My grandmother Jarvis was an Abraham Lincoln Republican. She could never be convinced that times had changed and so had the Grand Old Party.
Grandma had worked hard all of her life and was proud of her contributions. But she was born in 1874 and by the time social security came around she was never covered. She lived her retirement years receiving an Old Age Pension. It was a disgustingly pitiful dribble of money and my dad and his sister constantly slid her money under the table, since any monetary gift was to be deducted from her monthly stipend. But Grandma voted for Hoover and Wilke and Dewey. She always voted against social legislation, but she lived in subsidized housing with her heat and electricity furnished by the tax payers.
Grandma developed cataracts and Macular Degeneration in her later years. The cataracts were removed at taxpayers expense and her treatments, such as they were in the 50's, were also free to her.
You see, grandma found the facts that supported her beliefs. And she rejected the facts that might have proven her beliefs wrong.
But this is not behavior that is limited to folks of the conservative persuasion.
I have been known to twist a fact or two to make them fit my own Radical beliefs. But of course I have the Truth Everlasting, so it's okay for me.
As an Agnostic, I do not have the great burden of attempting to follow the dictates of some imaginary God. If I commit an act that is harmful to myself, my family or my neighbor, I am responsible for correcting that action.
I know when I am hurting others without having to check with one Holy Book or another.
If I take something that does not belong to me or look with lust at my secretary, I know my actions are hurting others and that I would be offended if it were happening to me. Why do I need to check in with some make believe God?
I live the best life I can and try to learn from my mistakes. But I understand that I am human and that I will make mistakes. I do not spend time worrying about going to Hell because of my being human and making mistakes, I just vow to do better and then I go forward.
For me, Christmas is a time to gather loved ones near. We put up a tree and exchange small gifts and feast on the traditional Turkey dinner. None of these actions are done out of religious convictions. In fact, Christmas itself is not the day Jesus was born on. Christmas trees and Santa Clause and huge feasts were not a part of early celebration of His birth.
Christmas in America has become a season for marketing products to the consumers. These consumers used to be called Citizens, but over the years they have become object for exploitation. The Corporate Empire Builders use Christmas in the same way they use everything else. The use it to control the people.
And, my friend, they use *All* religions in the same way. Teach the people to be obedient to some far off God. Teach them to never question His Word. Teach them to kill in His Holy Name. Teach them to give freely of their meager possessions. When this is done, the Empire Builders own the people
The people may grumble, but they will do their Master's bidding.
And yet, I do love the Christmas Spirit. The joyful music, the excitement of little children and the hugs and kisses from loved ones.
We really need more Christmas Days, without the pretend Gods.
In the name of Allah the gracious clement the grand merciful.
Upon you all be peace and blessings:
I may have a bit of concern.
I' am a Muslim, and I've lived all that time pretty persuaded, proud, and thoughtful that's the three major monotheistic beliefs are simultaneously united in the legislative commandments they preach, Now, here is the question:
Does the Christianity permits to its followers the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship?
I' am serious about that question, if people would attempt to corrupt a religious injunctions for the sake of satisfying their own desires, then it is a true catastrophe.
I may slip up on my own, but I would never claim that's my religion said something while it doesn't.
For instance, many Muslims today and I' am even the worse of them, may Allah forgive me, are committing sins on various levels and in different aspects of the religion, and of course, this does reflects a quite negative impact, because people will say, and they are right actually, look at them, that's how the Muslims really are, they misrepresent the path of Islam by practicing a contradicting behaviors, but we never claimed that's the Qu'ran for instance is allowing fornication or drinking alcoholic beverages.
Why most of the Jews are not eating porks or drinking alcohol?
Because basicly they do want to follow the commandments genuinely.
How do you will celebrate the Christmas this year?
Well: just as I celebrate it annually.
May I have a suggestion:
You may practice the Christmas celebration differently this year:
How about attempting to be the closer person to righteousness and piety.
One:
Attend the Church service, and intend it to be a regular practice as much as convenient for you, don't miss a Sunday on Church.
Two:
Avoid any behavior that is religiously forbiddance, so you wouldn't drink, don't say that it is just an occasional drink you know, man don't make me laugh, I' am snickering right now, what a joke, because of the materialist manner of the western mentality, many people have truly forgotten what Christmas is all about.
Finally:
I' am sincerely wishing all of you a joyful Christmas this year, Marry Christmas.
