in the mediterranean, and walking over open country as the victims they are, and to respond with the basic humanity and empathy we should have.
I expect us to recognize when others shame us. FRANCE was the country attacked - and they are taking in THREE TIMES THE REFUGEES WE ARE. Next time they disagree with one of our asshat schemes for an invasion, maybe we should listen instead of renaming french fries.
I expect us to see when our liberties are being abridged, when the inclusive nature of our society is being abbrogated, and when our public services, like the police, are doing more oppressing than serving and protecting.
All of these behaviors are a reflection of our national soul. Our attitudes as a whole reflect who we are and who we choose to be. We are allowing the absolute worst in us to be put on full display, before the entire world. When one of our major parties, not some fringe skinhead movement, KKK, or far right independent movement, is talking about building walls, mass deportations, forced identification programs...we have a problem.
The horrible truth about Germany and the rise of the third Reich is not a testament to the evil or some special quality of Germans at the time. It is that the third Reich can rise anywhere hatred and intolerance come to rule. When love and compassion dies. When our empathy for our fellow man is eclipsed by our fear and our greed. When our institutions pander to our fear and loathing of each other, to xenophobia.
When cameras and increased reporting by citizens demonstrate the extent to which police have become a tool enforcing institutionalized racism, and assault becomes an acceptable approach for enforcement we have a problem. When SWAT team deployments grow 20X over ten years, you have to ask why.
Our ever present difficulty with race is reflected in police shootings, campus protests, the black lives matter movement. The white response from those older than millenials is largely lacking empathy or downright racist. "All lives matter" is a statement that simply says "I negate your right to highlight anything you perceive as my racsim, even if it may threaten your life."
Our police continue to march towards militarization. Andy Griffith and Don Knotts are gone, replaced by armored soldiers in SWAT gear carrying assault rifles and shotguns. I guess we're not in Mayberry anymore.
We are anti immigration, even for refugees fleeing horrific poverty and violence. Even for children.
We continue to drop bombs and deploy drone strikes throughout the middle east. People die. Sometimes our targets. Sometimes not. Collateral damage. Ebola breaks out in Africa. The American impulse? Close the border!! Doctors who go to help are just stupid. They can't come back.
On immigration, if they aren't stealing our jobs (the ones citizens wouldn't take without unionizing or fighting for improve wages and conditions), they must be rapists and criminals...and some, I assume, are good people. When we could link (specifically) latin american immigration to ebola, or terrorism, we leapt at the chance, despite the fact that there was never a shred of real evidence.
Meanwhile on foreign policy, 300,000 Iraqis and tens of thousands more of largely innocent people have died and will die based on our continued manipulation and interventions in the region for our ongoing geopolitical energy strategy.
For those of you who don't know, Russia's interest in keeping Assad in power is the construction of a pipeline to Europe that they want to control with their Assad puppet. Our interest in ousting Assad is we want our friends and allies (our Saudi Sunni Wahabbist) friends to control the pipeline.
Turkey also has an unsung part to play. They too, would like an Assad regime change as they would also have a stake in the pipeline. Thats why their bombs for Isis keep falling on Kurds, and why so much of ISIS oil is purchased by them..and why ISIS fighters have been treated in Turkish hospitals.
In case you didn't know, Turkey is a part of NATO.
Its interesting to me that we are turning innocent Syrian refugees away from our border, and so many people went crazy over a treaty with IRAN, when fifteen of the nineteen plotters of 9/11 were Saudi citizens, and Saudi Arabia bankrolls and exports Islamic extremism globally. Their princes get to go to American Universities...but I guess if you have oil and money, we'll overlook the color of your skin and your religion. Saudi Arabia gets a US crony oil pass.
On the one hand, ISIS fighting Assad is in the west's interests. On the other, ISIS is a terrorist group. ISIS wouldn't even exist if it hadn't been for our misguided invasion of Iraq and the disbanding of the Iraqi army. So you can begin to understand our difficulty (and Russia's) in pretending to fight ISIS when the reality is it's all about Syrian regime change, or opposing it.
If you can examine this and come away with the impression that we are some kind of shining city on the hill, I admire your myopia.
Based on the data we have, we are killing more than 100 people for every one westerner killed in terrorism OR in war. I'm sure some of you are saying "good" as you read this. Many of those people are women and children. Some are just old men. Some are fathers. Most were people just caught in the middle between extremists and the west. Keep saying good. I'm sure it helps your soul.
For the past seventy years we have continuously meddled in the middle east, either by meddling in governments, through direct or indirect military interventions, or through proxy campaigns by our regional allies or puppets. Saddam was one of those, once. Remember the Iran/Iraq war? Bin Laden was too. Remember the Afghan defeat of the Soviets? He was an American hero back then.
All this blood on our hands for fossil fuels. The same fossil fuels that enrich those who control them. The same fossil fuels that are destroying our planet. The fossil fuels that enrich those who pay the lobbyists who fund the superpacs ....well, you get the idea. The world will be carpeted in skulls, and still we will drill for oil and fight over it.
I don't expect everyone to read up on all of this and to be horrified at what we do in the name of maintaining dominance over the global energy supply. If you haven't figured that out by now, you never will.
I do expect people to have empathy. To have a soul. To see the darkness in their own hearts and have the courage to reject it. I expect people to see a father holding his sons drowned body and think, "there but for the grace of God go I".
I expect people hearing about an ebola outbreak wanting to do everything to stop the suffering, and not react in panic, demanding that non existent flights from Africa be halted.
I at least expect our leaders, and news organizations, to try to rally the best in us, and not to turn us into cowards by feeding us misinformation and pandering to our basest prejudice and fear.
I expect people seeing child refugees fleeing from south america, child refugees fleeing gang violence, horrific poverty, and a drug trade (which largely serves an American consumer) as the victims they are - and not "ebola carriers" or potential middle east terrorists.
In case you're wondering, it was our politicians and news organizations that helped to create that impression, without one fact.
I expect people seeing what has happened to create the Syrian refugee situation, and to see those refugees, fleeing with their children, dying on the way, drowning in the mediterranean, and walking over open country as the victims they are, and to respond with the basic humanity and empathy we should have.
