In 1971, Howard Zinn measured our government against the harshest of all standards, the ideal of Democracy. Against any ideal standard, man's achievements, measured in 1971 or 2016, although worthy of praise, fall short of ideal.
Zinn measured our shortages against 10 categories. As we close Election Day 2016, perhaps the most trivial election of our lifetimes and also the most important as is every election, Zinn's mythical 10, or at least three of them deserve another measurement, access to the ballot, freedom of individuality, and the opportunity to protest. Like Zinn, I choose to test my 3 against the ideals, not just the present versus the past, nor a scale of good, better, and best.
Zinn's 1971 opinion found the ballot, or political activity in general, favored the weathy, as measured in health, social-economic status, and education. I agree in 2016 with Zinn. Given the amounts of money needed to place a name or an issue on a ballot, the our election process differs little from a dictatorship. The sick need not apply to democratic methods just as the Irish were told. The corporate person, the highest social-economic status, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to willing political actors. And, the least educated suffer under a crushing burden of misinformation and information overload without a trained mind.
Voters, in Zinn's time, like today's voters, faced voter suppression efforts.The 1966 state poll taxes being similar to the 2016 purchase of a state validated voter ID card or photo ID. The white men under the white hoods, openly racist in the 1960's, resemble today's open carry thugs patrolling political rallies as self appointed 'candidate security.' I offer no Zinn equivalent to the 21st Century closing of inner city polling locations for budgetary reasons. The US electoral system denies a right to vote, freedom to vote, and perhaps a place to vote. There is no Democracy in that.
By measuring the present versus the past, freedom of individuality, measured by a woman's access to birth control without a husband's consent, the availability of same sex marriage, or discrimination against minorities in housing and employment, grew larger since Zinn's time. Yet, some call to end immigration, shout for the building of walls, and cry for mass expulsions based on religious beliefs. There is no democracy in that.
Just prior to Zinn's time, Chicago's Democratic Convention protesters found themselves beaten by police, four college students in Ohio were shot to death by the National Guard seeking to end campus protests, and the nation saw pictures of Martin Luther King dead on a Memphis balcony.
This week, pipeline protesters in at Standing Rock, ND, were assaulted with noise cannons and rubber bullets by enforcers wearing riot gear supported by military vehicles. The city of Miami, in preparation for FTAA protests, developed what is called, the Miami Model, based on City of Miami Ordinance 54-6.1,included a ban of 8 people meeting in public, and defining a parade as two or more people, and a ban on weapons, a 2nd Amendment right. All the signs of a democracy under challenge or the actions of dictatorship.
We must choose, in 2016 and beyond, a striving towards ideals and the path of pragmatism. Elections must have a time, a place, and faithful rules for access. The route to Individualism needs a Main street, many side roads, and the safety of reflective pastures to nurture and advance. The protests of one against many or the many against one requires the willingness and cooperation of more than one side without the government enforced passivity similar to slavery.
America fails my measurements and standards for Democracy. The 2016, in ways, a referendum on emails and vulgarity, tests whether the willingness or ability exists, in my time and yours, to seek more than trivial issues in deciding a Presidential Election.
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bush. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Democracy measured in American, 2016
In 1971, Howard Zinn measured our government against the harshest of all standards, the ideal of Democracy. Against any ideal standard, man's achievements, measured in 1971 or 2016, although worthy of praise, fall short of ideal.
Zinn measured our shortages against 10 categories. As we close Election Day 2016, perhaps the most trivial election of our lifetimes and also the most important as is every election, Zinn's mythical 10, or at least three of them deserve another measurement, access to the ballot, freedom of individuality, and the opportunity to protest. Like Zinn, I choose to test my 3 against the ideals, not just the present versus the past, nor a scale of good, better, and best.
Zinn's 1971 opinion found the ballot, or political activity in general, favored the weathy, as measured in health, social-economic status, and education. I agree in 2016 with Zinn. Given the amounts of money needed to place a name or an issue on a ballot, the our election process differs little from a dictatorship. The sick need not apply to democratic methods just as the Irish were told. The corporate person, the highest social-economic status, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to willing political actors. And, the least educated suffer under a crushing burden of misinformation and information overload without a trained mind.
