When you go to look up the meaning of enigma in the dictionary, it should have Barack Obama's picture. He is a perfect example of a contradicting person, at least he has been since his election. He is constantly changing his position and by doing so has alienated both the Right and Left. Nobody knows who Obama is anymore. Dictionary.com says "a person of puzzling or contradictory character: To me he has always been an enigma, one minute completely insensitive, the next moved to tears. " Sometimes, it can be complimentary to refer to one as an enigma, because it can almost hint at complexity in character. However, to refer to a politician as such, especially the President of the United States, is most certainly not a compliment.
Some of his vascillating could be do to the reality of his new office. I believe that he went into the Presidency a bit naive about what he could actually accomplish. He probably could have stayed more true to his values as a Senator than as the President. Our checks and balances system keeps him at bay. His agenda has shifted to the right out of necessity. He needs to survive as a politician and as the President. He must recognize that much of his goals will be compromised in this process. And yes, this has happened. Especially when it comes to the public option. http://yeswestillcan.org/?source=old-p-auto-tw
If you click on to this link, you will see that the progressive community is becoming highly frustrated with Obama's duplicity. They want to remind Obama, and all of America that Obama did indeed campaign on the public option, and he campaigned against the insurance mandate that has conveniently survived the bill.
He is in serious political trouble, because his flip flop on this issue could be political suicide, just ask John Kerry. And if you doubt that a politician's words can come back to haunt him, just ask George H. W. Either way, Obama is losing his base by moving further to the right. This is not a smart move considering he never had the right, and he never will have them.
Sorry, but what we have here is politics as usual. They all make grand promises that they can't keep. I will never doubt that he had pure intentions, but reality has come home. Hillary Clinton was right, Obama was living in a fantasy land.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Eve vote long ovedue!
After much debate and several delay tactics by the Republicans in the Senate, a vote on the health care bill is scheduled for Christmas Eve. According to Harry Reed, they have the votes to pass the much watered-down bill before Christmas. Apparently the approaching holiday has lessened the Republican resolve.
Since the bill has been on the floor the Republicans have used various delay tactics. They even delayed vote on the much needed military budget in order to further delay the Health care debate. To many, this revealed obvious hypocrisy on their part, considering the military is considered to be of paramount importance. Even the democrats who oppose the war, seen it necessary to get the troops the funding they need.
Finally, after negotiations with who I call the "pork junkies" to get to 60 votes, the bill will finally pass the Senate. (The pork junkies are the conservative democrats who held out on the bill in order to get pork for their respective states, like Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.) However, the bill lost the public option and the medicare by-in for people over 55. Despite such key loses, many of the Senate leaders still maintain that the bill still has redeemable qualities, such as an expansion of medicaid. The claim this bill will cover 30 million more people. Still others on the far left claim this bill is just a hand out to insurance companies. I find it revealing the only the elements that benefited the insurance companies survived this process.
Hopefully, the public option will survive reconciliation. However many of the pundits doubt it. Special interests killed the democratic process. I am growing cynical of the democratic process. I think we need some internal reform. Most of the country was in favor of the public option, however fearmongering done by the Right, had so much misinformation circulating that many ill-informed people got scared.
Since the bill has been on the floor the Republicans have used various delay tactics. They even delayed vote on the much needed military budget in order to further delay the Health care debate. To many, this revealed obvious hypocrisy on their part, considering the military is considered to be of paramount importance. Even the democrats who oppose the war, seen it necessary to get the troops the funding they need.
Finally, after negotiations with who I call the "pork junkies" to get to 60 votes, the bill will finally pass the Senate. (The pork junkies are the conservative democrats who held out on the bill in order to get pork for their respective states, like Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.) However, the bill lost the public option and the medicare by-in for people over 55. Despite such key loses, many of the Senate leaders still maintain that the bill still has redeemable qualities, such as an expansion of medicaid. The claim this bill will cover 30 million more people. Still others on the far left claim this bill is just a hand out to insurance companies. I find it revealing the only the elements that benefited the insurance companies survived this process.
