Many months have passed since I last posted. Alot has happened nationally and internationally. Alot hasn't changed too-- the insurance industry still controls Congress inspite of everything, and we're still stuck in Iraq. What about Afghanistan? Looks like we're heading into a mess there.
More to come.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
A New Day
As you read would happen here the day before elections, 2008, Obama won and won big. He's off to a great start too. Notice how asking for the resignation of a car maker's CEO (after giving them bailout cash) has prompted banks receiving that cash to want to pay it back quickly? Human nature, a funny thing.
Well, finally a leader who leads. The right wing is not happy and has organized 'tea parties' around the country complaining about taxation. Isn't Obama CUTTING taxes? Didn't I just get more money in my net pay thanks to President Obama? What of the Texans who cry to secede from the Union--don't they remember that fight was fought before, and the Union won? I'm sure Texas can provide for its own national defense, they're doing such a good job on the Mexican border now. Do you hear the sarcasm? But hey, had they done that years ago, leaving the Union I mean, then we wouldn't have George W. Bush as an illustrious past president, would we? On second thought, let 'em go.
Well, finally a leader who leads. The right wing is not happy and has organized 'tea parties' around the country complaining about taxation. Isn't Obama CUTTING taxes? Didn't I just get more money in my net pay thanks to President Obama? What of the Texans who cry to secede from the Union--don't they remember that fight was fought before, and the Union won? I'm sure Texas can provide for its own national defense, they're doing such a good job on the Mexican border now. Do you hear the sarcasm? But hey, had they done that years ago, leaving the Union I mean, then we wouldn't have George W. Bush as an illustrious past president, would we? On second thought, let 'em go.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prediction
Tomorrow is the US Presidential election. Obama will carry enough electoral votes to win the election, and his popular vote will pull in many new faces to the Congress as incumbent Republicans take it on the chin--deservedly. It's a new day dawning, a new beginning. Don't believe me? Check back on Wednesday the 5th after you hear the news.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
It's The War Y'all
"Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress Tuesday that the fragile economy is being confronted by "numerous difficulties" including persistent strains in financial markets, rising joblessness and housing problems — despite the Fed's aggressive interest rate reductions and other fortifying steps over the past year."--From AP, July 15, 2008
Yes, GM announced today it is slashing deeply to 'keep alive.' There's a run on banks in California, and perhaps as many as 150 more banks collapsing in the next 12 months. The federal government is bailing out Freddie Mac-Fannie Mae. The Euro is trading better than the dollar. Gas prices continue to rise, and inflation is tied with the record set 27 years ago. People are losing homes, and the stock market is sliding down about 200 points a day. Bush's appointee Bernanke sites numerous causes, except the real culprit--spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How long can a country keep throwing money and lives into losing causes? Now we are seeing the folly of spending trillions overseas--the dollars are leaving the country, and we can no longer support ourselves. Admittedly, I studied political economy in England at a progressive school of thought, and learned my analysis there. I do tend to see the bigger picture. What I see is money leaving the US with no tangible result, and no fungible product resulting either.
End the war. We won WWII in 3 and half years, but this travesty goes on over 5 years now. Results? Thousands dead, a pseudo-democracy that will fail when we leave, further destabilization of the Mid East, the rise of Iran, and over burdened Americans. The economy, the quality of life back home, the banks, the markets, all of it--it's all driven or crashed due to war spending. It's the war, it's always been the war. Blame bad loans in the housing market, whatever, but the real problem is war spending.
What is to be done? Elect somebody who will end the war for one. That includes the do nothing Congress as well. By the way, what have they done for us lately? In the last 2 years? I don't like Bush, but I also don't like Pelosi and the Congress, both houses. It's time for major change. Throw the rascals out. End the war. Spend that money at home.