Best Wishs. It's always hope that gives meaning to life. _______________
As I have said in the past, I am an Agnostic, neither believing in some Divine Creator, nor disbelieving.
If the leadership in a nation is focused on serving the people of that nation, and is able to serve all of the people regardless of their personal beliefs, then I do not concern myself with their own Faith. But if the leadership of a nation is determined to force all the people of that nation to bend before their God, regardless of their personal beliefs, then I oppose such leadership regardless of the particular Faith of such leaders.
No human being can know for certain if their God is the true God. Yet each Religion behaves as if they and only they have the True God. And therein lies our human short coming. We have created a divine being inside our own heads and then we must defend that imaginary being to our death. Such silliness will be Man's undoing. Until we can learn to look to our inner self, and not to some make believe Creator, only then will we have a chance of surviving as a species.
Have a good year, and may all of your desires come to pass.
Your friend,
Curious Carl
***************
In the name of Allah the gracious clement the grand merciful.
Since the beginning of Arabian spring while there are many concerns from Islamic movement which commenced now to significantly conciliate the parliamentary emplacements. Whenever I watch a talk show on the television, even domestically, I constantly observe a firmly exaggeration from the media which tends to persistingly terrify and amplify what is academically identified as Islamic prejudice. Whether those a broadcasters, journalists, or show hosts, they all are just pursuing the very similar strategy of incredibly terrorizing the publicity from approving an Islamic authority. I may speak about the situations in my country, Egypt. In advance of the revolutionary explosion in last January the twenty fifth, there were a heavy concerns from substituting Mubarack's regime and his dictatorship by Islamic ruler, and in particular, Islamic movement is nationally affected. As a major Islamic and opposition party, Muslim brotherhood was totally band from any political participation during Mubarack period. Now afterwards the revolution and a virtually partial completion of the parliamentary elections, Islamic parties is recognized to perfectly prevail more than half of the seats at the parliament. There is a tremendous challenge and in the same time a golden opportunity for Islamists to initiate their political reforms. As the preferent candidate to be vastly elected, Islamic members at the parliament ought to brilliantly recognize their political responsibility, they have to clearly distinguish in between the political work and the religious debates, they shouldn't complex them. They are asked to highly consider the complicated problems of Egyptian people and to cooperate simultaneously on solving them. Now, I may get back to the prime element of this subject, and that's the irrational fear of Islamic uprising in different sources of the media, just like in the west, they are deliberately trespassing any form of Islamic concept or attitude essentially aiming to thoroughly discourage and frustrate Islamic militants from moving forward. There is a sacred obligation which belongs to Islamic members of the parliament in different Arabian countries, and that's they have to verify their sufficient adequacy of leading the nation onwards. The challenge though hasn't been easy since the severe abuse which is massively directed twoards them in the media. Eventually: As a Muslim or even a nun Muslim who perhaps lives in a western society, do you have a concern from settling an Islamic authorities in the middle east?, yes or no, and give a reason.
Best Wishes. Its always hope that gives meaning to life. _____________________________________
Somewhere my original point got smudged...or I wandered too far from what I was trying to say.
In my many years circling the Sun, I have watched our outlook on life move from a positive one to a very dismal one. I'm speaking of American's, since I'm not conversant with the attitudes of other nations.
And I am only speaking of those years in which I have some personal experience...about 1941 to 2011...I don't think I was too aware of my first 6 years...1935-41, but after the War swept over us, I was much more aware of the world beyond my own nose than I might have been if I'd been living in more tranquil times.
So, in my travels I have watched our American Attitude move from one of positive belief in a bright future, to one of grim desperation.
Back when the Middle Class was beginning to flex some muscle and folks believed that through hard work and just a touch of good fortune they could prosper, at least being "better off" than their parents.
At the risk of over simplification, our focus has shifted from our belief that we were prospering as a nation, to one of "every man for himself".
Oh sure, we continued to pay lip service to America the Beautiful, the Land of the Free and the Brave, but in our heads we were being conditioned to "get while the getting is good".
A very large part of this comes through the mass media. It is through this constant hammering that our attitudes have been altered. And it has happened without our even being aware of it.
The "news" is negative. We have been separated from our own government and no longer have any confidence in "them". We have been pressured into believing that our lives will be so much better if only we have the latest gadgets, bobbles and bright shiny beads.
We have been led by the pied pipers of Corporate America from being a nation of people to being a vast field of consumers, ripe for the plucking.