Hopefully, the public option will survive reconciliation. However many of the pundits doubt it. Special interests killed the democratic process. I am growing cynical of the democratic process. I think we need some internal reform. Most of the country was in favor of the public option, however fearmongering done by the Right, had so much misinformation circulating that many ill-informed people got scared.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Obama "protectionism" good for job recovery
Yesterday, the House voted to pass the "jobs bill" at a 217-212 margin. This is a step in the right direction. It is way to early to declare victory, but hopefully this much needed relief to "main street" will pass the Senate. Many of the provisions in the bill would use money not allocated in the Stimulus to help rebuild infrastucture and would favor American made products in the process. Although the President was attacked by Europe and Canada for such provisions in the Stimulus, I think that we need to enact more Protectionism in our economic recovery efforts.
Obama promised change from the Bush administration's policy of giving tax breaks to companies moving overseas with our precious jobs. This is something that i am happy to see is a priority of the Obama Administration. In fact, I would like to see more. The United States has a huge consumer base. If corporations could at least be imposed a tarriff on imports, perhaps they would think twice about moving our jobs to other countries.
Many of us as consumers could do much to influence our economic future if we just started to "buy american". I know it may seem trite, but actually it is just about survival. This is not a tribal "us against the world" mentality. It is about surviving in a very competitive world economy. We need to do this while we still have a consumer base that can still demand with the dollar. As a country, we could change policy and encourage job creation here in the United States if we just would "buy american."
For a list of corporations who use American made products, go to buyamerican.com. We are going to have to act. The lawmakers can only do so much. Most of the lawmakers on the Right could care less. All they care about is Capitalists, because that is who lines their pockets and who gets them elected. It is the cold hard truth. That is why i am pessimistic about the Jobs Bill passing the Senate. Many of the Senators will oppose such measures because they represent powerful interests that expand across the globe.
As i always say, do what you can to influence our system. Blog, write letters, demonstrate, buy American and anything else you can to help save our economy. At the heart of the issue is our values. Once the United States was the economic beacon of light for the rest of the world. We are witnessing the proletariatization of America. Now we are in danger of becoming a has -been, a joke. Do we want to restore the United States? Do we want to restore jobs that have been lost due to Republican indifference? I do. I remember. I want her back!
Obama promised change from the Bush administration's policy of giving tax breaks to companies moving overseas with our precious jobs. This is something that i am happy to see is a priority of the Obama Administration. In fact, I would like to see more. The United States has a huge consumer base. If corporations could at least be imposed a tarriff on imports, perhaps they would think twice about moving our jobs to other countries.
Many of us as consumers could do much to influence our economic future if we just started to "buy american". I know it may seem trite, but actually it is just about survival. This is not a tribal "us against the world" mentality. It is about surviving in a very competitive world economy. We need to do this while we still have a consumer base that can still demand with the dollar. As a country, we could change policy and encourage job creation here in the United States if we just would "buy american."
For a list of corporations who use American made products, go to buyamerican.com. We are going to have to act. The lawmakers can only do so much. Most of the lawmakers on the Right could care less. All they care about is Capitalists, because that is who lines their pockets and who gets them elected. It is the cold hard truth. That is why i am pessimistic about the Jobs Bill passing the Senate. Many of the Senators will oppose such measures because they represent powerful interests that expand across the globe.
As i always say, do what you can to influence our system. Blog, write letters, demonstrate, buy American and anything else you can to help save our economy. At the heart of the issue is our values. Once the United States was the economic beacon of light for the rest of the world. We are witnessing the proletariatization of America. Now we are in danger of becoming a has -been, a joke. Do we want to restore the United States? Do we want to restore jobs that have been lost due to Republican indifference? I do. I remember. I want her back!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Jobs Bill attempts to relieve "main street."
Many of us haven't felt any relief from the Stimulus that was passed earlier this year. Many of the critics of the Bill said it could have done more to help the average American. Many of the companies that took the so called, "bail-out," took the money to pay their executives millions, while most of Americans got no relief. I talked to one truck driver who said, 'no government money helped save my truck." His truck was repossessed because he could no longer stay ahead due to rising fuel costs he had to accrue. Where was his bailout? Where was the bail-out for most Americans who did nothing to cause the financial calamity?
Now, taking some of the critique to heart, the House passed a Jobs' Bill by a narrow margin. Not one Republican voted for the measure. The Bill would use some of the money not allocated in the stimulus to help rebuild infrastructure, give some aid to state's and allow for some job creation at the local level.
