Facts vs. Belief

government-buildingI would find it amusing were it not so appalling that people support the idea that the struggles between Democrats and Republicans are simply matters of belief. These problems are a matter of facts. Republicans ran on a platform of jobs and the economy. Since taking office in January the Republican led House of Representatives has rallied behind social issue after social issue while doing everything in their power to make sure taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Americans were kept at record lows.

It is a fact that corporations are sitting on some of the largest stockpiles of cash in American history. It is a fact that the wealthiest 4% of Americans have an effective tax rate lower than the 1950s and lower than the vast majority of their fellow citizens today. It is a fact that those who the Republicans have deemed “job creators” are doing very, very well despite the perceived economic climate when, in fact, very few jobs have been created. It is also a fact that if we do not raise the debt ceiling we will only worsen our economic climate. In fact, the Republicans (who I will remind you controlled the White House and both houses in Congress for six years) raised the debt ceiling ten times. Ten times they raised it, and now they are playing politics with the one time when it looks imperative that we raise it again.

The Suffering American People

The fact is most Americans are suffering. Why aren’t our Republican friends worried about tax breaks for the 90%? Our roads and bridges are crumbling. Why aren’t our Republican friends talking about improving America’s infrastructure? We are paying 20-40% to export our goods to countries like India and China, while only charging them 2-4% to import them to America. Why aren’t our Republican friends concerned about trade inequity?

Rep. Jared Polis actually proposed legalizing and taxing online gambling and marijuana as a solution. Why aren’t all solutions being considered? Why do we have to have things one way or the other? Why can’t we have spending cuts AND tax increases? Surely if one of these solutions will get us out of our current financial situation, utilizing all of them will get us out faster.

While it is not a fact, I think that both parties have failed us. Unfortunately we do not have a strong 3rd party. Until we do we must vote for the “lesser of two evils” so to speak. If you take out your own long held political beliefs, look at the facts, remember that social issues are not really in the realm of a limited government, and vote for who actually has a plan and agenda to help you, then you will very clearly know who falls into the “greater of the two evils” category.

I’m Right, and You’re an Idiot!

sad-political-stateA cancer has been growing in the people of America for a long time. It is intrusive, it is malignant and it is infecting nearly every part of our population. I knew the cancer was bad, but I had no idea of how deep it had sunk its hateful claws into us.

Our nation, the wonderful United States of America recently had a birthday. This is a grand and wonderful time to reflect on how far we have come as a nation. It is also a prime opportunity to consider where we are currently as a nation, a people and a country.

As always, we have had our bad times and our good times. I find myself compelled to really look at our current situation, and speak with others around me about the current state of America. My goal is not so much to convince people of my particular political point of view but to foster friendly, intelligent debate regarding politics and our country. I think it’s absolutely vital for any healthy country’s citizens to be actively and openly involved in politics. It is not only our responsibility but our duty as Americans to remain well informed and constantly pursue a better life for ourselves and each other.

However, I have discovered that the sickness has embedded itself into my closest friends and family members. Before I go on, I’ll define the cancer about which I speak:

The cancer is intolerance.

The cancer is hard lining.

The cancer is disrespect.

The cancer is hate.

The News Media, Popular Entertainment and the Public Eye

Modern media and the American people have strange ideas of what is entertainment and what is news. The news and media have never been perfect, but it has most certainly gone downhill over the last decade or so. News is no longer the news. News is now editorials, opinion and spin based off of whatever political agendas the super corporations hold. Fox is one of the worst offenders but no corporately owned news organization is immune to the bias. They report “their side” while ignoring and oftentimes defaming and insulting the “other side”. Some no longer even hide behind the veil of impartiality and outwardly admit they are supporting a certain agenda. Even if they don’t, the stories they cover or don’t easily tell you which side they are on. And when they report the news, do they speak favorably or do they speak with disdain? The difference is painfully obvious in these corporately owned news organizations.

I would direct you to a very interesting documentary: Outfoxed at http://www.outfoxed.org/

This documentary is a bit outdated now, but it is still full of great examples on how our “news” manipulates stories and our opinions of them. I’d recommend it for that reason alone.