If I am even close to being right, then what we must have, even before we have a change of government, is an attitude revolution.
If you agree, then how do you propose that we begin the process?
70 years ago. 1941 was grinning up at 1942. They always showed the New Year prancing in on tippy toes, dressed in a diaper, while the Old Year looked elderly and totally worn out. It's amazing what 365 days can do to a Year.
But what I really remember is returning to school after the Christmas break...we did call it Christmas vacation back then...and I picked up my #2 pencil and a piece of paper with heavy blue lines and wood chips still floating around in it. At the upper right hand corner I wrote the new date, Monday, January 5, 1942.
I sat staring at that new date. It really looked strange. From September through December I'd been writing 1941, and that looked right and proper. But 1942? It really took some getting used to. It must have been my age, still 6 years old, because no other date stands out in my mind...until the year 2000. That one took some serious getting used to.
There is still one more date that I am eager to greet. 2020! Twenty twenty. If ever it is going to happen, on January 1, 2020 I am hoping I regain my eyesight.
But whether or not, here's wishing you all a wild and crazy New Year.
Subject: Re: INDIANS GREET CUBAN PEOPLE ON ANNIVERSARY
Miriam,
It was Israel. Whenever I see the United States and Israel standing side by side, I'm reminded of my boss and his shadow. This was back in the 50's and 60's when I worked for Bartmann and Bixer, making America's housewives happy with our cheap drapes and window curtains and bedspreads. Such rewarding work that we all worked real cheap just for the joy of bringing a little pleasure to women across the nation.
But back to my memory. Stan Silver was the big boss. Built like the ex-marine that he was, waves of black shiny hair, big toothey grin, but his eyes never smiled so we called him Mac the Knife(behind his back, of course), he exhumed confidence.
Then there was David Israel. Shorter than Stan Silver, and slight of build, nonetheless he parroted the boss to the letter. He walked across the factory with the same jaunty stride, head cocked the same, hat set upon his head just like Mister Big, same cut of clothes. Everything the same except that air of command. Stan had it and David did not. And furthermore, in the 8 years I worked in that factory, David never got it. He walked in the shadow of Mister Silver and believed that he actually had his own power. But it was just borrowed.
I left when I lost the sight in my remaining eye, and the company later closed it's Seattle plant and moved to Los Angeles, so I have no knowledge of what happened when Stan retired and little David had to stand alone. But I can only feel sorry for him.
Subject: RE: INDIANS GREET CUBAN PEOPLE ON ANNIVERSARY
I don't remember that the U.N. vote against the Cuban blockade was reported here although it must have been. Anyway, I assume that the one country that voted with the U.S. was Israel. Am I correct?
My problem remains with what these sort of "hearts and flowers" stories cover up.
Of course I am moved by the kindness of folks who go out of their way on Christmas to bring a little comfort and happiness into a child's life. Or to reach out to the homeless veteran, or the war widow with her five hungry children.
But far too often these "feel good" stories are presented to us around the Holiday Season to remind us all just how wonderful we Americans can be...when we want to be.
What if our news media, papers,
TV, radio and internet all began each day with a story about a downtrodden person or persons being lifted up by unselfish, caring neighbors?
I mean, now that we no longer report on our wars around the globe, couldn't we help set a new tone, a sharing, giving concept? Perhaps even those folks hunkered down in their safe, remote gated world might get into the mood and give their hard working underlings a decent pay raise, rather than merely bringing the fatted goose around to the Cratchit home, along with the reporter and photographer.
Rather than wallowing in the sentiment of the Holiday Givers, shouldn't we be up on our hind legs demanding that this become our way of life, rather than the Christmas exception?
Miriam, I certainly understand what you are saying, and fundamentally, I don't really disagree, I guess. We don't all fall in love with the same person, we don't all choose the same "pretty" or "delicious" or "interesting." We don't all like the same books, the same music, the same people, the same foods. So I think these differences also apply to what touches our hearts sufficiently to jog us into action. If every person would act as these ranchers did on even one "story" that touches them, whether at Christmas or any other time, many more people could have their lives improved...maybe even everyone. I realize this does not address the underlying issues we discuss here over and over, the ones you mentioned here and in your previous message. But at this point, I think all those "food insecure" (thanks for the new example of the kind of language I still despise, our arguments about it on this list notwithstanding!) don't really care whether their food or that Christmas orange comes from the government or a generous individual touched by their plight. Alice alicedh@verizon.net ----- Or
Of course we are a Christian nation. But we don't count them Morons from Utah, and we don't count them Seventh Day Adventurists, and we don't mean them Catlicksand we sure don't mean any of them there United Methodusts neither. We mean Christians. Them folk like us. The true Believers and born again children of God.