We are in dire need of some relief, and of course, the Republicans would have us do nothing while some states, like Michigan, heavy hit by de-industrialization, who has seen unemployment rates around 20 percent.
However, as we have seen in the past, the Senate is a very conservative body full of conservative Democrats like Joe Lieberman who don't appear to be all that sympathetic to the plight of the average American. Passing the Senate is a hurdle we have yet to cross. The fact that this bill barely passed the House may be an indicator of its fate in the Senate.
The Country is currently undergoing a shift to the Right, and i believe this shift is due to fear and ignorance. Fear and ignorance is a dangerous combination. Fox news is currently feeding the frenzy with their fear-mongering done mostly by Glenn Beck. He appeals to ignorant people who feel they are losing their privilege. This group feels they are losing their white privilege because we elected a Black man as president. No matter what Barack Obama did, if he could lay golden eggs, this group would still be threatened.
Tribal ignorance grabs hold of people, especially during hard economic times. So despite the fact that the Democratic agenda would benefit many of these people, they are against it anyway. It is difficult to defend against such ignorance. So my naive belief that American was going to experience fundamental change during the Obama presidency has been destroyed by the harsh reality that special interests and capitalists own our political process. The radical changes that I would like to see will take time. I suppose all the promises he made during his campaign were a bit naive. I am a cynic, given this harsh realization. As I see the system failing to provide Democracy, I move further to the left.
Now, taking some of the critique to heart, the House passed a Jobs' Bill by a narrow margin. Not one Republican voted for the measure. The Bill would use some of the money not allocated in the stimulus to help rebuild infrastructure, give some aid to state's and allow for some job creation at the local level.
We are in dire need of some relief, and of course, the Republicans would have us do nothing while some states, like Michigan, heavy hit by de-industrialization, who has seen unemployment rates around 20 percent.
However, as we have seen in the past, the Senate is a very conservative body full of conservative Democrats like Joe Lieberman who don't appear to be all that sympathetic to the plight of the average American. Passing the Senate is a hurdle we have yet to cross. The fact that this bill barely passed the House may be an indicator of its fate in the Senate.
The Country is currently undergoing a shift to the Right, and i believe this shift is due to fear and ignorance. Fear and ignorance is a dangerous combination. Fox news is currently feeding the frenzy with their fear-mongering done mostly by Glenn Beck. He appeals to ignorant people who feel they are losing their privilege. This group feels they are losing their white privilege because we elected a Black man as president. No matter what Barack Obama did, if he could lay golden eggs, this group would still be threatened.
Tribal ignorance grabs hold of people, especially during hard economic times. So despite the fact that the Democratic agenda would benefit many of these people, they are against it anyway. It is difficult to defend against such ignorance. So my naive belief that American was going to experience fundamental change during the Obama presidency has been destroyed by the harsh reality that special interests and capitalists own our political process. The radical changes that I would like to see will take time. I suppose all the promises he made during his campaign were a bit naive. I am a cynic, given this harsh realization. As I see the system failing to provide Democracy, I move further to the left.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Lieberman to "hijack" health care reform
Joe Lieberman continues to amaze and appall me with his lone attempt to derail health care reform. I admit, I had began to doubt his loyalty to the Democratic Party when he supported McCain over Obama in the election. He aligned himself with the far right when he speculated that Barack Obama was potentially a Marxist. It sounded like paranoid hysteria. It was apparent then, that the former Vice-Presidential candidate for the Democrats had shifted to the Right. But how far to the Right had yet to be determined.
The latest compromise on health care reform sickens me, however, I recognize the need to get some kind of reform past for the 46 million Americans without health care. This watered down version in front of the senate will do nothing to relieve the Americans without insurance. The Medicare opt-in proposal was a far cry from the public option, but it was something. At this point I just want Democrats to survive to fight another day. However, Joe Lieberman went on CBS and said, "though I don't know exactly what is in it, from what I hear, I would have a hard time voting for it." He believes that this the medicare buy in would run up our deficit.