The lines have become blurred between what is presented as news and the talk shows and editorials. They are no longer separated or specifically identified as one or the other. It seems to be more effective to convince people if you allow a celebrity news personality to determine what is fact, news or editorial. Viewers (or listeners) make an unconscious decision about what they want to believe, then justify the belief by saying (and believing) it was delivered as factual news.

Our politicians treat each other terribly, which doesn’t help anything. We see them up smiling and shaking hands with the same person they horribly insulted or said some terrible things about only moments before. We all know after the smile and handshake they will go back to being horrible to each other but for some reason we accept that as OK and elect or re-elect these people that just say what they think we want to hear at the time. We as a publically conscious people, and the news media, need to hold politicians accountable for this duplicity and disrespect, but it depends on which “side” the viewer or the news outlet is on, if any accountability is held at all.

Much of our popular entertainment has also gone the route of being rude, horrible and even amoral as the standard form of entertainment. There are shows about humiliating people publically, trashing them privately and even openly betraying them in hopes to be the “winner”. These terrible and destructive shows are not so much politically based but they do influence our perception of what is right and wrong and how we treat each other. If we were truly a moral people (regardless of religion, or lack thereof), we would be appalled by such entertainment and shun it. However, that is not the case and the traits we see in these shows tend to seep into our day to day activities without us even knowing it. Since these types of actions on these shows are ok, it has become OK for us to treat strangers that way, then friends that way, and ultimately our own families and the people we most care for.

Shame on us.

Tainted and Flawed Political Discussions

Political debate and discussions can scarcely be called such anymore. This insidious cancer is eating away at America’s political soul. I have, and often do, get into many different political discussions with many different people of all types of political views. More and more frequently, these discussions are failing to actually be discussions. Instead of the intelligent and respectful debate we should be having with each other, it is turning more and more into name calling and insults, being rude and disrespectful. When a celebrity commentator ramps up the rhetoric and drags a person who holds a dissimilar viewpoint through the mud, it may seem amusing. The networks and stations have discovered, of course, that sensationalism and extremism gets viewers, listeners, and ultimately, high-paying advertisers. These people are being rude, offensive and are no longer debating. This is name calling and bickering. Why this kind of behavior suddenly makes for good entertainment is beyond me.

Respect, integrity and honesty are missing from these discussions. The inability to even consider another viewpoint is all but gone. The ability to be informed with actual, real facts seems too much a burden for most. The real and productive type of debate seems to be almost extinct. It has become very obvious that our elected representatives have taken this change to heart, ignoring the wishes of the majority of their constituency in favor of pleasing the most vocal and vicious of their party.

For some reason, winning a debate with a more honest, respectful, factual and open discussion than the other person has been replaced with insults, hard lines and name calling. The other side becomes tired of being insulted, they realize there is nothing to discuss because it has ceased being a discussion when the opposite side seems intent on simply talking at them. When the other side is simply tired of being disrespected so they end the conversation, there is no winner. That is not a victory. That is not validation of a point or a political stance. The only thing that validates is an inability to actually discuss and debate important political matters that affect each and every one of us.

Shame on us.

The Reality of our Political State

What exposed the cancer in our political world to me now was this most recent 4th of July. As is typical for this time of year, a feeling of patriotism was high and made many of us think about our current political climate. But whenever a political topic came up during the usual backyard barbeques, my friends and family tended to turn every discussion or debate into name calling and bickering within minutes if they didn’t agree with my position. This astounded me. This was shocking and horribly depressing. I have watched it on TV for years but now the closest people I love and care for are treating me like a punching bag for my opinions.

To my dismay I found myself pulling out of these discussions almost immediately, unwilling and unable to “fight back” in such rude and pointless ways. I was not about to start calling people I respected and cared for idiots, communists, Nazis or any of the other many terrible things that are flung about these days. It’s not right; it’s not how you treat people you care about. We shouldn’t treat anyone like that, honestly. We should be better than this.

Shame on us.

Chemo for our Political Cancer

The only people I found I could talk to were people that agreed with my position. And while it is nice to experience agreement while we enjoy our freshly grilled hamburgers, it’s not very productive. We are not furthering the cause of healthy political discourse and looking at common problems from different angles. Political discussion or debate is best had with those that don’t necessarily agree or understand your own position. It’s not about regurgitating the viewpoint of someone who is getting paid to entice advertisers to a timeslot. It’s about hearing the stories of people and gaining an understanding of why they feel a certain way. Why would a person passionately hold a certain view if the only reason they hold that view is because someone told them to think that way? Why would we insult a son, daughter, mother, father, uncle, aunt and anyone else for something like that? We must recognize what we are doing to each other and end this barbaric and self-destructive behavior.