I expect us to recognize when others shame us. FRANCE was the country attacked - and they are taking in THREE TIMES THE REFUGEES WE ARE. Next time they disagree with one of our asshat schemes for an invasion, maybe we should listen instead of renaming french fries.
I expect us to see when our liberties are being abridged, when the inclusive nature of our society is being abbrogated, and when our public services, like the police, are doing more oppressing than serving and protecting.
All of these behaviors are a reflection of our national soul. Our attitudes as a whole reflect who we are and who we choose to be. We are allowing the absolute worst in us to be put on full display, before the entire world. When one of our major parties, not some fringe skinhead movement, KKK, or far right independent movement, is talking about building walls, mass deportations, forced identification programs...we have a problem.
The horrible truth about Germany and the rise of the third Reich is not a testament to the evil or some special quality of Germans at the time. It is that the third Reich can rise anywhere hatred and intolerance come to rule. When love and compassion dies. When our empathy for our fellow man is eclipsed by our fear and our greed. When our institutions pander to our fear and loathing of each other, to xenophobia.
When cameras and increased reporting by citizens demonstrate the extent to which police have become a tool enforcing institutionalized racism, and assault becomes an acceptable approach for enforcement we have a problem. When SWAT team deployments grow 20X over ten years, you have to ask why.
We live in a democracy. Police serve and do the will of the people they serve and protect, not the will of some dictator or fascist government. So any attack on the police is ultimately an attack on the will of the people.
Equally, when we give the police a pass for abusive behaviors, directed at any particular group, it is a reflection of the will of the people. The police are the enforcers of the collective will of our society.
If the people as a majority are intolerant of racist behaviors by the police, or excessive force, or unequal application of the law, then the police force will ultimately reflect that.
Of course the reverse is also true. If we make it okay to give white kids a pass on minor drug offenses, but arrest black kids. If we watch different enforcement of the law based on race and excuse it or do nothing..if we can't be bothered to even have a trial when there is a question of wrongful death, or even collect data to understand the scope of the problem, then that too is a reflection of the will of the people.
My point is that the way police behave doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens because we support it actively or through passive agreement with their actions. Healing issues of race doesn't start and end with the police or any of our government institutions. It starts with white people looking in the mirror and acknowledging their racism.
If the people as a majority are intolerant of racist behaviors by the police, or excessive force, or unequal application of the law, then the police force will ultimately reflect that.
Of course the reverse is also true. If we make it okay to give white kids a pass on minor drug offenses, but arrest black kids. If we watch different enforcement of the law based on race and excuse it or do nothing..if we can't be bothered to even have a trial when there is a question of wrongful death, or even collect data to understand the scope of the problem, then that too is a reflection of the will of the people.
My point is that the way police behave doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens because we support it actively or through passive agreement with their actions. Healing issues of race doesn't start and end with the police or any of our government institutions. It starts with white people looking in the mirror and acknowledging their racism.
A better marriage doesn't happen when a husband can say "well, I don't beat her anymore". Improvements in a culture or a relationship with longstanding divides take years of effort, self awareness, and progress. It will also take patience, compassion, love and understanding to get there without continuing to kill each other, and so it is with all people.
They say that this is a Christian country. Would that this were so. I don't believe any of the sentiments we express in our media or our politics, and increasingly on social media reflect that.
I believe our problems as a people and a nation are much better reflected by a story from people that predated us in this land.
An old man was teaching his son how to grow to be a good man. As they sat together, the old man said,
They say that this is a Christian country. Would that this were so. I don't believe any of the sentiments we express in our media or our politics, and increasingly on social media reflect that.
I believe our problems as a people and a nation are much better reflected by a story from people that predated us in this land.
An old man was teaching his son how to grow to be a good man. As they sat together, the old man said,
‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’
As people should be careful about which wolf they feed...so should nations.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.'
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’
As people should be careful about which wolf they feed...so should nations.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Rant: You're Fired!
So the latest on our national circus clown act is that Trump apparently thinks POW's are losers.
Note to veterans, if you don't return home unscathed with hundreds of enemy scalps, the Donald doesn't really like you. He only likes "winners", so in his world John McCain is no hero..he was captured and therefore a loser.
I would have thought that ignoring the facts about Mexican immigrants and accusing their government of sending rapists and criminals here (to rape our white women) would have been enough to get him drummed out of the primaries and ignored as a buffoon by the voting public...
...but you can never really lose money betting on people's support for an inadequate white male flaunting an oversized ego, his inflated business acumen, and his self reported prowess with a multitude of beautiful women..even his daughter is open game for the Donald. People (or the press) don't even bother to uncover the facts regarding how he actually made his money, which is one wikipedia search away.
What I find so revolting about the fact that he is briefly the front runner is the sense that we are losing the battle to retain a sense of collective intelligence and wisdom, and ultimately, dignity.
The more someone like a Palin or a Trump is given actual legitimacy, the further we have moved from the dream that is America and move towards one that is a crueler and less worthy culture.
Education. Culture. Beauty. Art. Craftsmanship. Tradecraft. Honor. Integrity. Decency...we have a long list of words which are part of our collective set of ideals..the things we believe our country stands for. Ask yourself how well we have been applying these as a litmus test for those we choose to represent us. How proud are you of our government?
The fact that McCain though he had to run a Sarah Palin to whip up the crazies was the beginning..but the Donald is not the end. He's a middle act who will certainly not succeed, and thankfully this latest gaff will likely drive him out of significance...but his brief time in the spotlight, with a majority of Republican primary voters putting him in the lead is a harbinger of things to come...even more politics of personality versus those of reason, wisdom and informed intelligence.
Ignorance and the uninformed made fearful of the other, whipped to a frenzy by the propaganda which serves as news. The politics of division. All of these are the tools of petty despots pandering to monied interests with no regard or consideration to the world they would build.
The Donald is a clown playing with these tools.
The next demagogue may not be. He or she might be someone with a little more subtlety and political ability. Enough to win over the next tier of voter..and that thought scares the crap out of me. An America armed to the teeth, helmed by someone as unworthy as a Trump or a Palin. God help us all.
You remember how that was - Dick Cheney with a hand puppet.
A world where "the winners" take all, and the wounded and have-not "losers" are at best ignored and "unliked." Where there are only good people and evil people. Where diplomacy is for wusses and force is the default answer.