Lieberman, who has many of the Health Care industry headquarters located in his state, seems to know where his bread is buttered. At least we know who owns Joe Lieberman and where his loyalties lie. He is no Democrat, neither in theory or in practice. He is a lap dog for the health care industry, plain and simple.
The Medicare buy-in proposal would be a meager attempt at reform and a shell of the Bill we passed in the House. I recognize that the Democrats have let the special interests and their money hijack reform, just as they did during the Clinton years.
The Democrats can't get a self-proclaimed Democrat on board with their very basic agenda, it shows poor leadership. If the public option can survive on 51 votes in reconciliation, then I hope that it would be the route they take. They already compromised the heart of the bill away to conservative Dems. Now, all we have is a bill that will benefit the insurance companies, and nothing for the American people.
Please reader, write your lawmakers, blog, donate, vote and anything else you can to let these people know we are tired of politics as usual.
The latest compromise on health care reform sickens me, however, I recognize the need to get some kind of reform past for the 46 million Americans without health care. This watered down version in front of the senate will do nothing to relieve the Americans without insurance. The Medicare opt-in proposal was a far cry from the public option, but it was something. At this point I just want Democrats to survive to fight another day. However, Joe Lieberman went on CBS and said, "though I don't know exactly what is in it, from what I hear, I would have a hard time voting for it." He believes that this the medicare buy in would run up our deficit.
Lieberman, who has many of the Health Care industry headquarters located in his state, seems to know where his bread is buttered. At least we know who owns Joe Lieberman and where his loyalties lie. He is no Democrat, neither in theory or in practice. He is a lap dog for the health care industry, plain and simple.
The Medicare buy-in proposal would be a meager attempt at reform and a shell of the Bill we passed in the House. I recognize that the Democrats have let the special interests and their money hijack reform, just as they did during the Clinton years.
The Democrats can't get a self-proclaimed Democrat on board with their very basic agenda, it shows poor leadership. If the public option can survive on 51 votes in reconciliation, then I hope that it would be the route they take. They already compromised the heart of the bill away to conservative Dems. Now, all we have is a bill that will benefit the insurance companies, and nothing for the American people.
Please reader, write your lawmakers, blog, donate, vote and anything else you can to let these people know we are tired of politics as usual.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sarah Palin call the Spin Doctor! Please!
My parents were not college educated, but they did the best they could. We lived on a tobacco farm. It was a very modest, working-class existence. I cannot say that we ever went without dire necessities, but we didn't have alot of money to buy nice things. We did subscribe to Time and Newsweek. So, despite our hardships, we tried to stay informed about politics. That is very unlike Right-wing superstar, Sarah Palin.
It still boggles my mind that Sarah Palin could not name a few of these periodicals. I suppose she doesn't read anything. I would say the average taxi cab driver in New York city is more informed than Sarah Palin. Her Katie Couric interview was pitiful to say the least. She couldn't name newspapers or periodicals that she read to stay informed. This is the representative of the right ; Their conservative superstar. Wow!
She represents the Right's disdain for education and actual facts. Needless to say, reality is not a conservative strong suit. This is especially true for the so called "tea baggers". This group of uneducated, uninformed hatemongers wouldn't know a line in the Constitution if it smacked them between the eyes. Yet they claim to support Sarah Palin because many of them believe she would defend it. I am sorry, I don't want to be mean, but you can't defend something you have never read. It's not possible. This speaks volumes about the people who support her. They judge her on her popularity and "likability". Just like they did George Bush. Come on, we all knew he was an idiot. Many of these "tea baggers " would cast a vote for President of the United States based on celebrity, not actual ability.
Right now, Sarah Palin is probably not a threat to Barack Obama. But she might be dangerous if she ever lands herself a good spin doctor. I mean i could have spinned her follies much better than she has done in her subsequent interviews with Bill O'Reilly and Oprah Winfrey. She could have said she was afraid to mention reading anything from the "liberal elite" media. She needs to hire one., desperately. I suppose her "Going Rogue" was her unsuccessful attempt to spin all of her blunders during the McCain campaign, however i don't believe many people bought it. I mean some bought that book, but did they really buy what she was selling in that book. I hope not.