Republicans and Democrats are not opposing football teams, though we seem to be acting very much like it, unfortunately. We shouldn’t be treating each other as we do. We shouldn’t instantly insult, demean and be condescending toward each simply because we identify more or less with a broad political group.

We also can’t stick unreasonably, without facts, without thinking, to our current party line politics or stances. All parties change their stances to some degree over time. All parties completely switch political standing, more now they ever! And no political party contains all of your own personal political views 100% in line with their own. This means nobody should take hard line stances along political party lines. Nothing is black and white; everything has shades of grey no matter how you look at it. So take more time to look at the political issue at hand and find out where you stand, on individual issues, regardless of party lines or what political party you may affiliate yourself with today.

And above all, no matter where you find yourself politically, you must open your heart and mind to other possibilities and options. We are all wrong, at one point or another. We all take a stand on the wrong side at times. We all have the ability to learn and grow as long as we are open to new ideas, new facts and new opinions. By shutting out these new ideas, new facts and new opinions, we shut ourselves off from being politically informed. This changes people from political assets, to political liabilities. We should strive to make sure we are political assets in order to help to make a better America.

Each and every one of us has been infected with this cancer, to at least some degree. If this cancer isn’t cured, it will consume us, to our ultimate sorrow.

We must all strive to treat each other better.

We must all strive to sort the fact from the fiction.

We must all strive to become better politically.

We must all encourage others to become better as we do.

We must all fight this political cancer.

We the People must do better.

Steven Colbert Super PAC Shenanigans

people-politico-steven-colbert-super-pacUsing the Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United, Steven Colbert, of the Colbert Report on Comedy Central, has legally and legitimately started his own Super PAC.

Over the last several months, he’s been working to form his own Super PAC in order to show that he can use the Supreme Court ruling in order to push his own political agenda. Steven Colbert is a comedian and his show is brilliant. What’s frightening about this stunt is that it goes beyond satire—he is showing the public exactly how anybody can do this. Because his program is a comedy show, he is not being taken seriously, except by those who truly understand the horror of what he is able to accomplish.

www.colbertpac.com

What is the Supreme Court’s Decision on Citizens United?

Effectively the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and businesses have the same rights as an individual United States citizen, and that no caps or limitations can be applied to the amount of money they can contribute politically because it limits a company’s freedom of speech.

This ruling has effectively given them the ability to amplify their influence on candidates. Companies with millions of dollars to spend to further their own agendas will absolutely take the opportunity to do so, in many respects drowning out or outright buying votes for their corporation and PACs.

What is a PAC (Super PAC)?

PAC Power: Inside the World of Political Action Committees

PAC Power: Inside the World of Political Action Committees

PAC stands for Political Action Committee. A Super PAC is just the bigger corporate type of PAC. A PAC is a committee that can be formed by anyone having some kind of political goal or agenda. Anyone can donate to a PAC, and this donation is undisclosed. This can be a donation of 1 cent to 1 billion dollars. Since this kind of political spending does not have to be disclosed it is a perfect and legal way to hide contributions to any PAC that supports your cause or that you yourself have created.

Why is the Citizens United decision and the formation of PACs so detrimental to our democracy?

For years, in fact for 100 years, a Supreme Court ruling has limited the amount of money corporations, lobbyists, and other interest groups can dump into the political system, whether for advertising, campaigning, or directly supporting candidates. The reasoning was that the country and the justices felt that it is important to limit these contributions so that companies and special interests didn’t drown out the will of the people. The people, even those that lobby for corporations, all have a vote and already have significant power when determining elections, without the overbearing influence of multi-million or even multi-billion dollar campaign ads, smear ads, propaganda and all of the other ways that voters and elections are influenced.

Now, with the ability to form PACs and Super PACs, the floodgates have been opened for these special interests to pour in as much money as needed to keep the legislation and politicians they want in power. There is a correlation between the amount of money put into an election and the results of the election. The influence was once limited, now it is not.