I still have hope, but as a friend of mine is fond of saying, "Hope is not a Strategy". Wish I had some ideas on that.
Note to veterans, if you don't return home unscathed with hundreds of enemy scalps, the Donald doesn't really like you. He only likes "winners", so in his world John McCain is no hero..he was captured and therefore a loser.
I would have thought that ignoring the facts about Mexican immigrants and accusing their government of sending rapists and criminals here (to rape our white women) would have been enough to get him drummed out of the primaries and ignored as a buffoon by the voting public...
...but you can never really lose money betting on people's support for an inadequate white male flaunting an oversized ego, his inflated business acumen, and his self reported prowess with a multitude of beautiful women..even his daughter is open game for the Donald. People (or the press) don't even bother to uncover the facts regarding how he actually made his money, which is one wikipedia search away.
What I find so revolting about the fact that he is briefly the front runner is the sense that we are losing the battle to retain a sense of collective intelligence and wisdom, and ultimately, dignity.
The more someone like a Palin or a Trump is given actual legitimacy, the further we have moved from the dream that is America and move towards one that is a crueler and less worthy culture.
Education. Culture. Beauty. Art. Craftsmanship. Tradecraft. Honor. Integrity. Decency...we have a long list of words which are part of our collective set of ideals..the things we believe our country stands for. Ask yourself how well we have been applying these as a litmus test for those we choose to represent us. How proud are you of our government?
The fact that McCain though he had to run a Sarah Palin to whip up the crazies was the beginning..but the Donald is not the end. He's a middle act who will certainly not succeed, and thankfully this latest gaff will likely drive him out of significance...but his brief time in the spotlight, with a majority of Republican primary voters putting him in the lead is a harbinger of things to come...even more politics of personality versus those of reason, wisdom and informed intelligence.
Ignorance and the uninformed made fearful of the other, whipped to a frenzy by the propaganda which serves as news. The politics of division. All of these are the tools of petty despots pandering to monied interests with no regard or consideration to the world they would build.
The Donald is a clown playing with these tools.
The next demagogue may not be. He or she might be someone with a little more subtlety and political ability. Enough to win over the next tier of voter..and that thought scares the crap out of me. An America armed to the teeth, helmed by someone as unworthy as a Trump or a Palin. God help us all.
You remember how that was - Dick Cheney with a hand puppet.
A world where "the winners" take all, and the wounded and have-not "losers" are at best ignored and "unliked." Where there are only good people and evil people. Where diplomacy is for wusses and force is the default answer.
I still have hope, but as a friend of mine is fond of saying, "Hope is not a Strategy". Wish I had some ideas on that.
Friday, January 16, 2015
LBJ MLK and Selma
Just a quick observation.
Apparently, the controversy over the movie "Selma" revolves around whether LBJ is depicted as supportive enough for civil rights legislation and the Voting Rights Act.
The movie, and a lot of the historical record indicates that LBJ came to office with a legislative agenda which was essentially a series of initiatives focused on helping the poor while also building infrastructure in the United States.
FDR was LBJ's idol, and he considered ending poverty and building the United States infrastructure of transport, power and communications, especially in impoverished areas his primary focus.
So what we have here is a period in American history where the debate is:
Should we protect voting rights and insure civil rights for all citizens first, or work on ending poverty and improving the lives of all Americans first.
So like today's politics. Good to see not much has changed.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Apparently, the controversy over the movie "Selma" revolves around whether LBJ is depicted as supportive enough for civil rights legislation and the Voting Rights Act.
The movie, and a lot of the historical record indicates that LBJ came to office with a legislative agenda which was essentially a series of initiatives focused on helping the poor while also building infrastructure in the United States.
FDR was LBJ's idol, and he considered ending poverty and building the United States infrastructure of transport, power and communications, especially in impoverished areas his primary focus.
So what we have here is a period in American history where the debate is:
Should we protect voting rights and insure civil rights for all citizens first, or work on ending poverty and improving the lives of all Americans first.
So like today's politics. Good to see not much has changed.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Police officers are not soldiers
We are blurring the lines between soldiers and policing, and that is a huge part of the more general issue of disproportional use of force in the US.
Drug raids by SWAT teams look an awful lot like house raids in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the increase in the use of raids of this type does an awful lot to dehumanize the populace in the eyes of those participating in the raids.
Too many cops exposed to this approach to policing can begin to see the job from the perspective of soldiers operating in a hostile area, that all affronts to authority must be met with force and dominated.
Far too many incidents, involving the mentally ill (now a Supreme Court case), people of color and poorer whites (the common denominator being poverty) have come to light demonstrating excessive use of force.
Perhaps dialing back the size and scope of swat teams, ending the drug war, stopping patrols with military weapons and riot gear...and reminding everyone that the mission of a police force is not subjugation...but to serve and protect our nations people.
Maybe we can start by pulling cops in paramilitary gear out of port authority and penn station.
This isn't Afghanistan.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Drug raids by SWAT teams look an awful lot like house raids in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the increase in the use of raids of this type does an awful lot to dehumanize the populace in the eyes of those participating in the raids.
Too many cops exposed to this approach to policing can begin to see the job from the perspective of soldiers operating in a hostile area, that all affronts to authority must be met with force and dominated.
Far too many incidents, involving the mentally ill (now a Supreme Court case), people of color and poorer whites (the common denominator being poverty) have come to light demonstrating excessive use of force.
Perhaps dialing back the size and scope of swat teams, ending the drug war, stopping patrols with military weapons and riot gear...and reminding everyone that the mission of a police force is not subjugation...but to serve and protect our nations people.
Maybe we can start by pulling cops in paramilitary gear out of port authority and penn station.
This isn't Afghanistan.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Wouldn't we all agree...
Wouldn't we all agree that if history has taught us anything, it's that when a very few aggregate most of the wealth, and opportunity is provided unequally, the world that is eventually created is either totalitarian as the wealthy pay soldiers to protect them, or anarchy as the population eventually rolls out the guillotines?
Wouldn't we agree that when the products of society are more efficiently shared, instead of aggregated, that the overall civilization we live in is improved? When more are educated, more educated conversations ensue. More value is had by all.