Voters, in Zinn's time, like today's voters, faced voter suppression efforts.The 1966 state poll taxes being similar to the 2016 purchase of a state validated voter ID card or photo ID. The white men under the white hoods, openly racist in the 1960's, resemble today's open carry thugs patrolling political rallies as self appointed 'candidate security.' I offer no Zinn equivalent to the 21st Century closing of inner city polling locations for budgetary reasons. The US electoral system denies a right to vote, freedom to vote, and perhaps a place to vote. There is no Democracy in that.
By measuring the present versus the past, freedom of individuality, measured by a woman's access to birth control without a husband's consent, the availability of same sex marriage, or discrimination against minorities in housing and employment, grew larger since Zinn's time. Yet, some call to end immigration, shout for the building of walls, and cry for mass expulsions based on religious beliefs. There is no democracy in that.
Just prior to Zinn's time, Chicago's Democratic Convention protesters found themselves beaten by police, four college students in Ohio were shot to death by the National Guard seeking to end campus protests, and the nation saw pictures of Martin Luther King dead on a Memphis balcony.
This week, pipeline protesters in at Standing Rock, ND, were assaulted with noise cannons and rubber bullets by enforcers wearing riot gear supported by military vehicles. The city of Miami, in preparation for FTAA protests, developed what is called, the Miami Model, based on City of Miami Ordinance 54-6.1,included a ban of 8 people meeting in public, and defining a parade as two or more people, and a ban on weapons, a 2nd Amendment right. All the signs of a democracy under challenge or the actions of dictatorship.
We must choose, in 2016 and beyond, a striving towards ideals and the path of pragmatism. Elections must have a time, a place, and faithful rules for access. The route to Individualism needs a Main street, many side roads, and the safety of reflective pastures to nurture and advance. The protests of one against many or the many against one requires the willingness and cooperation of more than one side without the government enforced passivity similar to slavery.
America fails my measurements and standards for Democracy. The 2016, in ways, a referendum on emails and vulgarity, tests whether the willingness or ability exists, in my time and yours, to seek more than trivial issues in deciding a Presidential Election.
Zinn measured our shortages against 10 categories. As we close Election Day 2016, perhaps the most trivial election of our lifetimes and also the most important as is every election, Zinn's mythical 10, or at least three of them deserve another measurement, access to the ballot, freedom of individuality, and the opportunity to protest. Like Zinn, I choose to test my 3 against the ideals, not just the present versus the past, nor a scale of good, better, and best.
Zinn's 1971 opinion found the ballot, or political activity in general, favored the weathy, as measured in health, social-economic status, and education. I agree in 2016 with Zinn. Given the amounts of money needed to place a name or an issue on a ballot, the our election process differs little from a dictatorship. The sick need not apply to democratic methods just as the Irish were told. The corporate person, the highest social-economic status, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to willing political actors. And, the least educated suffer under a crushing burden of misinformation and information overload without a trained mind.
Voters, in Zinn's time, like today's voters, faced voter suppression efforts.The 1966 state poll taxes being similar to the 2016 purchase of a state validated voter ID card or photo ID. The white men under the white hoods, openly racist in the 1960's, resemble today's open carry thugs patrolling political rallies as self appointed 'candidate security.' I offer no Zinn equivalent to the 21st Century closing of inner city polling locations for budgetary reasons. The US electoral system denies a right to vote, freedom to vote, and perhaps a place to vote. There is no Democracy in that.
By measuring the present versus the past, freedom of individuality, measured by a woman's access to birth control without a husband's consent, the availability of same sex marriage, or discrimination against minorities in housing and employment, grew larger since Zinn's time. Yet, some call to end immigration, shout for the building of walls, and cry for mass expulsions based on religious beliefs. There is no democracy in that.
Just prior to Zinn's time, Chicago's Democratic Convention protesters found themselves beaten by police, four college students in Ohio were shot to death by the National Guard seeking to end campus protests, and the nation saw pictures of Martin Luther King dead on a Memphis balcony.
This week, pipeline protesters in at Standing Rock, ND, were assaulted with noise cannons and rubber bullets by enforcers wearing riot gear supported by military vehicles. The city of Miami, in preparation for FTAA protests, developed what is called, the Miami Model, based on City of Miami Ordinance 54-6.1,included a ban of 8 people meeting in public, and defining a parade as two or more people, and a ban on weapons, a 2nd Amendment right. All the signs of a democracy under challenge or the actions of dictatorship.