Ain't that what our Four Fathers revolted for? Get rid of them Eepisscopalians?
Boy, it's getting harder and harder to find good, honest Christians to consumate with. Or is that, congutate? Whatever...we get together and love the Lord our God with all our hearts and Souls. Then we go out and kick some ass for Jesus.
Glad you read Emil's book. Emil was an honorable man. Isn't it interesting the notions we get in our heads? Today we think of piano tuning as a blind occupation. But it was not a blind profession. Emil's dedication and steadfastness turned it into an employment opportunity for blind people. He turned out many tuners and technicians, creating what appeared to later generations of young blind folks as a specialized trade for the blind.
I recall shortly after I'd gone to work for DSB, maybe around 1976 or 1977, a group of us toured the Piano Hospital. Emil proudly gave us the grand tour. At some point he mentioned that piano tuning was not something women could do. Lifting the heavy board...do they call that the action?...out of the piano was just not doable. One of our counselors, Marybeth Williams, bristled at these comments, and she angrily challenged him. Poor Emil. He was taken by surprise. Remember, Emil came from a different generation and he just plain did not think women could do a man's job. But I'll give it to him. Not too long after that, the first woman was enrolled in the course.
Emil was born in 1901 and he was 90 years old when he attended what I believe was his last state convention in 1991. WCB and the United Blind had merged in 1990 and this was a very large turnout. I was MC and at some point I asked who was the oldest member in the room. Emil took the prize.
Emil was a long time active member of the Riverside Chapter in the old NFBW. Back in 1973 I was state president. Our state organization(NFBW) was working to bring about a commission for the blind, a separate agency for the blind. We felt the agency was not delivering effective services. But in 1973 the agency put on a public event, celebrating the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Center at 3411 South Alaska Street, in Rainier Valley. I called a board meeting and we decided to picket. We had not been able to get much public attention for our commission bill. The agency had the TV and news papers all lined up to cover the event, so we saw this as a golden opportunity for us.
That was quite an eventful day, but the short story is that Emil became very upset. After all, many of his referrals came from the agency, and he did not want to cut that source off. So Riverside left the state organization for a period of time. I think that at some point in time they joined the newly organized WCB, but someone else will have to fill in that piece.
Anyway, I had, and continue to have great respect for Emil Fries. When you think of how difficult it is today for blind people in our depressed economy, imagine what a young blind man was up against back in the height of the Great Depression. Not only the economy, but the old world attitudes about blindness. Emil was a success story under any conditions, but especially then.
Having grown up 3 blocks from the piano hospital, I never paied much attention to the idea of piano tuning. I wrote it off as a "typical" blind profession. But, just having finished emil fries's autobiography, I've gained a new respect for the profession. The man went through a lot to get where he ended up, and it sounds like he was an insightful, interesting person to know.
To all of you, here is our annual Christmas letter.
The folks mentioned are mostly relatives and a couple of neighbors.
MERRY CHRISTMAS2011
"What I love about living here on the Olympic Peninsula."Cathy sighed, "it is so quiet…I can hear a leaf hit the ground."That may have been true prior to February of 2011, but then the heavens opened up and chaos reigned down.This was the result of our decision to stay put for a few more years."If we're going to stay here for awhile," Cathy reasoned, "We might as well finish off the daylight basement."Let the sound and fury begin!
Between February and October, with only a few short breaks in the constant roar of power saws, hammering and assorted unknown noises, our basement turned from grey cement walls, bare beams and cobwebs into something out of Better Homes and Gardens.We added a roomy apartment complete with bedroom, bathroom, living room, kitchenette and a very large storage room with plenty of shelves, a room we call Command Center where all our batteries and inverter for operating our off-grid system are located and to finish off the space an exercise room that holds 6 pieces of equipment and space enough for 2 sisters to do aerobics.Of course, what good is an apartment if it is not put to use?It just so happened that Marlene, Cathy's sister, her two dogs Niki and Amber along with two horses Ranger and Shine were looking for a place to call home.Marlene and her two dogs fit just fine in the lower level apartment, but now we had a new problem.Not only were Marlene's two horses coming to live here, but Jennifer and Don were bringing Cathy's horse Sassy back from Yakima.The short story is that we next built a 4 stall horse barn, put in miles of fence and began transforming the rugged field back into a pasture.