Many of us on the Left think that if the media would just leave her alone, she would disappear. But she is just to much dog gone fun. Perhaps that is her appeal. I cannot dismiss her totally because of her ability to draw huge crowds. Frankly, it scares me. It is hard to argue with someone who cannot form a simple argument. There is nothing to latch onto. She doesn't have an organized vision that one can tear apart. The Right continually attacks Barack Obama, because he has an organized vision for America, a world view if you will. They know his stance on an issue before he even speaks it. I don't really know what Sarah Palin stands for yet. Frankly, i don't want to know anymore.
It still boggles my mind that Sarah Palin could not name a few of these periodicals. I suppose she doesn't read anything. I would say the average taxi cab driver in New York city is more informed than Sarah Palin. Her Katie Couric interview was pitiful to say the least. She couldn't name newspapers or periodicals that she read to stay informed. This is the representative of the right ; Their conservative superstar. Wow!
She represents the Right's disdain for education and actual facts. Needless to say, reality is not a conservative strong suit. This is especially true for the so called "tea baggers". This group of uneducated, uninformed hatemongers wouldn't know a line in the Constitution if it smacked them between the eyes. Yet they claim to support Sarah Palin because many of them believe she would defend it. I am sorry, I don't want to be mean, but you can't defend something you have never read. It's not possible. This speaks volumes about the people who support her. They judge her on her popularity and "likability". Just like they did George Bush. Come on, we all knew he was an idiot. Many of these "tea baggers " would cast a vote for President of the United States based on celebrity, not actual ability.
Right now, Sarah Palin is probably not a threat to Barack Obama. But she might be dangerous if she ever lands herself a good spin doctor. I mean i could have spinned her follies much better than she has done in her subsequent interviews with Bill O'Reilly and Oprah Winfrey. She could have said she was afraid to mention reading anything from the "liberal elite" media. She needs to hire one., desperately. I suppose her "Going Rogue" was her unsuccessful attempt to spin all of her blunders during the McCain campaign, however i don't believe many people bought it. I mean some bought that book, but did they really buy what she was selling in that book. I hope not.
Many of us on the Left think that if the media would just leave her alone, she would disappear. But she is just to much dog gone fun. Perhaps that is her appeal. I cannot dismiss her totally because of her ability to draw huge crowds. Frankly, it scares me. It is hard to argue with someone who cannot form a simple argument. There is nothing to latch onto. She doesn't have an organized vision that one can tear apart. The Right continually attacks Barack Obama, because he has an organized vision for America, a world view if you will. They know his stance on an issue before he even speaks it. I don't really know what Sarah Palin stands for yet. Frankly, i don't want to know anymore.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Health Care Bill is a "sell out".
During Obama's campaign, I became excited about the possibility of real health care reform in this country. He gave some very moving speeches that promised real change. I was yet even more hopeful that the United States was actually going to get some real reform when he was elected along with a so called "filibuster proof" majority in the Senate. I was moved by Obama's campaign commerical about his mother's struggle with cancer. My mother had just recently passed away from breast cancer. She had no health insurance, and because of that she could not get treatment until it had already reached the 4th stage. For those of you who know anything about cancer, the 4th stage of breast cancer is mostly a terminal diagnosis.
However, this article is not about a pity party. Health care can be approached from many different angles. If you are a heartless conservative, perhaps you could look at it from a purely economic perspective. If she(my mother) had health insurance, she could have obtained a mammogram, which could have caught the tumor. This could have saved alot of money, and her life. When people can't get preventative care, curing them costs much more.
Our health care reform bill as it stands right now is a "sell out". The insurance lobby has enough conservative dem's in their pocket to kill the public option in the Senate. Frankly i am disappointed in the President for not fighting harder for the public option. I hope that this bill does not pass without the public option . This mandate to have insurance will line the pockets of the insurance companies. It won't do a damn thing to control costs. The insurance companies will gauge the American public. This is an insurance lobby bill, not a true health care reform bill.
Senator Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman have hijacked our bill. These 2 Senators have threatened to filibuster this bill if it contains any sort of public option. The trigger option that was actually supported by Republican Olympia Snow will get a "no" vote from Joe Lieberman. The so called Gang of 10 met behind closed doors yesterday and killed the public option. Real reform is dead unless Nancy Pelosi can do some great work in reconciliation. That will be the last hope for a public option. So readers, please call or write your congressmen. Tell them we need the public option. Main street needs some desperate help. Capitalists own our politicians and have a very disparate influence on our political process. This will never change if we continue to lay back and let the capitalist fat cat's buy out democracy out from under us.