This decision by the Supreme Court is a new one and we are yet to see the full extent of what unlimited lobbying will do. I cringe to think about the damage we, our country and even our world might endure when faced with such forces as the petroleum industry, which literally has tens of billions of dollars PER MONTH it could potentially sink into campaigns. $10,000,000,000 a month to buy an election, and those that contribute can remain completely anonymous. How can the normal citizen even have a chance to combat such overwhelming funds, coming from questionable sources? And that is exactly the idea of PACs.

So I appreciate what Steven Colbert is doing. He has legitimately created a Super PAC, with his admitted intended use of the money to be completely frivolous. He has clearly stated that he wants a Super PAC so he has more money to have fun. And he actually got his Super PAC, and there are many people giving money to the PAC as we speak!

I think what Steven Colbert is doing is great. He is making Super PACs very public and showing what kind of sham they really are. He is illustrating the kind of shenanigans that he and anyone else could do, with their own PAC. There’s no accountability, there is no transparency, if the source of the money is anonymous. Transparency is one of the biggest wishes the American people have for their government. A government for the people is the very foundations that our democracy has to have to function properly. It was never meant for the corporation or special interests with the biggest coffers to have the biggest influence on our elected officials and the bills that become laws.

I hope you are all shocked and appalled that this is even possible. If you haven’t gotten to that point yet, watch below and try to understand the insane and horrible consequences that the ruling on Citizens United can, and probably will, cause our democracy. Our government is not supposed to be able to be for sale. But right now, it is.

Viacom Stops Steven Colbert PAC

Forming the Super PAC

Viacom Sends Letter About Super PAC

Viacom Does Not Want Colbert to Start Super PAC

FEC Questions Colbert ‘s Super PAC

Filing for Super PAC

Colbert’s Hearing on His Super PAC

Steven’s Victory Forming His Super PAC

So there you have it. He gets his Super PAC. If he can do it, so can anyone else. I know this is supposed to be a joke. The problem is, the joke is on us.

Politco Pandering to the Crazy People

barack-obama-birth-certificate
I find it mind numbing and a huge waste of our political will and time to pander to the crazy, inflammatory, vilifying, off the wall rumors and propaganda that seems to be coming in ever greater amounts from America. I am insulted that our national government felt it necessary to take time, effort and money to address ridiculous rumors, instead of the enormously important job of running this country. This is wrong. It is a waste of our time. We have a mountain of issues to tackle and we as a people seem to have an incredibly difficult time coming together to solve any of these issues, issues far more important, relevant and impactful than chasing crazy rumors. I’m talking of course about the ridiculous rumor about our President, Barack Obama, not being an American or born in this country.

He has already provided mountains of evidence regarding his citizenship, eligibility for the office of President of the United States and his legitimacy as to becoming the President of the United States of America. Also, he was rightfully elected through popular vote. Issue Resolved.

The problem is you know it isn’t. Soon after his press conference, people were screaming it was a fake. Experts appeared out of nowhere testifying that this was a forgery to keep the American public in the dark.

Just stop it.

Seriously, please just stop and think for a moment.

Can we please take a moment and look at the situation with a calm, sane, logical head? Our nation is struggling. America is having a terrible time economically, socially, environmentally, strategically and politically. Take a moment to think clearly about the real issues that are affecting you and me. The real issues that we each struggle with every day. Our jobs, our families, our health and are prosperity are teetering on the edge of disaster. Why is anyone wasting time with this rumor and hearsay?

Propaganda, Inc.: Selling America's Culture to the World

Propaganda, Inc.: Selling America's Culture to the World

There was a time when these lies, this propaganda and this outward and obvious smearing and vilifying of our fellow Americans, our neighbors and our people would have never been tolerated. Now it seems this kind of behavior is the norm. Somehow it’s ok to spread these tiresome lies and many American people are pushing this harder through blogging, tweets, the media and more.

We must find a way to turn the tide before it drowns us all. It is not acceptable to treat each other this way. It is not acceptable to lie about each other this way. It is not acceptable to be this way whether Americans or not.