Now the story gets complicated….Sassy came home with a very arthritic front knee.Also, she is 23 years old.Our neighbors Greg and Cyndie also have two horses, Shiban who is 28 and Poppy an 18 year old paint whose real name is Cherokee.
Skipping all the details, Cathy now has two horses, Sassy and Cherokee…but Sassy has taken up residence at the neighbors pasture with Shiban.They are like an old couple, just glad to have one another's company without getting kicked or bitten.
Then there was our roof.Since this is the season of Joy to the World, we won't tell you the whole sordid tale of woe.17 years old and the roof had to be taken back to the beams.While the roof didn't stand the test of time, Cathy's sister and their mother seem to be holding up better.Dorothy did an end run around 85 on July 17 and Marlene hit 60 on July 19.The five Severo's, Sam, Sonya, Ariana, Isaac and Jazmine drove in from Merced.Michael, Kathy, Angie, Andy and Austin were also here to celebrate.As was Jennifer, Don, Matt, Paige, Rylan (our great grandson), Renae, Josh, Grace and Lilli.Our good neighbors Greg and Cyndie rounded out the happy troupe.Food flowed and later we roasted jumbo marshmallows over a camp fire creating sticky goo wherever fingers touched.Missing the event was son James and family.There are times we fear that he is strapped into the driver's seat in one of those big Metro buses.But he proved our fears unfounded when he and the twins, Hayden and Tristen arrived later in the summer for a day of fishing at the beaver pond.At sundown they displayed their catch, big happy grins and began planning their next trip out.
As usual we held our Thanksgiving holiday gathering.And as usual James worked the entire weekend as did Brian.But enough noses followed the Turkey Trail that we feasted for four days.
And now that the echoes have finally died down and the dust has settled and been vacuumed up, Cathy and I stand together, leaning against the deck railing, smiling as we think of all ofyou, our wonderful family and friends, hoping for each of you the most Joyful of Holidays..and waiting..waiting to hear the next leaf hit the ground.
Perhaps we Americans have come to that place where we only help one another if there is something in it for us, or if it takes only a quick fix, but I well remember a time when we lived in a different America.
Not so many years ago my wife's grandmother was just such a giving person. She took it upon herself to look in on the elderly and the ill in her extended neighborhood. This lady, not young or in good health herself, stood at her stove all day making soups, stews, breads and cookies and cakes and then bundling them into her large wicker basket and heading out to make her rounds. She not only left good nourishing food, but sat and visited, or tidied up a little as she shared the local gossip...always good news...to cheer up the lonely Spirits.
In fact, this sort of world still exists out here where Cathy and I live. We are few and far between and we look out for one another. One hard winter I had traveled to Denver to visit my eldest daughter. Cathy had not been well and chose to stay home. A heavy snow fell, pulling down several trees across our drive...which is a quarter of a mile long...and Cathy figured she was locked in until I returned and could help cut and roll the logs off the road. Even while she was talking to me on the phone she heard the sound of a big old chain saw. Our neighbor Russ appeared at the door, grinning his big grin. "I noticed you had a problem", he told her. "I had planned to see if I could borrow a couple of bales of hay from you, so I figured I'd better clear your road before I asked".
Russ and Darlene live on an 80 acre ranch down the road. They look out for most everyone in the neighborhood, cutting the winter supply of wood for an elderly woman across Snow Creek Road, keeping her water system running, picking up the month's supply of groceries for both this elderly lady as well as another around on Lord's Lake Loop, and just dropping in to see if they are well and comfortable.
It is the way we all might learn to live again. It doesn't take much effort, and everyone reaps the rewards.
I have long forgotten how it was to live in a crowded neighborhood with houses or apartments crammed in on one another, and never know a single person in the area.
The economy continued to struggle through 2011, with persistently high unemployment, a foreclosure crisis that kept on burning, and banks behaving badly in a whole host of ways. And there were plenty of ideas from economists, lawmakers, and pundits about what to do about it. But some ideas were, shall we say, more.unique than others.