What has lead to abusive communist and socialist regimes? The prior abuses of monarchic or despotic laissez faire capitalist societies. The reactionary revolutions of the past are avoidable in the refusal to allow the excesses of the past.
Economic justice is the simple idea that it should be possible to afford a basic living - to eat and have shelter- by working any full time job.
A better world results when we don't go bankrupt and our families don't become impoverished when we get sick.
When higher education is an opportunity not ruled out by income, we create a ladder for everyone.
When education is truly a level playing field, our country is stronger from the aggregation of prepared minds capable of collaborating on a brighter future.
It really isn't that hard. And I guarantee that at a fundamental level, most of us agree that these are essentially the right things to focus on. We are so used to being spun that the reality in front of our eyes has lost shape and clarity. It's really not that complicated. We move forward as a species when we expand the knowledge and abilities of more human minds. The more of us we raise up, the more humanity rises.
Ubuntu. We are nothing without each other.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wouldn't we agree that when the products of society are more efficiently shared, instead of aggregated, that the overall civilization we live in is improved? When more are educated, more educated conversations ensue. More value is had by all.
What has lead to abusive communist and socialist regimes? The prior abuses of monarchic or despotic laissez faire capitalist societies. The reactionary revolutions of the past are avoidable in the refusal to allow the excesses of the past.
Economic justice is the simple idea that it should be possible to afford a basic living - to eat and have shelter- by working any full time job.
A better world results when we don't go bankrupt and our families don't become impoverished when we get sick.
When higher education is an opportunity not ruled out by income, we create a ladder for everyone.
When education is truly a level playing field, our country is stronger from the aggregation of prepared minds capable of collaborating on a brighter future.
It really isn't that hard. And I guarantee that at a fundamental level, most of us agree that these are essentially the right things to focus on. We are so used to being spun that the reality in front of our eyes has lost shape and clarity. It's really not that complicated. We move forward as a species when we expand the knowledge and abilities of more human minds. The more of us we raise up, the more humanity rises.
Ubuntu. We are nothing without each other.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, September 28, 2013
You're not Howard the Duck.
You are not trapped in a world that you never made. You help make it, we help make it the way it is.
We are unlike the other animals and species we share this planet with in that we make our own ecosystem. There is no economy, government, religion, culture, or any human system of power or wealth distribution or perspective that we ourselves have not created. We choose to make the world we live in, and we choose our outcome as a species.
I say this because whenever I have a conversation about what I see as the misplaced priorities all around me, the answer is typically a shrug, or some general sneering expressed at my lack of understanding regarding how complex "the system" is, and that thats just the way "it" works.
But we control "it" we decide "it"..so don't tell me how fucking complicated it is. At least share in the collective responsibility we bear in a world where -
We do the absolute minimum or less to work on stopping humanity from making our world less habitable for ourselves and the other animals who live on it.
We pay people on reality TV more than we pay teachers.
We pay a football coach more than we pay the dean of the school.
We value TV celebrities more than we value scientists.
We answer someone's hunger with a scramble to figure out why their hunger is their fault.
We let our government engage in wars that are about our own imperialism.
We let our racism and our prejudices define how we feel without acknowledging that racism and prejudice is something we all have, something we all have to learn to deal with.
We consistently devalue real labor, and increase the rewards for labor which does little to enrich the many, but much to enrich the few.
We are okay with giving for profit company's more money and more profit, funding wars and the largest military the world has ever seen, but FDR's four freedoms are unattainable, education, healthcare, freedom from hunger, better human quality of life issues..these are all unattainable for the majority...but certainly taken by the few.
We are okay with rhetoric that divides us..yet anyone who travels knows that individuals will always change a preconceived perception towards a group.
Don't say "we can't do it, capitalism..its too complicated..our government won't" ...etc, etc. Don't put the problem elsewhere. We're not trapped in a world that we never made. We've chosen this one.
We make it. We can change it. It's all on us.
We are unlike the other animals and species we share this planet with in that we make our own ecosystem. There is no economy, government, religion, culture, or any human system of power or wealth distribution or perspective that we ourselves have not created. We choose to make the world we live in, and we choose our outcome as a species.
I say this because whenever I have a conversation about what I see as the misplaced priorities all around me, the answer is typically a shrug, or some general sneering expressed at my lack of understanding regarding how complex "the system" is, and that thats just the way "it" works.
But we control "it" we decide "it"..so don't tell me how fucking complicated it is. At least share in the collective responsibility we bear in a world where -
We do the absolute minimum or less to work on stopping humanity from making our world less habitable for ourselves and the other animals who live on it.
We pay people on reality TV more than we pay teachers.
We pay a football coach more than we pay the dean of the school.
We value TV celebrities more than we value scientists.
We answer someone's hunger with a scramble to figure out why their hunger is their fault.
We let our government engage in wars that are about our own imperialism.
We let our racism and our prejudices define how we feel without acknowledging that racism and prejudice is something we all have, something we all have to learn to deal with.
We consistently devalue real labor, and increase the rewards for labor which does little to enrich the many, but much to enrich the few.
We are okay with giving for profit company's more money and more profit, funding wars and the largest military the world has ever seen, but FDR's four freedoms are unattainable, education, healthcare, freedom from hunger, better human quality of life issues..these are all unattainable for the majority...but certainly taken by the few.
We are okay with rhetoric that divides us..yet anyone who travels knows that individuals will always change a preconceived perception towards a group.
Don't say "we can't do it, capitalism..its too complicated..our government won't" ...etc, etc. Don't put the problem elsewhere. We're not trapped in a world that we never made. We've chosen this one.
We make it. We can change it. It's all on us.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Snowden is a TRAITOR!
The Supreme Court has interpreted this to mean that no one can commit treason unless it’s with a country against whom our Congress has declared war. This means that neither the Vietnam War nor the Korean War nor the War on Terror can yield treasonous Americans, as none of these wars were declared by Congress. (MSNBC)
I find it very scary, that without evidence of real treason (which has a very clear constitutional definition) the court of public opinion, as well as both republicans and democrats, are trying Snowden on TV news. The other day, John Kerry had this to say:
When asked if he considers Snowden a traitor, Kerry said he wouldn’t “play word games about what he is or isn’t,” but went on to say that the 29-year-old is a “traitor to the oath he took to his fellow employees, to the duty he took freely by his own choice.” (New Yorker)
By this logic, ANYONE who blows the whistle on unlawful or immoral behavior is a traitor. A cop who "rats on" other cops for corruption. The soldiers who published information on Abu Ghraib. Food processing plant employees who take photos of chicken processing. Employees of the federal government who blow the whistle on as clear a violation of the fourth amendment as one will find.
