My Presidential Vote

I have worked too hard opposing wars and supporting true health care reform to give my vote to anyone who repeatedly voted to fund the unjust horror and vows to unwisely escalate the unnecessary bloodshed, who proposes inadequate steps to ensure truly universal coverage while denigrating the real solution.

When it comes to politicians, you don't get what you don't ask for, insist on, or vote for.

I voted for the man who proclaims that which I believe, not to mention is the most qualified, possesses impeccible integrity, exhibits unmatched dedication, and has given more to this country and our lives than the major party candidates combined could ever hope to. I cast it with pride, and the bittersweet knowledge that there may well not be another candidate for president in my lifetime that embodies so much of the values of justice and peace that I hold dear.

That being said, I still wish Obama the best, hope for the best, and will give credit where credit is due.

Please don't drill, baby.

The US House of Reps just passed an energy bill last week (will the full concent of Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats) that would allow offshore oil drilling.

Below is the text of an email I sent to our Ohio Senators. Feel free to cut and paste (and change) and send yourself (contact info below):

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Senator:

Please do not go along with the House on allowing more off-shore (or any other, for that matter) oil drilling. It will not reduce gas prices nor contribute significantly to energy independence. If anything will only provide false hope and prolong our problematic dependence on nonrenewable resources. This could only delay the eventual and inevitable shift to wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, and other sources of energy which are relatively environmentally benign. To do so would mean that this country would miss the opportunity of creating the thousands of jobs that would result from be the research and development of the technologies and industries that will come from this shift.

Please make the right decision, and oppose further drilling. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Nathan Ruggles

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For Ohioans:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=OH
http://brown.senate.gov/contact/
http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

For others:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

"A task from God"

Recent words from Sarah Palin, as referenced here: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/COLUMN0703/809080321/1049/OPINION

"In June, speaking to ministry students at her former church, she portrayed the war in Iraq as 'a task that is from God.' At the same time, she asked them to pray for a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in Alaska. 'God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built.'"

Even assuming we are even able to know or interpret the "will of God," I do not believe that any God would have as a "task" a war that has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis -- not to mention even more numbers of injuries, and millions of refugees and internally displaced -- in addition to the thousands of American casualties. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands that have died and suffered due to the neglect of human needs at both home and abroad as billions are spent on this immoral war: victims of the terror of lack of health care, the terror of joblessness, the terror of homelessness, of malnutrition, hunger, and preventable disease. Not to mention that the invasion and its aftermath was illegal in terms of international law, the U.N. Charter, the U.S. Constituation, and the Geneva Convention. Not to mention that the continued occupation flies in the face of the desire of a majority of the Iraqis, Americans, and the world for us to leave.

I agree with most of the thoughts expressed here:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080908/COLUMN0703/809080321/1049/OPINION

I am also rather skeptical that God would sanction a pipeline that would continue our nation and the world on a path of destruction: dependence on fossil fuels; unhealthy pollution; damage of ecosystem in Alaska and around the pipeline; global warming, and; a way of thinking about energy policy that is rooted in both the past and dominated by the agendas of corporations, rather than forward-thinking and based on what is best for the people of American and the world.

In general, I find troublesome the idea that we can declare a knowledge of what is the "will of God." Especially in a public setting. Especially as a political statement. Especially from the mouth of a public official. I could also say it is offensive, simple-minded, arrogant, and self-centered. In addition, coming from someone that is a high-profile candidate on the national stage, it is especially unwise and insensitive in the current international political climate. Ongoing perceptions and misperceptions of Christian religious motivations in American foreign policy -- by Muslims in particular, but also by other countries and certainly our European allies -- dog this country, and can have continued negative consequences.

Still Sick Over Sick Days

How come it is the Democrats who always seem to dissappoint me more?

Maybe because I expect the Republicans to do so. At least I know they are usually against my beliefs. At least I know that they stand against me.

The Democrats, on the other hand, claim not to. Yet by saying so they are being coy. And deceptive. They merely acting like they stand with me, only to step away at the last minute. I guess it hurts more to be betrayed by a (seeming) friend. Of course, then they expect me to vote for them come election time anyway, taking me for granted in that sense, and then have the nerve to then get angry with me if I threaten to withhold my vote or to go elsewhere (or even send thuggish lawyers to confront third party petitioners in dark parking lots at night, like happened to a friend of mine).