We must choose, in 2016 and beyond, a striving towards ideals and the path of pragmatism. Elections must have a time, a place, and faithful rules for access. The route to Individualism needs a Main street, many side roads, and the safety of reflective pastures to nurture and advance. The protests of one against many or the many against one requires the willingness and cooperation of more than one side without the government enforced passivity similar to slavery.
America fails my measurements and standards for Democracy. The 2016, in ways, a referendum on emails and vulgarity, tests whether the willingness or ability exists, in my time and yours, to seek more than trivial issues in deciding a Presidential Election.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Bush knew about Benghazi. Warned Obama. Cheney flew to Benghazi to lead rescue mission.
I love writing nonsense. Especially eye catching headlines. Since Benghazi remains the only important issue to our beloved Republican leaders, I thought I'd help them out with another Benghazi head line.
Yes, Bush knew about Benghazi. In a prepared statement, George admitted using Benghazi on his knees. "It burns at first, which means it's good. Then, the pain goes away."
Cheney did fly to Benghazi to lead a rescue mission. His trip was the first out of body experience for the ex-Vice President. I admire him for taking the trip at all. I just wish he had done it on the night of the attacks instead of Saturday night before appearing on the Sunday morning talk shows.
Timing, Dick. It's all in the timing.
In real news, Bush and Cheney were warned several times about terrorist threats to the United States in the run up to 9/11.
See link here. It's not from the Huffington blog. It's from a business source. Ouch!
Yes, Bush knew about Benghazi. In a prepared statement, George admitted using Benghazi on his knees. "It burns at first, which means it's good. Then, the pain goes away."
Cheney did fly to Benghazi to lead a rescue mission. His trip was the first out of body experience for the ex-Vice President. I admire him for taking the trip at all. I just wish he had done it on the night of the attacks instead of Saturday night before appearing on the Sunday morning talk shows.
Timing, Dick. It's all in the timing.
In real news, Bush and Cheney were warned several times about terrorist threats to the United States in the run up to 9/11.
See link here. It's not from the Huffington blog. It's from a business source. Ouch!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Housing market recovery in Oakwood, Georgia
Let's not blame Obama or Bush until we've read all of my thoughts on this? Please.
The housing market is recovering in Oakwood, Georgia. A developer wants to build out 302 lots in a new subdivision near Falcons Parkway.
Oh my God is that good news.
I'm a mortgage loan originator and I talk with real estate agents, potential buyers, and others every day. The biggest concern? Inventory.
There are very few existing homes for sale worth buying.
Now, we're about to add 300 homes to the market. Yippee! Can you tell I'm not that excited.
The new homes will have 3,000 square feet of space. Assuming a moderate cost of $89 per square foot, these are not average homes.
We're right back where we started with the housing crisis. Building homes the average person can't afford. Then, creating ways to make the purchase work. Taking the money and running to the back before the check bounces.
We don't need $300,000 houses. We need homes which match the economic demographics of Oakwood.
Right now, that home is too often a run down mobile home, a crime infested apartment complex, or a slumlord dog house.
We have learned nothing since 2006 about economics.
The housing market is recovering in Oakwood, Georgia. A developer wants to build out 302 lots in a new subdivision near Falcons Parkway.
Oh my God is that good news.
I'm a mortgage loan originator and I talk with real estate agents, potential buyers, and others every day. The biggest concern? Inventory.
There are very few existing homes for sale worth buying.
Now, we're about to add 300 homes to the market. Yippee! Can you tell I'm not that excited.
The new homes will have 3,000 square feet of space. Assuming a moderate cost of $89 per square foot, these are not average homes.
We're right back where we started with the housing crisis. Building homes the average person can't afford. Then, creating ways to make the purchase work. Taking the money and running to the back before the check bounces.
We don't need $300,000 houses. We need homes which match the economic demographics of Oakwood.
Right now, that home is too often a run down mobile home, a crime infested apartment complex, or a slumlord dog house.