All traitors according to Kerry.
It would seem that this program has the backing of both parties, so for once we have unity in creating a nationally televised two minutes hate on Edward Snowden, and this is a partisan politics free fun fest. The talking heads went from defending him and attacking the program to attacking him in a two week period. You really have to ask why.
His run from the government seems clear enough - hes a fugitive for bringing this to light, as he knew he would be. There were other NSA whistleblowers who served time for leaks on this program, as documented here.
What happens with Snowden from here on out is nothing but a distraction. It is smoke and mirrors designed to distract all of us from the continued erosion of our rights in the name of this "war on terrorism" that started with 9/11.
If you think this technology has not already been used to monitor the activity of Occupy, and other lawful protest organizations, then you are being naive.
I predict that if we capture Snowden, we will have a very public trial, where his character will be torn apart and his motives made suspect. Failing this, we will continue to excoriate him in the court of public opinion with the media and the usual suspects presiding.
We will destroy the leaker, and distract from the leak. When Edward Snowden is turned into an effeminate weakling who runs to Venezuela like the coward he is, you'll know that your fourth amendment rights are safely non existent.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Perfect Tyranny
The patriot act, hastily enacted after 9/11, was a huge turn away from policies which had at least put some policy control on domestic espionage.
In an atmosphere of fear and a ramp up to war, we allowed a hastily put together and Byzantine piece of legislation to be passed, in the hope that it would help our government keep us safe from harm.
What we gave our government is what any government would need to make it's citizens safe from an enemy which can strike from within.
The right to surveillance of all communications, which technology makes easier and easier. In our new age of all is digital, that surveillance, coupled with the increasing use of cameras allows for the monitoring of an ever increasing fraction of our lives, and with an exponentially increasing efficiency.
The control of encryption technology insures that citizens will not have an ability to prevent this.
The use of this technology will inevitably make it's way into law enforcement and intellectual property protection, making law enforcement more efficient.
And it will be abused. Because perfect law enforcement and absolute control of a society by its government has other names, and none of them have anything to do with freedom.
So if you don't like what's going on right now, and you think that blowing the whistle on it was the right thing, then please remember what we are really saying..
Which is: I will take my chances with crime and terror. With the possibility that a bomb may go off, and I will deprive my government of these tools to keep me in perfect safety because perfect safety is not worth it.
Perfect safety is a rubber room.
Providing any government with the tools of perfect tyranny, regardless of the intention goes too far.
Freedom is the ability to act without oversight, without being watched.
Freedom from fear ends with all of us in a controlled, monitored compound cowering in fear of our assailants and those who guard us from them.
Free societies require courage.
Not the kind that picks up a gun.
The kind that speaks truth to power, and votes, and says "not in my name".
The kind the NSA whistleblower displayed.
Call your representatives and tell them what Ben said...
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
In an atmosphere of fear and a ramp up to war, we allowed a hastily put together and Byzantine piece of legislation to be passed, in the hope that it would help our government keep us safe from harm.
What we gave our government is what any government would need to make it's citizens safe from an enemy which can strike from within.
The right to surveillance of all communications, which technology makes easier and easier. In our new age of all is digital, that surveillance, coupled with the increasing use of cameras allows for the monitoring of an ever increasing fraction of our lives, and with an exponentially increasing efficiency.
The control of encryption technology insures that citizens will not have an ability to prevent this.
The use of this technology will inevitably make it's way into law enforcement and intellectual property protection, making law enforcement more efficient.
And it will be abused. Because perfect law enforcement and absolute control of a society by its government has other names, and none of them have anything to do with freedom.
So if you don't like what's going on right now, and you think that blowing the whistle on it was the right thing, then please remember what we are really saying..
Which is: I will take my chances with crime and terror. With the possibility that a bomb may go off, and I will deprive my government of these tools to keep me in perfect safety because perfect safety is not worth it.
Perfect safety is a rubber room.
Providing any government with the tools of perfect tyranny, regardless of the intention goes too far.
Freedom is the ability to act without oversight, without being watched.
Freedom from fear ends with all of us in a controlled, monitored compound cowering in fear of our assailants and those who guard us from them.
Free societies require courage.
Not the kind that picks up a gun.
The kind that speaks truth to power, and votes, and says "not in my name".
The kind the NSA whistleblower displayed.
Call your representatives and tell them what Ben said...
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Principles, pesky principles
The problem in America today is that no one understands what a principle is anymore.
Principles are guiding beacons. They are intended to define who we are, and they are rarely if ever compromised.
Principles may be expressed or implied in law, but they are not laws.
The principle of free expression may be codified in the first amendment, but the first amendment is not the principle of free expression.
Principles are awkward. They can force us to do things we don't want to do, like letting the nazis march in Skokie Illinois.
The principle of free expression demands that we defend the rights of others to express the ideas we hate the most.
Bringing in the law often provides wiggle room around these principles..for example perhaps finding some ordinance about the park or neighborhood to prevent the march.
The law allows the wiggle room to go around the principle when we find it to be inconvenient, while still patting ourselves on the back for the legality (rightness?) of our actions.
For historical perspective, the nazi party in Germany took the trouble to change the laws to make rounding up the Jews legal.
Apparently, they had a principle problem.
When we walk away from the basic principles we have as a culture, pay attention to how the laws change.
Pay attention regardless of whether you like or dislike the group it applies to, because when we abandon a principle for one, we can abandon it for all.
Our laws should reflect our principles, not the loopholes we need to create when we find them inconvenient.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Principles are guiding beacons. They are intended to define who we are, and they are rarely if ever compromised.
Principles may be expressed or implied in law, but they are not laws.
The principle of free expression may be codified in the first amendment, but the first amendment is not the principle of free expression.