Find the real moral high ground and put the slang and slurs aside. Stop circulating rumor and propaganda and move forward using facts, compassion and common sense to get this country on track. This whole situation embarrasses me as a person, as an American and a patriot. I will use this whole scenario as a reminder of how silly, ridiculous and flat out crazy all of this has gotten. I will use this as a reminder to keep the conversation rational, factual and on track to tackle the very real political issues we face in this country. I ask that you do the same.

Resources

Enviro Action on Earth Day

earth-day-earthHappy Earth day everyone! I hope that you are enjoying a gorgeous day as I am here today. I hope to see these continue throughout the season and years to come! It is up to each one of us to do our part to be responsible environmental stewards of planet earth. We each need to insure the future of our beautiful planet so that our children and our children’s children can enjoy the world we have today.

To do this we all must become environmentally aware and make changes in our own lives as well as help to facilitate environmental awareness in those around us. We all can take both small and large steps to insure our future and our own security in a greener, more secure world.

Make no mistake, this is incredibly important and is about both our quality of life and the security of our lives. We must find ways to become self-sustaining in our energy consumption. This total environmental solution is not going to be one miracle cure. Our only hope stems from everyone working harder to conserve, to become more efficient, and come together to find solutions to the massive and irrefutable crisis we now face.

Environmental Responsibility

The Climate Crisis

The Climate Crisis

Global warming and climate change are huge factors in our overall health of our planet. The rate at which the CO2 levels are climbing in our world is astonishing. The correlations between these rises in CO2 and worldwide temperature changes and the impact of these changes point to massive, but avoidable disasters, but only if we act now. We must act swiftly to insure we have the best chance of limiting these disasters. Should we take decisive and strong action it is possible for us to avoid the most dire and deadly of the environmental disasters that are predicted should we hold too our current course.

Climate Change Information

American Peoples Energy At Risk

Acting in Time on Energy Policy

Acting in Time on Energy Policy

Our energy consumption is America is huge and we struggle to keep up. We have an outdated and straining infrastructure. We depend entirely too much on energy sources that are not only finite they are quickly running low. We must upgrade and modernize our energy infrastructure to have any hope to sustain the growth rate that we all currently enjoy. We must strive for new, sustainable and low impact energy solutions. We must also up the cost of wasteful and carbon heavy forms of energy production. We have the technology to move forward but we will not see this motion until incentives are given to those to move in the right direction.

American Energy Crisis

Make Your Voice Count

Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials

Citizen's Handbook to Influencing Elected Officials

The bottom line is that we have every reason to push ourselves and each other to do whatever we as a people can. We as a people need to band together and stop squabbling over the small things and get America on the right track to energy independence and an overall carbon reduction. The people know how to do this. The people can get this done. The problem is that the politico in this country is using our very future as bargaining chips for their petty squabbles. They are literally sacrificing your safety, security and future for their own personal immediate gains.

If any of this touched on a subject you care about I urge you to take action. Share this information with those around you. Discuss our environmental and energy political policies with those around you. Ignore the rhetoric. Dive into the facts for yourself and learn that we are in a dangerous place. We as a people can improve this. We have done it in the past and we can do it now if we want a future. Reach out to your peers, make sure to vote, sign petitions, and contact your legislators to let them know that they need to vote for green energies, they need to stand behind political progress in America towards a more secure, green, sustainable future so we as a people can have a bright and wonderful future.

Where Your Voice Can Be Heard

Happy Earth day people of the politico-verse, speak out today so those in Washington, and close to home, know that we demand a better, cleaner, safer future for ourselves and our children.

 

 

 

 

UN Coalition Defends Democracy in Libya

libya-protestsLead by the US, UN forces started a campaign to enforce a no fly zone in Libya dubbed Odyssey Dawn. Approximately 110 new and old Tomahawk missiles were fired into the Libyan night, targeting roughly 20 strategic locations to knock out the Libyan surface to air defense network.

Some of the countries involved in enforcing the UN resolution are; United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Qatar

Everyone hates to see it come to such violence and deadly actions. It is good to see that the UN is standing behind their promise and moving in institute a no-fly zone as requested by the Libyan people. Gadhafi’s military and supports have been violently attacking demonstrators in Libya, and the UN is helping to defend this country’s people against their own government.