We have learned nothing since 2006 about economics.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Hanging from a bridge
I remember it. Burned bodies. Ropes. A bridge. 2003. Then, house to house fighting. Brave deaths. Noble goals.
Now the Irag city of Fallujah has fallen to Al-Qaeda militants. Thousands of citizens fleeing the city. No where to go.
Iraq was a cornerstone of the Bush Doctrine. There were four main components: Preemption, Military Primacy, New Multilateralism, and the Spread of Democracy.
Those failed in Fallujah, Iraq. We did a preemptive strike into Iraq. We established military primacy. We had a coalition. We forced a constitution and elections. We let Saddam swing on a rope before civil control of the country or the passage of that democratic constitution.
I said then and I'll say it now. Maybe Saddam deserved death and death by Iraqi hands. But, he needed a trial by law under a Constitutionally established government. Not a confirmation hearing by the Iraqi Interim Government.
Saddam would be dead a year before an appeal procedure was established. Before courts were in session.
Maybe we should have shot him and dumped his body in the ocean. Or burned his body. Hung it on a bridge in Fallujah. And then left the city to Al-Qaeda.
Here are some other links on the Bush Doctrine as it stands today. Or, maybe I should say opinions by our Fallujah vets on the failure to do more than just honor their service
Link
Link
Link
Now the Irag city of Fallujah has fallen to Al-Qaeda militants. Thousands of citizens fleeing the city. No where to go.
Iraq was a cornerstone of the Bush Doctrine. There were four main components: Preemption, Military Primacy, New Multilateralism, and the Spread of Democracy.
Those failed in Fallujah, Iraq. We did a preemptive strike into Iraq. We established military primacy. We had a coalition. We forced a constitution and elections. We let Saddam swing on a rope before civil control of the country or the passage of that democratic constitution.
I said then and I'll say it now. Maybe Saddam deserved death and death by Iraqi hands. But, he needed a trial by law under a Constitutionally established government. Not a confirmation hearing by the Iraqi Interim Government.
Saddam would be dead a year before an appeal procedure was established. Before courts were in session.
Maybe we should have shot him and dumped his body in the ocean. Or burned his body. Hung it on a bridge in Fallujah. And then left the city to Al-Qaeda.
Here are some other links on the Bush Doctrine as it stands today. Or, maybe I should say opinions by our Fallujah vets on the failure to do more than just honor their service
Link
Link
Link
Monday, December 30, 2013
Obama most admired in Gallop Poll
Polls do have purpose, merits, and benefits. Sometimes it's hard to see why.
Gallop has a new poll on "Most Admired."
For 6 years in a row, Americans have identified President Barack Obama as their most admired male. Hillary Clinton has been the most admired woman for 12 years in a row.
Ronald Reagan hasn't gotten an honorable mention since 2003. Our newest Pope looks to be tied for second with former President, George W. Bush. I'd rate the Pope a lot higher than that.
The question was completely open ended. Of all the 6 billion people living today on this planet, who do you admire most? Who would be second? I'd say our President being mentioned by 16% respondents who were given a pool of 6 billion possibilities is something to think about.
Last year, he got 30%. Seems that messing up a web page really hurt.
Is that what we should be comparing with this poll? Here's another version from Gallop.
This shows a better trend.
George W. Bush was the most admired in 7 of his 8 years in office. He's the only President since Nixon who couldn't carry the title for each year in office. Carter only carried 3 of his 4 years in office but he got beat out in the 4th year by Pope John Paul II. I think the Pope should be ahead of everyone. So I'm ignoring Carter's 4th year loss.
Other than Douglas MacAuthur and Pope John Paul, only US Presidents were named as Most Admired. Hillary Clinton has been the 'Most Admired Woman' 18 times in 21 years. Mother Teresa beat her out twice.
What I got out of this poll is that Barack Obama knocked a sitting President off the top of the list. That Bush was less admired by the general public than a Democratic Candidate in 2008.
Democrats, don't write yourselves off. You're more admired than you think.
Gallop has a new poll on "Most Admired."
For 6 years in a row, Americans have identified President Barack Obama as their most admired male. Hillary Clinton has been the most admired woman for 12 years in a row.
Ronald Reagan hasn't gotten an honorable mention since 2003. Our newest Pope looks to be tied for second with former President, George W. Bush. I'd rate the Pope a lot higher than that.