Principles are awkward. They can force us to do things we don't want to do, like letting the nazis march in Skokie Illinois.
The principle of free expression demands that we defend the rights of others to express the ideas we hate the most.
Bringing in the law often provides wiggle room around these principles..for example perhaps finding some ordinance about the park or neighborhood to prevent the march.
The law allows the wiggle room to go around the principle when we find it to be inconvenient, while still patting ourselves on the back for the legality (rightness?) of our actions.
For historical perspective, the nazi party in Germany took the trouble to change the laws to make rounding up the Jews legal.
Apparently, they had a principle problem.
When we walk away from the basic principles we have as a culture, pay attention to how the laws change.
Pay attention regardless of whether you like or dislike the group it applies to, because when we abandon a principle for one, we can abandon it for all.
Our laws should reflect our principles, not the loopholes we need to create when we find them inconvenient.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Gun control ...terrorism.. This week in America.
In a week where the senate shutdown progress on background checks for guns, we were attacked by two terrorists at the Boston marathon.
We are apparently willing to pay the social safety price for defense of the second amendment, exactly as written. It goes without saying that the butchers bill for this is orders of magnitude higher than the terrorism body count, inclusive of acts both foreign and domestic.
So now, the 24 hour news cycle and partisan debate, along with politicians attempting to score political points will whip up the usual fervor of fear and patriotism..and perhaps we will prevent or undermine immigration reform as a result.
Throughout the debate and rhetoric, the recurring question will be, "How can we be sure that nothing like this will ever happen again?" The truthful answer is that we can't. There is a price for a free and open society, and that price is that we can be attacked from within.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin
If you have the courage to drive a car, cross the street, own a gun..leave your house..take a shower...you are already engaging in behaviors that put you at higher risk than terrorist attacks.
The focus and the fear we generate agonizing over this lessens us and gives strength to those that commit these acts. They are simply criminals, and unworthy of our attention apart from the effort required to remove them from our society.
Our courage and determination to remain a free society in the face of attack is the bulwark to defend and the ground we should stand on together.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
We are apparently willing to pay the social safety price for defense of the second amendment, exactly as written. It goes without saying that the butchers bill for this is orders of magnitude higher than the terrorism body count, inclusive of acts both foreign and domestic.
So now, the 24 hour news cycle and partisan debate, along with politicians attempting to score political points will whip up the usual fervor of fear and patriotism..and perhaps we will prevent or undermine immigration reform as a result.
Throughout the debate and rhetoric, the recurring question will be, "How can we be sure that nothing like this will ever happen again?" The truthful answer is that we can't. There is a price for a free and open society, and that price is that we can be attacked from within.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin
If you have the courage to drive a car, cross the street, own a gun..leave your house..take a shower...you are already engaging in behaviors that put you at higher risk than terrorist attacks.
The focus and the fear we generate agonizing over this lessens us and gives strength to those that commit these acts. They are simply criminals, and unworthy of our attention apart from the effort required to remove them from our society.
Our courage and determination to remain a free society in the face of attack is the bulwark to defend and the ground we should stand on together.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Mythology of Gun Ownershp
Before I begin this little discussion, let me say one thing. If you own a gun, and you hunt with it, then this discussion does not apply to you. If you own a gun and you shoot targets or skeet with it, then this discussion does not apply to you. If you own a gun for that weird sport where you ski cross country and then shoot targets, you're a weirdo, but this discussion does not apply to you. This post is also not about recommending laws or legislation, although I support gun control. This post is an appeal to you to consider gun ownership in the same way you evaluate other behaviors - in terms of risk/reward.
This discussion is for those of you who own a gun specifically with the idea of defending yourself against other humans, or for you batshit crazy people who think owning a gun is all that stands between freedom and tyranny in the United States. Yes, I said batshit crazy. That is the only plausible root cause for thinking that you and your little gun will prevent the US law enforcement and military organizations from creating a tyrannical society. Any rational person would point you at Syria and Libya..and their military and law enforcement is no where near as good as ours. How much do you think gun ownership is helping the rebels fight armor, heavy machine guns and air support?
If you really want to be capable of stopping tyranny enforced by our own law enforcement and military, you'll need helicopters, heavy weaponry, surface to air missiles, and a whole heap of satellite, surveillance equipment..oh yeah, and training, etc. Better go get started on all that.
As I try not to engage in conversation with crazy people, the focus of this discussion is on the rational people, who believe they own a gun because criminals have guns, and therefore they should have guns, in spite of the fact that we have very well funded and trained law enforcement, who have guns, and who our tax dollars go to to catch criminals with guns. As the United States has the highest per capita rate of incarceration in the first world, I believe our law enforcement must be pretty good - maybe too good at their jobs.
First let me give you a very rational, fact based reason you should not own a gun for this reason, or for reasons like "guns are cool". You are over three times as likely to kill yourself with it versus killing someone else.
Having a gun in your home does not make you safer. You are also (in addition to suicide) at higher risk for homicide and accidental death due to gun ownership, and so is everyone who lives with you.
Statistics on successful self defense with weapons is lacking, but we do know that in 30 years, NOT ONE MASS SHOOTING has been prevented by an armed citizen, despite the fact that we are one of the most heavily armed citizenry's in the world.
1% of gun owners report defending themselves with their weapons. However, on further review, it was found that in reality half of those cases involved the the gun owner acting aggressively, and unnecessarily.
Women - here's a tip. Don't date a gun owner. You are six times more likely to be shot by your partner then you are a complete stranger.
So here's the thing. I started to think about why we are so heated up about this, and why people are so attached to gun ownership in the face of the facts. Its such a heated argument, that it reminds me of arguing with someone who has some sort of addiction. When you argue with someone who is addicted or obsessed, rationality goes right out the window, because they have built up an internal dialog that reinforces their rationale for the addiction.
I quit smoking a few years ago, and I can tell you that what did it was not taxation, law, or pictures of blackened lungs. It was getting rid of the lies I told myself about smoking. Lies like "I get lots of work done talking to everyone on smoke breaks", or "I really enjoy smoking". Once I was honest with myself, and realized that I was addicted, and that smoking is simply feeding an addiction, it became much easier to quit.
