The real ACORN story

I normally do not watch MSNBC, but a friend shared this.

Finally, someone in the mainstream media telling the bigger story on the supposed ACORN scandal. For instance, it more often than not goes unmentioned that ACORN self-reported voter registration problems in the first place. It usually goes unreported that one of the offices these "journalists" visited called the police, and that the videos were heavily edited.

Thousands are dying and going bankrupt without good health care, and thousands more innocents are dying in Afghanistan, and we are actually concerning ourselves with this non-story of ACORN?!?!

******

The media fails ACORN Sept. 24: Rachel Maddow is joined by Occidental College politics professor Peter Dreier, who authored a study on how myths about ACORN were manufactured and how easily the mainstream media - not just the right wing media - was led into reporting falsehoods. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/33013202#33013202

Ignorance & Misinformation Among Anti-Obama Activists

Some excellent footage from the recent demostration in DC.

I have honestly tried really hard to understand these people. I do understand some of their legitimate concerns about taxes, the bailout, government spending, fears of losing (good) health care if there were changes, and general concerns over the effectiveness of proposed health care reform. However, this represents a small minority. And even then, that fact remains that:

a) spending and bailouts started under Bush, and this crowd largely supports him (making them hypocritical), and

b) their health care reform concern are not based on real facts (e.g. Obama is not proposing a government takeover of health care.)

After listening carefully and looking at the signs I saw, here is a list of other concerns these people have:
Obama is like Hitler
Obama is a good speaker (like Hitler)
Obama is a Muslim
Obama "already destroyed most of the country"
Obama is going to arm volunteers with weapons
Barack Obama = the Antichrist (according to the Bible)
"Obamacare"
"we didn't vote for this health care plan"
commies
socialists
fascists
"shame on the press"
abortion
lies
people on welfare
czars

And here are some things they want:
God
a Christian in the White House
ruled by God
freedom
change in government
"take our country back"
abolish Medicare
Glenn Beck

My response to these is that while some of these may be legitimate things to be concerned about generally (i.e. fascism) or to support generally (i.e. freedom), the specific connections to Obama and current actual or proposed policies are either mistaken or nonexistant. As for the rest, many of these are just plain ignorant and offensive on the face of it. My overwhelming sense is that what they have to say is largely based in ignorance and misinformation.

One may ask how this is possible in the "information age." But with so many sources of information, you may easily find some (or one) source of (mis)information that suits your preconceived notions and/or perceived values. These people have apparently done so.

I have been worried about this country's future for awhile now, about the possibility of making the American Dream a reality. Sadly, this makes me scared even more.

But at the same time, I must have hope...and continue to work for progress, peace, and justice.

The Edwardses: Complicated?

My comment on the following Op-Ed:

New York Times
A Complicated Question

By MAUREEN DOWD

Published: May 6, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/opinion/06dowd.html

We are asked here to consider Elizabeth Edwards' motives; the piece calls them into question. It is difficult to judge her motives without reading the book, the Time article, and seeing her Oprah appearance. My instinct says to avoid being judgmental considering what she's been through; to do so risks seeming to minimize her pain and condone his behavior. Frankly, any public embarrassment he suffers as a result is deserved; he best grin and bear it. His self-destruction and public excoriation should serve as a warning and deterrent to men (politicians) who would contemplate similar behavior.

In the end, Dowd did seem a bit hard on her; I'm not sure why.

One statement that confused me: the criticism that "She may be smart, but she doesn’t seem to know much about men." It seems to imply that she doesn't understand that men are going to be unfaithful given the opportunity. If that is a correct interpretation, I resent such generalizations about us "men." Not all of us are like Mr. Edwards in this way.

Finally, in addition to the suffering of Elizabeth and her family, and the ending of an at least somewhat laudible political career, perhaps the biggest loss in my mind is that of a champion of the poor. There aren't many, sadly. Low income Americans need more allies in places of power...

Some Worst Fears Realized

Story: An emerging progressive consensus on Obama's executive power and secrecy abuses
Link: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/04/13/obama/

Some of my worse fears are now realized. I just didn't think -- or maybe hoped against hope -- that it wouldn't be so blatant, so extensive, so flagrant, and so soon.

As this essay indicates, the Obama administration is guilty of supporting and even extending some of the worse abuses of the Bush administration with regard to secrecy, executive power, and human rights.

Now, we must acknowledge -- as does the essay -- that there have been some progressive successes and victories since the Obama administration came to power. However, they are minor and limited when considered in light of the disappointing record so far on much larger issues, i.e.:

• continued bailout and subsidy of corporations and the powerful and wealthy;
• continued rising military budgets;
• continued illegal, immoral, unwise, and unconstitutional wars;
• continued escalation of such wars (simply trading Afghanistan for Iraq), and;
• continued non-solutions to the health care crises.

This bears out the correctness of the contention that some of the severest problems that plague our country and government have become sadly institutional, left unaffected and smoldering whether it is a D or R sitting in the Oval Office.

Now, whereas the new attitude from the White House is refreshing, when it comes to the imperative issues of war and peace, human and constitutional rights, executive power and privilege, corporate power and abuse, and the health and well-being of the people: whether it comes with a smirk and stumbling Texas drawl, or delivered with a pleasant smile and pretty words....bad policy is still bad policy.

While I am proud I voted the way I did -- for Nader not Obama -- any sense of vindication is and will be overwhelmed by a sense of disappointment, and a concern for all those who did vote for Obama, their deep hopes entrusted to him, and how some of them now may well become cynical, disaffected, and withdraw from civic and political involvement.

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):

*******************

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

*********************

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.