It is amazing to me to see how democracy is spreading throughout the world recently. It is amazing how 21st century technologies are being used to spread the word of the people. Social media has proven to be a powerful force in uniting people toward a common cause. Too long have many people been suppressed, downtrodden, suffering terrible human rights violations. This new technology has been used in many unforeseen ways and empowered nations of people who for decades, had no voice.

Stand by the Libyan people and support their revolution into democracy. Don’t let the talking heads convince you that anyone, anywhere around the world does not have the right or is not ready. It is a fundamental right to have what a true democracy brings to its people. Everyone on the planet deserves to have a voice in the world around them, no matter their race, creed, economic status or politico faction.

There may be micro issues on why some would argue against a democratic country but the larger and most important thing is that all people deserve the most basic human rights. From there, we can begin to tackle the smaller or more focused issues of the world and how they affect us.

Why would anyone else ever deserve less then what we have?

 

Democratic Dominos

voter-infoI don’t know about you, but seeing and hearing about the Domino Effect that has started through the Middle East, starting with Tunisia, is something amazing to behold. The power of technology is empowering those people. It has empowered many to make the world a better place for them and ultimately for everyone.

Most of us can agree that a free Democracy is the way for the populations of the world to find true prosperity. A free democracy gives all of its people the political power to forge the future for themselves. It is a powerful and empowering method of government in which I believe that all of the people of the world deserve.

So did many others, especially FOX news. Years ago they fought, and pushed, and said that democracy is something that everyone should have. That people all over the world have the right, as do we, to be free in a truly free democratic society. So now why is there a sudden backlash from the Right Wing headed by FOX news to downplay the amazing uprisings taking place in these areas? It seems their hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Secret History of the Iraq War

Secret History of the Iraq War

We literally invaded a country without being provoked on the grounds of “defense” and later justified our misled invasion as spreading democracy throughout the world. When anyone questioned the actions or the motives of the Bush Administration and the Iraq War, they were attacked as traitors, unpatriotic and weak. Now there are countries that are trying to bring democracy into their own countries and they balk, sidestep and even question these other countries on their worthiness or ability to handle a free democracy. It’s absolutely crazy.

Are the American people’s memories so short that they cannot remember only a few short years ago? It’s not like we’re relying on history books or drawings on a cave wall. We KNOW what happened. We all lived through it. So why then is there such discourse in such a simple fact, that we were all supposed to agree on, that everyone, EVERYONE deserves a free democracy. In a free democracy the people have the power to make their country into what they want, what works best for them and will give everyone a say in how things are done.

Denial and Deception: A Study of the Bush Administration's Rhetorical Case for Invading Iraq

Denial and Deception: A Study of the Bush Administration's Rhetorical Case for Invading Iraq

I know, they talk about oil prices going up. They talk about trade changing and uncertainty. There is uncertainty because we have supported the regimes there for years. We’ve ignored the boot on the peoples’ backs as long as we can get cheap oil. Enough already. It’s time to stop greed from ruling our every decision. This newest argument, the one asking if they can “handle” democracy needs to stop. We need to support all people that are fighting and dying for human rights.

It’s also time to realize that whether we lose the oil today or in 50 years we will most certainly, and assuredly lose the oil. This is why we must act now to improve our own energy policies and move toward renewables. We must start to wean ourselves off oil. We must stop oil and gas subsidies and transfer these to renewable energies. The oil and gas companies really don’t need subsidies. They make billions of dollars in profit every month, and are so greedy they apparently can’t spend a small portion of that on decent blowout preventers on their oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World

Power of the Vote: Electing Presidents, Overthrowing Dictators, and Promoting Democracy Around the World

So please take a step back and look at the big picture. We, as the flagship of freedom and democracy set the precedent and hold ourselves to the highest standard of these ideals. We must also support and foster these democratic ideals worldwide.

We must support human rights both here and abroad. We must push this country to a sustainable future, so we don’t have to support these horrible regimes which are antithesis to our very being. When we do what is right by us, we will do right by the world. When we do right by the world, we will then have the right kind of world for all of its people.

Glenn Becks Day’s May Be Numbered

glenn-crazy-criesOne can only hope! The past several years of his ranting and raving have gone from strange to totally ridiculous. Amazingly his illogical and paranoid rants entertained and even convinced many Americans of the crazy things that came out of his mouth. If you sit back and critically think through what Glenn Beck has said over the last couple of years you should be astonished that he hasn’t been laughed out of the spotlight yet.