Smoking is a reasonable analogy for my next argument, but it is flawed a little bit. See, when you smoke, you do a stupid thing that kills you a little bit every day over a long time. There is the chance that you can stop, and even that your body will repair the damage you have done to it somewhat.
When a gun owner pulls the trigger, she does something that is likely to be irrevocable. It is the stupid thing that cannot be taken back. Ever. He will deny himself, or someone else, their existence.
I don't know about you, but there are like .. hundreds.. of times I have woken up in the morning, shaken my head, and thought..wow..that was really stupid...but it sure seemed like the right idea at the time. There were consequences to all these stupid acts, sometimes bruises, sometimes headaches, sometimes socially awkward ramifications, sometimes hurt feelings. As I recall, all eventually healed.
Owning a gun is a temptation to do something stupid, that will have permanent consequences and that is very unlikely, statistically, to be one you will live through, or want to live with.
So in the face of all this sound evidence against gun ownership for self defense, or because they're cool..here's my two cents on why you really want to own one.
Our mythology.
America idealizes the idea that one man with a gun can make a difference. That its all about cleaning up this town, this neighborhood, this city...to "make it safe", to protect or avenge those he loves. Its beyond movies or violent video games. It is the mythology of our culture..the undertone of who we are..the lone gunman who rights all wrongs. Its a cool myth, and it has made for lots of cool movies and lots of cool video games. The armed man is not impotent. He can change things, and most of all, he does not have to fear "the other".
But it isn't true.
One man with a gun is far more likely to be found with his head blown off, a half drunk bottle or half empty pill bottle next to him.
One man with a gun is far more likely to commit a crime and be incarcerated.
One man with a gun is more likely to come home and find that one of his children has been shot or has shot someone.
One man with a gun is more likely to kill a loved one in a moment of rage.
I could go on, but I think you understand. Yes, people kill people. But people with guns do it more often. It's the stupid idea that can never, ever be fixed, and it happens because pulling a trigger does not take enough time to make you think about what you are about to do. Its a split second that you will never have the opportunity to take back.
Guns are like smoking, people..they are bad for us. Help America kick the habit. You'll be joining the majority by the way. Gun ownership is already on the decline.
This discussion is for those of you who own a gun specifically with the idea of defending yourself against other humans, or for you batshit crazy people who think owning a gun is all that stands between freedom and tyranny in the United States. Yes, I said batshit crazy. That is the only plausible root cause for thinking that you and your little gun will prevent the US law enforcement and military organizations from creating a tyrannical society. Any rational person would point you at Syria and Libya..and their military and law enforcement is no where near as good as ours. How much do you think gun ownership is helping the rebels fight armor, heavy machine guns and air support?
If you really want to be capable of stopping tyranny enforced by our own law enforcement and military, you'll need helicopters, heavy weaponry, surface to air missiles, and a whole heap of satellite, surveillance equipment..oh yeah, and training, etc. Better go get started on all that.
As I try not to engage in conversation with crazy people, the focus of this discussion is on the rational people, who believe they own a gun because criminals have guns, and therefore they should have guns, in spite of the fact that we have very well funded and trained law enforcement, who have guns, and who our tax dollars go to to catch criminals with guns. As the United States has the highest per capita rate of incarceration in the first world, I believe our law enforcement must be pretty good - maybe too good at their jobs.
First let me give you a very rational, fact based reason you should not own a gun for this reason, or for reasons like "guns are cool". You are over three times as likely to kill yourself with it versus killing someone else.
Having a gun in your home does not make you safer. You are also (in addition to suicide) at higher risk for homicide and accidental death due to gun ownership, and so is everyone who lives with you.
Statistics on successful self defense with weapons is lacking, but we do know that in 30 years, NOT ONE MASS SHOOTING has been prevented by an armed citizen, despite the fact that we are one of the most heavily armed citizenry's in the world.
1% of gun owners report defending themselves with their weapons. However, on further review, it was found that in reality half of those cases involved the the gun owner acting aggressively, and unnecessarily.
Women - here's a tip. Don't date a gun owner. You are six times more likely to be shot by your partner then you are a complete stranger.
So here's the thing. I started to think about why we are so heated up about this, and why people are so attached to gun ownership in the face of the facts. Its such a heated argument, that it reminds me of arguing with someone who has some sort of addiction. When you argue with someone who is addicted or obsessed, rationality goes right out the window, because they have built up an internal dialog that reinforces their rationale for the addiction.
I quit smoking a few years ago, and I can tell you that what did it was not taxation, law, or pictures of blackened lungs. It was getting rid of the lies I told myself about smoking. Lies like "I get lots of work done talking to everyone on smoke breaks", or "I really enjoy smoking". Once I was honest with myself, and realized that I was addicted, and that smoking is simply feeding an addiction, it became much easier to quit.
Smoking is a reasonable analogy for my next argument, but it is flawed a little bit. See, when you smoke, you do a stupid thing that kills you a little bit every day over a long time. There is the chance that you can stop, and even that your body will repair the damage you have done to it somewhat.
When a gun owner pulls the trigger, she does something that is likely to be irrevocable. It is the stupid thing that cannot be taken back. Ever. He will deny himself, or someone else, their existence.
I don't know about you, but there are like .. hundreds.. of times I have woken up in the morning, shaken my head, and thought..wow..that was really stupid...but it sure seemed like the right idea at the time. There were consequences to all these stupid acts, sometimes bruises, sometimes headaches, sometimes socially awkward ramifications, sometimes hurt feelings. As I recall, all eventually healed.
Owning a gun is a temptation to do something stupid, that will have permanent consequences and that is very unlikely, statistically, to be one you will live through, or want to live with.
So in the face of all this sound evidence against gun ownership for self defense, or because they're cool..here's my two cents on why you really want to own one.
Our mythology.
America idealizes the idea that one man with a gun can make a difference. That its all about cleaning up this town, this neighborhood, this city...to "make it safe", to protect or avenge those he loves. Its beyond movies or violent video games. It is the mythology of our culture..the undertone of who we are..the lone gunman who rights all wrongs. Its a cool myth, and it has made for lots of cool movies and lots of cool video games. The armed man is not impotent. He can change things, and most of all, he does not have to fear "the other".
But it isn't true.