So we can lie back and let this happen, or we can organize, vote, demostrate, write letters, blog, and every thing else that is possible to influence our lawmakers. We need real change. Not just change we can believe in, but change that actually happens. It is easier said than done.
However, this article is not about a pity party. Health care can be approached from many different angles. If you are a heartless conservative, perhaps you could look at it from a purely economic perspective. If she(my mother) had health insurance, she could have obtained a mammogram, which could have caught the tumor. This could have saved alot of money, and her life. When people can't get preventative care, curing them costs much more.
Our health care reform bill as it stands right now is a "sell out". The insurance lobby has enough conservative dem's in their pocket to kill the public option in the Senate. Frankly i am disappointed in the President for not fighting harder for the public option. I hope that this bill does not pass without the public option . This mandate to have insurance will line the pockets of the insurance companies. It won't do a damn thing to control costs. The insurance companies will gauge the American public. This is an insurance lobby bill, not a true health care reform bill.
Senator Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman have hijacked our bill. These 2 Senators have threatened to filibuster this bill if it contains any sort of public option. The trigger option that was actually supported by Republican Olympia Snow will get a "no" vote from Joe Lieberman. The so called Gang of 10 met behind closed doors yesterday and killed the public option. Real reform is dead unless Nancy Pelosi can do some great work in reconciliation. That will be the last hope for a public option. So readers, please call or write your congressmen. Tell them we need the public option. Main street needs some desperate help. Capitalists own our politicians and have a very disparate influence on our political process. This will never change if we continue to lay back and let the capitalist fat cat's buy out democracy out from under us.
So we can lie back and let this happen, or we can organize, vote, demostrate, write letters, blog, and every thing else that is possible to influence our lawmakers. We need real change. Not just change we can believe in, but change that actually happens. It is easier said than done.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Lessons from Ft. Hood
When George Bush declared his "War on Terror," I knew, even then, that something about it didn't quite make sense. It was the way in which his administration approached the terrorist attacks that really struck me as odd. He proclaimed, "We will make no distinction between those who harbor terrorists and the actual terrorists." To me, that didn't make any sense. Eight years later, we are still in Afganistan and Iraq. It still makes no sense to me how those who harbor terrorists are equally at fault as the actual terrorists. Harboring a terrorist could easily be done, considering that we ourselves have harbored terrorists here in the United States. Most of us remember Timothy Mcvey. The most recent Ft. Hood shootings could also serve as a reminder that this so called "War on Terror" has many fronts.
Likewise, the urgency should be on the actual terrorists, considering they could use their freedom to attack us again. So while the Bush administration had been so busy tracking down and attacking Iraq and Afghanistan, the actual terrorists that are not tied to a particular country, are free to plan and execute another attack. It is actually just common sense.
The Right jumped on the Ft. Hood murders and labeled it as Terrorism right away, if for no other reason than political manuevering.
Dana Perino, former Whitehouse spokeswoman, went on Hannity's America and proclaimed that Ft. Hood was definately a terrorist attack, and the our country was not attacked during Bush's Administration. Not only is this laughable, it is just wrong. I wonder is she has ever heard of 9/11. The point I am trying to make is that the Right wants to use Ft. Hood to fuel more support for this very elusive "War on Terror." This War has so many fronts that it doesn't have a clear front. We can't successfully attack and accomplish our goals. When the terrorists see us coming, they can move. Move to Pakistan, or any other neighboring country and continue their efforts. Plus, our continued occupation in these countries further fuels insurgency.
I want our troops home. Afghanistan is at risk of becoming another Vietnam. I hope Obama will follow what he knows is true. Bush's Wars were unjust and the absolute wrong approach to fighting terror. This are small factions of people, not particular countries. Yet civilians lose their lives daily in this misguided effort. Plus, we have lost thousands of American lives. These men and women come home in body bags. The Bush Administration would not allow the media access to the coffins draped with our flag. When i seen it for the first time i cried my eyes out.