Yes, GM announced today it is slashing deeply to 'keep alive.' There's a run on banks in California, and perhaps as many as 150 more banks collapsing in the next 12 months. The federal government is bailing out Freddie Mac-Fannie Mae. The Euro is trading better than the dollar. Gas prices continue to rise, and inflation is tied with the record set 27 years ago. People are losing homes, and the stock market is sliding down about 200 points a day. Bush's appointee Bernanke sites numerous causes, except the real culprit--spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How long can a country keep throwing money and lives into losing causes? Now we are seeing the folly of spending trillions overseas--the dollars are leaving the country, and we can no longer support ourselves. Admittedly, I studied political economy in England at a progressive school of thought, and learned my analysis there. I do tend to see the bigger picture. What I see is money leaving the US with no tangible result, and no fungible product resulting either.
End the war. We won WWII in 3 and half years, but this travesty goes on over 5 years now. Results? Thousands dead, a pseudo-democracy that will fail when we leave, further destabilization of the Mid East, the rise of Iran, and over burdened Americans. The economy, the quality of life back home, the banks, the markets, all of it--it's all driven or crashed due to war spending. It's the war, it's always been the war. Blame bad loans in the housing market, whatever, but the real problem is war spending.
What is to be done? Elect somebody who will end the war for one. That includes the do nothing Congress as well. By the way, what have they done for us lately? In the last 2 years? I don't like Bush, but I also don't like Pelosi and the Congress, both houses. It's time for major change. Throw the rascals out. End the war. Spend that money at home.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Once In A While A Great Book...
...comes along, and it's Thick As Thieves by Sherry Muolo. Highly recommended, you can find it on Lulu.com. From the book jacket: "Kieve and his ill sister, Alyssa, meet a stranger who plays a big role in their lives, especially when they need to help Alyssa get better. But is their story just a small piece of a bigger picture? Indulge yourself with plot twists, love, developed characters, and the tragedies of Thick As Thieves."
What's so special about this book, you ask? It's 183 pages long, published in hardback, and is written by a 13 year old from Silver Spring, Maryland. Did you get that--a 13 year old. Even the cover art, in anime style, is by the young author. This is her first book, but there are others on her computer. And a sequel in the works. Get your copy now, this kid's gonna be famous. Oh, she's also a good softball pitcher as well.
What's so special about this book, you ask? It's 183 pages long, published in hardback, and is written by a 13 year old from Silver Spring, Maryland. Did you get that--a 13 year old. Even the cover art, in anime style, is by the young author. This is her first book, but there are others on her computer. And a sequel in the works. Get your copy now, this kid's gonna be famous. Oh, she's also a good softball pitcher as well.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Concept of Mitzvot
What is Mitzvot? It's from the Hebrew, a tradition within Judaism that means to do good deeds. Along with it goes the idea of beautifying the Commandments, and the Word of God. By performing the mitzvot, the observant worshipper is in fact beautifying the Word, adding to Creation, and making life better for someone else, thereby making life better for all. Mitzvot is strongly rooted in 'doing justice.' This is a wonderful concept, something we all should study and act upon.
How does one do justice? First, identify the issue--ask, what is the injustice? Intuitively and instinctively most of us know the difference between right and wrong. Accordingly, it should be easy then to know when something is just plain wrong. Yet this is often hard. Why? Maybe we are co-opted by the injustice, perhaps we receive a benefit from it. Could this cause us to wear blinders at times? What else could explain the severe disparity between the haves and have-nots, between the northern hemisphere countries and the southern hemisphere countries? Why does nation war against nation? Why does starvation persist into the 21st century? Well, we identify the issue, name the injustice, and then pray for guidance as to how to approach the matter.
Then we discern--what is God calling us to do in this situation, in the face of this injustice? We publicize it, we organize around it, we take positive and constructive action. We do it out of love, and by acting in such a way, we have taken the concept of mitzvot and broadened it. We're not just doing good deeds and beautifying the Word of God, we're changing the world too! I believe this is what the Biblical narrative calls us to do. Good deeds on a small scale, or good deeds on the large scale, either way, it's for the common good. This is how people of faith live out their faith.
How does one do justice? First, identify the issue--ask, what is the injustice? Intuitively and instinctively most of us know the difference between right and wrong. Accordingly, it should be easy then to know when something is just plain wrong. Yet this is often hard. Why? Maybe we are co-opted by the injustice, perhaps we receive a benefit from it. Could this cause us to wear blinders at times? What else could explain the severe disparity between the haves and have-nots, between the northern hemisphere countries and the southern hemisphere countries? Why does nation war against nation? Why does starvation persist into the 21st century? Well, we identify the issue, name the injustice, and then pray for guidance as to how to approach the matter.