The question was completely open ended. Of all the 6 billion people living today on this planet, who do you admire most? Who would be second? I'd say our President being mentioned by 16% respondents who were given a pool of 6 billion possibilities is something to think about.
Last year, he got 30%. Seems that messing up a web page really hurt.
Is that what we should be comparing with this poll? Here's another version from Gallop.
This shows a better trend.
George W. Bush was the most admired in 7 of his 8 years in office. He's the only President since Nixon who couldn't carry the title for each year in office. Carter only carried 3 of his 4 years in office but he got beat out in the 4th year by Pope John Paul II. I think the Pope should be ahead of everyone. So I'm ignoring Carter's 4th year loss.
Other than Douglas MacAuthur and Pope John Paul, only US Presidents were named as Most Admired. Hillary Clinton has been the 'Most Admired Woman' 18 times in 21 years. Mother Teresa beat her out twice.
What I got out of this poll is that Barack Obama knocked a sitting President off the top of the list. That Bush was less admired by the general public than a Democratic Candidate in 2008.
Democrats, don't write yourselves off. You're more admired than you think.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Congressional Approval Ratings
Nixon was compared with Obama today. At least in approval ratings.
Odd isn't it? Obama is better than Nixon and that is news! 43% for Obama and Nixon is 29%.
How come 14% is suddenly so close we have to think about it?
Did Georgie the 43rd win either of his elections by 14% points? Hell No. He was lucky to win the first one by 14 votes.
So let's compare Congressional approval ratings to Presidential ratings?
Obama 43% and Congress at 14% as an annual average.
So Nixon, perhaps the worst of our recent Presidents, was twice as popular as our current Congress.
That's not how the real world works. That might be how college football teams are selected to post season Bowl Games. But it's not how Congress or the President works.
About half the people in the country are just OK with the President.
About one in seven people are OK with Congress.
We won't let Obama get elected again but we will re-elect 90% of the village idiots already in Congress.
Gallop
Just for comparison, here's a recent Gallop poll on how history will view Presidents.
I am not a crook!
Odd isn't it? Obama is better than Nixon and that is news! 43% for Obama and Nixon is 29%.
How come 14% is suddenly so close we have to think about it?
Did Georgie the 43rd win either of his elections by 14% points? Hell No. He was lucky to win the first one by 14 votes.
So let's compare Congressional approval ratings to Presidential ratings?
Obama 43% and Congress at 14% as an annual average.
So Nixon, perhaps the worst of our recent Presidents, was twice as popular as our current Congress.
That's not how the real world works. That might be how college football teams are selected to post season Bowl Games. But it's not how Congress or the President works.
About half the people in the country are just OK with the President.
About one in seven people are OK with Congress.
We won't let Obama get elected again but we will re-elect 90% of the village idiots already in Congress.
Gallop
Just for comparison, here's a recent Gallop poll on how history will view Presidents.
I am not a crook!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Listen to the Generals
"I listen to the Generals," a favorite line used by Bush.
Both of them, it would seem. There are nine combat commands. Two are run by Army Generals. Bush will cut that number to one in about thirty days.
In July, will Bush talk about listening to the General?
Full Story from the AP
Serve your country. Get an education. Be ignored by the Commander and Chief.
Both of them, it would seem. There are nine combat commands. Two are run by Army Generals. Bush will cut that number to one in about thirty days.
In July, will Bush talk about listening to the General?
Full Story from the AP
Someone should tell the young men and women at Military College of Georgia aka North Georgia College and State University.Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales, former head of the Army War College who holds a Ph.D. in history from Duke University, said he could find no prior period when the Army was so engaged overseas and so underrepresented at top levels.
"It's absolutely extraordinary," he said. "I just can't believe the numbers. It's cultural, it's political, and it's deeply ingrained. I've never seen it to the degree it exists today."
Besides Special Operations Command, which is located at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, there are eight other "combatant commands." These are the structures responsible for unique wartime functions, such as transportation, or for managing troops in a particular region of the world, such as Europe or the Middle East.
Combatant commanders have short lines of authority; they report to the defense secretary and the president.
Serve your country. Get an education. Be ignored by the Commander and Chief.
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