We need our troops home so we can start the healing process. We need to end this war. We need to reestablish American on the World stage as a just actor. Likewise, we need to take the resources being squandered in these wars and focus on our economy. The U.S. is losing respect and spawning hate at the same time. We have alot of work to do, so let's get to it.
Likewise, the urgency should be on the actual terrorists, considering they could use their freedom to attack us again. So while the Bush administration had been so busy tracking down and attacking Iraq and Afghanistan, the actual terrorists that are not tied to a particular country, are free to plan and execute another attack. It is actually just common sense.
The Right jumped on the Ft. Hood murders and labeled it as Terrorism right away, if for no other reason than political manuevering.
Dana Perino, former Whitehouse spokeswoman, went on Hannity's America and proclaimed that Ft. Hood was definately a terrorist attack, and the our country was not attacked during Bush's Administration. Not only is this laughable, it is just wrong. I wonder is she has ever heard of 9/11. The point I am trying to make is that the Right wants to use Ft. Hood to fuel more support for this very elusive "War on Terror." This War has so many fronts that it doesn't have a clear front. We can't successfully attack and accomplish our goals. When the terrorists see us coming, they can move. Move to Pakistan, or any other neighboring country and continue their efforts. Plus, our continued occupation in these countries further fuels insurgency.
I want our troops home. Afghanistan is at risk of becoming another Vietnam. I hope Obama will follow what he knows is true. Bush's Wars were unjust and the absolute wrong approach to fighting terror. This are small factions of people, not particular countries. Yet civilians lose their lives daily in this misguided effort. Plus, we have lost thousands of American lives. These men and women come home in body bags. The Bush Administration would not allow the media access to the coffins draped with our flag. When i seen it for the first time i cried my eyes out.
We need our troops home so we can start the healing process. We need to end this war. We need to reestablish American on the World stage as a just actor. Likewise, we need to take the resources being squandered in these wars and focus on our economy. The U.S. is losing respect and spawning hate at the same time. We have alot of work to do, so let's get to it.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Constitutional rationale in the health care debate
Health care is a very controversial issue today, with both the left and right struggling to make their case to the American people. I have read blogs that make various arguments, some of which even invoke the constitution as a rationale to oppose reform. However, these opponents have a literal and limited interpretation of our Constitution. Often that argument is raised to oppose some particular legislation. The goal is to disguise the truly partisan reasons behind such opposition and couch them in opaque language. Our constitution is an adaptable document that outlines our core values that which we should never stray, and continue to strive to live out the true meaning of our creed. We do this by passing legislation that allows us to live our value system, not just preach it or teach it in school. . This gives our valued document real meaning '
However, I would like to make a constitutional argument in favor of health care reform. A very recognizable phrase from our Declaration of Independence is"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Granted this is not from our constitution directly, these were part of our "inalienable rights " laid out in the Declaration. This document was a precursor to our constitution. These very same values were maintained by our founding fathers, and I believe are very much of our American creed and value system.
Thomas Jefferson spoke first of Life, as he recognized that without one's life, one cannot enjoy liberty and pursue happiness if one is not alive. With millions of our fellow Americans without access to health insurance, life is not something we can take for granted.
One could argue the need for health care reform from many different perspectives. Some have called it a moral issue, still others have made a rather callous economic argument against reform. And of course, let's not forget the insurance industry. I suspect their bottom line may be affected by real reform. I for one believe that life is an inalienable right, not just for the rich and privileged in our great country.
However, I would like to make a constitutional argument in favor of health care reform. A very recognizable phrase from our Declaration of Independence is"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Granted this is not from our constitution directly, these were part of our "inalienable rights " laid out in the Declaration. This document was a precursor to our constitution. These very same values were maintained by our founding fathers, and I believe are very much of our American creed and value system.
Thomas Jefferson spoke first of Life, as he recognized that without one's life, one cannot enjoy liberty and pursue happiness if one is not alive. With millions of our fellow Americans without access to health insurance, life is not something we can take for granted.
One could argue the need for health care reform from many different perspectives. Some have called it a moral issue, still others have made a rather callous economic argument against reform. And of course, let's not forget the insurance industry. I suspect their bottom line may be affected by real reform. I for one believe that life is an inalienable right, not just for the rich and privileged in our great country.
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