Then we discern--what is God calling us to do in this situation, in the face of this injustice? We publicize it, we organize around it, we take positive and constructive action. We do it out of love, and by acting in such a way, we have taken the concept of mitzvot and broadened it. We're not just doing good deeds and beautifying the Word of God, we're changing the world too! I believe this is what the Biblical narrative calls us to do. Good deeds on a small scale, or good deeds on the large scale, either way, it's for the common good. This is how people of faith live out their faith.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
On The Subject of Immigration....
Today in America there is a movement underway to locate immigrants here 'illegally' and to deport them. This saddens me. In fact, I really dislike the term 'illegal immigrant.' How can that made of God, with the light of God therein, be called 'illegal?' I can't help but think that this is merely racism at work--afterall, those being deported are people of color, from South America, Africa and Asia. Racism is wrong, and it's evil.
A year ago I heard a white college age person from Los Angeles--and a wealthy family--complain of the number of 'illegal immigrants' undermining health care in the area by seeking 'free' medical care at local hospitals. He explained, that in his observation, these folks were just looking for free care at his expense, and that those who 'really needed it' would not have it available because of the immigrants 'taking advantage of the system.' Where to start with this?? Well, I think it best to point out that if the so called Third World had better health care, perhaps these folks would not be seeking it elsewhere. And what of the right to health care--good health care? Should it only be available to the wealthy, or to Americans born here, or only to white Americans? Where does his specious argument lead and end?
Which brings me to a simple thought: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story. A traveler is beaten along the road, and though needing help, is passed by people who should have known better. Along comes a stranger, and the stranger helps the man, even finds a place for him to stay, paying the bill in advance! The point of the story, besides the moral imperative of humans helping humans based upon need and nothing more, is that the Samaritan who helps the stranger was helping a foreigner, and treated him as his neighbor. So, we ask, who is our neighbor? Everyone is our neighbor, and everyone is to be treated as such.
As to the rounding up and deporting of foreigners, let me remind us all that Nazi Germany did just this same thing not so many years ago. That led to much worse. When we reduce another human being to being just 'the other' and no longer see them as our neighbor, we will rationalize our actions and justify them in the name of nationalism, patriotism, and economic need (or blame), committing just about any crime against humanity. And this is wrong, and it too is evil.
The Biblical addage still rings true--love your neighbor (don't arrest and deport them). I call you my readers to speak out against this injustice.
A year ago I heard a white college age person from Los Angeles--and a wealthy family--complain of the number of 'illegal immigrants' undermining health care in the area by seeking 'free' medical care at local hospitals. He explained, that in his observation, these folks were just looking for free care at his expense, and that those who 'really needed it' would not have it available because of the immigrants 'taking advantage of the system.' Where to start with this?? Well, I think it best to point out that if the so called Third World had better health care, perhaps these folks would not be seeking it elsewhere. And what of the right to health care--good health care? Should it only be available to the wealthy, or to Americans born here, or only to white Americans? Where does his specious argument lead and end?
Which brings me to a simple thought: The Parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story. A traveler is beaten along the road, and though needing help, is passed by people who should have known better. Along comes a stranger, and the stranger helps the man, even finds a place for him to stay, paying the bill in advance! The point of the story, besides the moral imperative of humans helping humans based upon need and nothing more, is that the Samaritan who helps the stranger was helping a foreigner, and treated him as his neighbor. So, we ask, who is our neighbor? Everyone is our neighbor, and everyone is to be treated as such.
As to the rounding up and deporting of foreigners, let me remind us all that Nazi Germany did just this same thing not so many years ago. That led to much worse. When we reduce another human being to being just 'the other' and no longer see them as our neighbor, we will rationalize our actions and justify them in the name of nationalism, patriotism, and economic need (or blame), committing just about any crime against humanity. And this is wrong, and it too is evil.
The Biblical addage still rings true--love your neighbor (don't arrest and deport them). I call you my readers to speak out against this injustice.
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