On a more serious note, it has become obvious that his shows over the years have done America great harm. From paranoid conspiracy theories to ridiculous connections between political players, he has presented the country with a bizarre viewpoint that many misunderstood to be news, due to his association with a so-called news network. Using fear, apprehension and good old fashioned trickery he has tugged at the desperate heartstrings of Americans who were only looking for a way to improve the country. Unfortunately his disjointed way of thinking has permeated into many people’s political views. This in no way is a good thing. He has taken the logic and and self-control out of incredibly important political discussion and somehow made it OK to be insane. He has made blatant racism, sexism and bigotry OK as long as you believe that you are doing what an “American” should do.

Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America

Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America

Think about how he handles issues or people who have a different opinion than him.  Now imagine you are sitting at Thanksgiving dinner with your extended family. Each of your relatives is from different areas of the country, with different upbringings and points of view. They are different people with different religious and political viewpoints. Now imagine you took a Glenn-Beck style stance about the way Americans ought to put gravy on their stuffing. In minutes there would be crying, fighting and food flying everywhere! The very thought of acting like this at the dinner table with your family should be preposterous. You wouldn’t dream of acting this way, of treating people with such disrespect. It is childish, immature and completely irresponsible. So why is it so many American people think we can put respect and courtesy aside when we are discussing politics?

This is the real damage that Glenn Beck has done. Many others on FOX take the same attitude towards politics and with working within our political system. They take a hard core, zealot stance, unwilling to budge on any issue. And they deride those that do appreciate the power of compromise and the dignity of working together as weak and lacking conviction. They call their fellows Nazis, unpatriotic, traitors to America and worse. This is not the way to a better country. This attitude is what is creating the terrible divides in this country, and the unwillingness to work toward real change. This style of politico battling is what is taking the power away from the people and giving it to a select few. By using this uncompromising stance on any and all issues, it forces people out of the political arena in disgust. How to reason with the unreasonable? You can’t.

Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance

Common Nonsense: Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance

We need to have, no we must have, a political environment that welcomes everyone and their opinions. We must have a political system the embraces different ideas and the philosophies of compromise to make America and its people a better, happier place. It has to start with each of us. It has to start with the People. We need to bring respect back into the debate. We need to bring honor back into politics. We need to strive, each and every one of us, to become a better steward of ourselves and America.

So I say good riddance to bad rubbish. It does my heart good to see arguably the most partisan and corporately motivated network even consider such a move. It gives me hope that maybe, just maybe the American people are a bit smarter than FOX gives them credit for. Maybe, just maybe FOX will strive for a more intelligent, honest and open political environment. And perhaps Americans will follow suit, and realize the way toward change is not through ridiculous talking heads telling people what to think.

Here’s to hoping.

Montage of Crazy Glenn

This one is great. They present some key arguments over the years for both sides of an issue, depending of course if there was a Republican or Democratic president.

Hating 911 Victims

Crazy Talk

Bye Glenn, we won’t miss you.

 

References

 

 

Stop Corporate Corruptions Influence in Politics with Progressives United

russ-feingoldIt shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone the extent to which the corporate dollar has invaded every aspect of our lives. Corporations now have as many or more rights than the everyday citizen. Their influence runs deep and is shaping the country in their favor, not in the interest of this nation’s citizens. The corporations are slowly eroding the rights and freedoms of the American people.

Foremost among a great many recent travesties of justice was the landmark decision a little over a year ago concerning the Citizen’s United decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled that corporations were entitled to the full protection of the First Amendment, allowing them unlimited and unchecked campaign donations in elections.

This literally means that the Supreme Court overturned 100 years of law and precedent to allow corporations to buy elections. Corporations now have the ability to purchase elections. This isn’t sensationalism. If a corporation can finance a candidate’s campaign,  it can flood whichever politician supports their corporate greed with unlimited funds.

President Obama criticized the ruling, calling it “a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.”

This is not what America is about.

This is not how we make America great again.

Luckily for us Russ Feingold has started his own organization, Progressives United, to fight back against this horrible and very destructive decision. We cannot allow corporations any more control of our political system.