Republicans may be wolves, but the Democrats are being wolves in sheeps clothing.

I am now feeling vengeful, and thinking that a Green or independent spoiler of Ted's 2010 reelection bid would be sweet.....

Actually, this is not simply vengeful. Democrats need to learn a lesson, and understand that these actions have negative consequences, that they cannot browbeat me and then take me for granted.

Sick Today Over Sick Days

Disappointment. Disgust.

That is how I feel towards our governor now.

That's because he is responsible for the decision to pull the Ohioans for Health Families Act from the Ohio ballot for November two days ago.

The "sick days" ballot initiative would have allowed Ohio workers to earn up to 7 paid sick days per year (with pro-rated amounts for part time workers) with companies having over 25 employees. Today, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans have no paid sick days, and cannot afford to take unpaid days off when they are sick, or if they need to care for an ill loved one or child. Or are forced to use precious vacation time. Employees blanche at this idea, and some businesses were lined up to oppose it (as expected). But in actuality, the cost to businesses and society in lost productivity due to sick (and worried sick) employees still going to work, as well as infecting co-workers and customers, is greater than the cost of paying the paid sick days. See the website for more: http://www.sickdaysohio.org/

The campaign's accomplishment was impressive: they not only collected over 260,000 signatures to submit it to the Ohio General Assembly, but after the legislature rejected it, they went back and gathered another 240,000 to get it on the ballot. (in both cases, beyond the 120,000 minimum requirement.) This is hard work. I know firsthand. It is no small accomplishment. Job well done.

However, Strickland had expressed reservations about the initiative for some time. Now, it is clear he has bowed to the business interests, betrayed the unions that supported this initiative -- as well as got him elected -- and turned his back the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who would have benefited from this law. It must not concern him enough, maybe since I'm sure he gets all the paid sick days -- note to mention vacation days -- that he wants) In any case, he has pressured the campaign, along with supporters such as the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) to pull the plug.

Strickland and Co. have claimed to do so for other reasons:

They say it is because they think that it would be better addressed at the national level. That is not the case, since the 2006 minimum wage initiative -- for which I was a political organizer -- that passed here in Ohio, put decisive pressure on Congress and the federal government to act in turn. There is no reason that would not be the case here.

They say they want to prevent a campaign "with false claims about the impact of sick days." That is not a reason. They knew that would be the case from the beginning.

They also say they want to prevent a "divisive campaign." Well, first: campaigns are usually rather naturally divisive. But what they really refer to here is divisions between Strickland & Co. on one hand, and those campaigning for the initiative on the other. They are all mostly Democrats, and they don't want a rift in the party. While divisions among a coalition in a campaign is certainly potentially problematic, it is not like it is a problem that they have no control over. It is completely self-inflicted; they have the power to end it at any minute, by simply supporting the initiative!

They also say that the scuttling of the initiative was "a course of action that was best for Ohioans, and all Americans." It is clearly not what is best for Ohioans, or all Americans. They made this decision out of self-interest, though ironically, it is not. This decision is actually bad for the Democrats in the fall campaign. Mandatory paid sick days is popular, and just as in 2006 with the minimum wage initiative, people would register and vote who may not have otherwise. In addition to being more Democrat-leaning, these voters would also tend to vote for the candidates and party who supported the initiative: in this case, the Democrats. For this reason, in 2006 the minimum wage initiative was at least partially if not largely responsible for the '06 victories by Strickland, along with Sherrod Brown. The Democrats would reap the benefits from a sick days initiative the same way, as a popular initiative that would drive Democrats to the polls. Ohio could go to Obama as a result. Now that strong electoral influence is lost.

This tragedy is all made worse by the fact that the initiative would surely would have passed, even without much help. Polls show that a wide majority of Ohioans support it. Which makes Strickland's excuses all the more strange, and his apparent threats to oppose it all the more frustrating and disgusting.

I encourage all to contact Governor Strickland's office and voice their disappointment: (614) 466-3555

You call also call the SEIU about dropping their support as well:
(614) 461-1199 or (800) 227-1199

You can ask for the union President, Becky Williams