One man with a gun is far more likely to be found with his head blown off, a half drunk bottle or half empty pill bottle next to him.
One man with a gun is far more likely to commit a crime and be incarcerated.
One man with a gun is more likely to come home and find that one of his children has been shot or has shot someone.
One man with a gun is more likely to kill a loved one in a moment of rage.
I could go on, but I think you understand. Yes, people kill people. But people with guns do it more often. It's the stupid idea that can never, ever be fixed, and it happens because pulling a trigger does not take enough time to make you think about what you are about to do. Its a split second that you will never have the opportunity to take back.
Guns are like smoking, people..they are bad for us. Help America kick the habit. You'll be joining the majority by the way. Gun ownership is already on the decline.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic? LMAO.
Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997. Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams. His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer II class was: "Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with proof."
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:
"First, We postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave.The student, Tim Graham, got the only A.
Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for souls entering hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, then you will go to hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and souls go to hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.
Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant. Two options exist:
So which is it? If we accept the quote given to me by Theresa Manyan during Freshman year, "that it will be a cold night in hell before I sleep with you" and take into account the fact that I still have NOT succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then Option 2 cannot be true...Thus, hell is exothermic."
- If hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.
- If hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Lies the GOP told me.
1. Lie: President Obama is the "greatest threat" to Medicare.
Truth: Obama didn't make any cuts to Medicare benefits; he made cuts to provider reimbursements, to improve cost efficiency and extend the fiscal security of Medicare by eight years. According to the Medicare actuary, "[Obama's] Affordable Care Act makes important changes to the Medicare program and substantially improves its financial outlook."
But Ryan actually does want to cut benefits. He proposed dismantling Medicare and replacing it with a voucher system, leaving millions of seniors to come up with more money to pay for care out of pocket.
2. Lie: President Obama didn't save a General Motors plant in Wisconsin.
Truth: First, Obama wasn't even in office when the GM plant closed. Second, Obama never made a promise to save it.
3. Lie: President Obama ignored recommendations of a bipartisan debt commission.
Truth: Paul Ryan actually sat on that commission. And he led Republicans in voting down the commission's own recommendation. So the commission never gave a report to Obama, because Ryan himself voted to kill the report before it could.
4. Lie: President Obama is responsible for the downgrading of the U.S. Credit Rating.
Truth: House Republicans, including Paul Ryan, held the full faith and credit of the United States hostage to try to ransom it for trillions of dollars in cuts to social programs without increasing taxes on the wealthy one dime. Standard & Poor's said specifically, "We have changed our assumption on [revenue] because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues." That's why our nation's credit rating was downgraded.
5. Lie: Ryan wants to protect the "weak."
Truth: Ryan's biggest feat in his political career was proposing a budget with dramatic cuts to programs benefiting the poor. He'd cut Medicaid by one third, take away health care insurance from 30 million Americans, and cut Pell Grants for 1 million students. All so that he could give more tax breaks to the rich.
Reblogged from moveon.org...
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Am I better off than I was three or four years ago?
I keep hearing the republican spin machine ask me this question. This incredibly stupid question, which is like asking a two year old who hasn't received cookies upon asking if they need new parents.
The election isn't about are we better off. It's about are we digging out of the worst economic crisis since the great depression. The answer to that on all economic metrics is yes, but slowly. This is largely due to the fact that we are also in a global economic slowdown.
The biggest question we should be asking ourselves is not necessarily who will lead us out quicker, but what policies got us into this hole in the first place? The answer to that is pretty clear. An unwillingness to regulate our markets and financial industry, combined with an unwillingness to properly fund government through revenue from corporations (first) and the wealthy (2nd).
If you think a full turn to the right, passing Bush jr, Sr, and Reagan on conservative economic policy is what we need, by all means vote for Romney and Ryan. Personally, I think this would be insanity, under it's definition as "repeating the same actions with the expectation of a different result"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The election isn't about are we better off. It's about are we digging out of the worst economic crisis since the great depression. The answer to that on all economic metrics is yes, but slowly. This is largely due to the fact that we are also in a global economic slowdown.
The biggest question we should be asking ourselves is not necessarily who will lead us out quicker, but what policies got us into this hole in the first place? The answer to that is pretty clear. An unwillingness to regulate our markets and financial industry, combined with an unwillingness to properly fund government through revenue from corporations (first) and the wealthy (2nd).
If you think a full turn to the right, passing Bush jr, Sr, and Reagan on conservative economic policy is what we need, by all means vote for Romney and Ryan. Personally, I think this would be insanity, under it's definition as "repeating the same actions with the expectation of a different result"
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Decamp Bus Service
My nomination for worst business serving nj commuters:
Decamp Bus Lines
Incredibly rude people driving buses, at the ticket counter and at their customer service and dispatch number.
Drivers never have change, get downright rude towards you if you don't have exact change.
Buses habitually late.
NJ Transit, please, please take over the routes from these incompetent ass clowns.
Thank you.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Decamp Bus Lines
Incredibly rude people driving buses, at the ticket counter and at their customer service and dispatch number.
Drivers never have change, get downright rude towards you if you don't have exact change.
Buses habitually late.
NJ Transit, please, please take over the routes from these incompetent ass clowns.
Thank you.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
One of my favorite Steve Jobs observations
And one of the many things that's understood so poorly in so many PowerPoint fueled meetings in business...
"Many companies get the disease of thinking that a really great idea is 90 percent of the work. And if you just tell all these other people here’s this great idea then of course they can go off and make it happen. And the problem with that is that there’s just a tremendous amount of craftsmanship in between a great idea and a great product. Designing a product is keeping five thousand things in your brain and fitting them all together in new and different ways to get what you want. And every day you discover something new that is a new problem or a new opportunity to fit these things together a little differently."
-Steve Jobs
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
"Many companies get the disease of thinking that a really great idea is 90 percent of the work. And if you just tell all these other people here’s this great idea then of course they can go off and make it happen. And the problem with that is that there’s just a tremendous amount of craftsmanship in between a great idea and a great product. Designing a product is keeping five thousand things in your brain and fitting them all together in new and different ways to get what you want. And every day you discover something new that is a new problem or a new opportunity to fit these things together a little differently."
-Steve Jobs
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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