Corporations have a vested interest in capitalism and unregulated free markets in order to take as much advantage as possible of the American people.

The economic collapse occurred with the Republicans in power, still touting elimination of regulation and insisting the markets would self-regulate, while at the same time begged and threatened the American people for a bailout for the very companies that caused the collapse.  Instead of allowing a company to “sink or swim”, as is the opportunity given every company in a Capitalist economy, they were given hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars. It’s sickening to realize these companies were literally rewarded for years of mismanagement, bad debts and gambling with the American people’s well-being. After Americans bailed them out of their troubles, how did the banks return the favor? By rubber-stamping hundreds of thousands of foreclosures and making it difficult for borrowers to modify their subprime mortgages into loans with interest rates and monthly payments they could actually afford.

This blatant manipulation cannot be allowed to permeate completely into our political system. There is something you can do to fight back against the billions of dollars they will throw at their own greedy interests. Get involved, get educated and join organizations like the newly formed Progressives United.

Russ Feingold has taken a bold step and started the organization, Progressives United. His primary goal is to fight back against the corporate corruption that is so entrenched in our political system. His message should be heard and carried to Washington so those politicians know we will not stand for it. More importantly get your family, friends and neighbors involved in the cause to push back corporate greed and influence in America.

This is your country. This is our country. Take it back and make your voice heard over the millions of dollars of ads they will surely throw at this threat to their greed.

http://www.progressivesunited.org

P.O. Box 620062

Middleton, WI 53562

phone: 608-831-7877

fax: 608-831-3192

email: info@progressivesunited.org

 

References

 

 

Planned Parenthood is About Women’s Health

Political Maneuvering Threatens the Health of Millions of Women

planned-parenthood-busThe attacks on our basic services continue. This time they are targeting women’s health. The government wants to make outrageous funding cuts Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provides a broad spectrum of essential services to millions of women. Their opposition chooses to focus on one facet of service to women in order to justify the cuts. Planned Parenthood provides invaluable health care services for millions of women, without the burden of narrow, shortsighted, and religious views. Politicians seek to cut funding through the guise of required budget cuts that only go after the services they are ideologically opposed to. Shameful.

Planned Parenthood helps millions of women a year through services and education. They provide preventative care, help women deal with serious health concerns, reproductive issues, and provide education regarding healthy pregnancy.

Many of these women have little to no income, and cannot afford regular health insurance and health care. Planned Parenthood provides a safe and non-judgmental place where women can seek medical help and counseling. Those who could not seek treatment elsewhere would go untreated, were it not for this organization, ultimately costing Medicare and other social services so much more.

They also provide a place for teenagers who are sexually active or are considering becoming sexually active to get some education, health care, and contraception, in most states without requiring parental consent. In some cases, teenagers who are too afraid or embarrassed to ask their parents have a resource for this information, preventing teen pregnancy and disease.

Planned Parenthood is a vital part of our support structure for these women and help to prevent many preventable and treatable deaths per year.

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Planned Parenthood provides the following services and many more to low income women nationwide:

  • STD Tests
  • Pap Smears
  • Breast Exams
  • Birth Control
  • Reproductive Issues Education
  • Service for Title X Patients

Stand With Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood plans a week-long demonstration throughout the country to counter the misinformation being spread by anti-choice demonstrators and Republicans pushing these funding cuts beginning March 7th.

Write your representatives and tell them it is totally unacceptable to cut funding to such a vital group as Planned Parenthood. It is especially insulting when they are willing to sacrifice the health and well-being of millions of women and children, but are unwilling to give up tax breaks for the upper 2% of Americans (which would greatly decrease the need to make these kind of budget cuts in the first place). It is totally un-American to force its most desperate people to sacrifice so much when the politicians will not sacrifice even a little.

If you can head out to one of the demonstration areas and join Planned Parenthood in their Truth Tour, please do so this week. Show your support for them and the millions of women they support. Don’t let the ridiculous Politico environment continue to erode our most basic services, our safety nets, that help to keep this country and its people strong. Stand up, stand tall, and support the rights of the people and the services they use. Fight back, stand proud and help Planned Parenthood keep the funding it needs to keep reaching out to millions of low income women.

Please go and sign the petition in support of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood supports millions of women nationwide who depend on their services for their own personal health.

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