Here are ThinkProgress' nominations, in no particular order, for the ten craziest economic ideas of the last twelve months. Think we missed a good one? Let us know in the comments below:
Florida State Rep. Proposes Ending Ban On Dwarf Tossing To Create Jobs: In October, Florida state Rep. Ritch Workman (R) filed a bill to end the state's ban on dwarf tossing - the practice of "launching little people for the amusement of an audience." Workman may not condone throwing little people across his lawn, but he introduced the bill because he wanted to remove a "Big Brother law" that would create jobs: "Well, there is nothing immoral or illegal about that activity," Workman said. "All we really did by passing that law was take away some employment from some little people." New Jersey Gives MTV's 'Jersey Shore' A Film Credit Worth $420,000: Despite Gov. Chris Christie's (R) unapologetic hatred for the MTV series Jersey Shore, the state Economic Development Authority awarded the series $420,000 in taxpayer funds to pay for the show's production costs. Not only does the credit fail to create virtually any long-term, stable jobs, the EDA offered the credit without even considering the show's content. The Jersey Shore cast, however, did succeed in producing rare a agreement among Democrats and Republicans to veto the credit, a veto Christie happily delivered.
Kentucky Provides Tax Credit To Build Theme Park Modeled After Noah's Ark: In May, Kentucky gave a Bible-themed amusement park - replete with a model Noah's Ark and Tower of Babel - a $43 million tax break, even as the state was cutting social services. In August, the state went even farther, giving the Ark Encounter theme park a 75 percent property tax discount for the next three decades (the tax break, it turns out, will last 10,580 days longer than the Great Flood itself). The justification for the tax breaks? Ark Park officials say it'll create 900 jobs - based on a study Ark Park officials did themselves and never showed state officials.
Virgina Bill Provides Tax Credit For Blasting Cremated Remains Into Space: A Virginia state representative proposed a bill that "would provide a state tax credit of up to $8,000 to those who agree to have their cremated remains loaded onto a rocket and blasted into space," in an attempt to bolster Virginia's nascent space industry. There's just one catch: Virginia's lone spaceport doesn't actually offer space burials. The bill is scheduled to be debated in January.
BY GEORGE NOVACK How and why did capitalism originate?
Once money had arisen from the extension of trading several thousand years ago, its use as capital became possible. Merchants could add to their wealth by buying goods cheap and selling them dear; moneylenders and mortgage holders could gain interest on sums advanced on the security of land or other collateral. These practices were common in both slave and feudal societies.
But if money could be used in precapitalist times to return more than the original investment, other conditions had to be fulfilled before capitalism could become established as a separate and definite world economic system. The central condition was a special kind of transaction regularly repeated on a growing scale. Large numbers of propertyless workers had to hire themselves to the possessors of money and the other means of production in order to earn a livelihood.
Hiring and firing seem to us a normal way of carrying on production. But such peoples as the Indians never knew it. Before the Europeans came, no Indian ever worked for a boss (the word itself was imported by the Dutch), because they possessed their own means of livelihood. The slave may have been purchased, but he belonged to and worked for the master his whole life long. The feudal serf or tenant was likewise bound for life to the lord and his land.
The epoch-making innovation upon which capitalism rested was the institution of working for wages as the dominant relation of production. Most of you have gone into the labor market, to an employment agency or personnel office, to get a buyer for your labor power. The employer buys this power at prevailing wage rates by the hour, day, or week and then applies it under his supervision to produce commodities that his company subsequently sells at a profit. That profit is derived from the fact that wage workers produce more value than the capitalist pays for their labor.
Up to the twentieth century, this mechanism for pumping surplus labor out of the working masses and transferring the surpluses of wealth they create to the personal credit of the capitalist was the mightiest accelerator of the productive forces and the expansion of civilization. As a distinct economic system, capitalism is only about 450 years old; it has conquered the world and journeyed from dawn to twilight in that time. This is a short life-span… .
This speeding up in social progress is due in large measure to the very nature of capitalism, which continually revolutionizes its techniques of production and the entire range of social relations issuing from them. Since its birth, world capitalism has passed through three such phases of internal transformation. In its formative period, the merchants were the dominant class of capitalists because trade was the main source of wealth accumulation. Under commercial capitalism, industry and agriculture, the pillars of production, were not usually carried on by wage labor but by means of small handicrafts, peasant farming, slave or serf labor.
The industrial age was launched around the beginning of the nineteenth century with the application of steam power to the first mechanized processes, concentrating large numbers of wage workers into factories. The capitalist captains of this large-scale industry became masters of the field of production and later of entire countries and continents as their riches, their legions of wage laborers, social and political power, swelled to majestic proportions.
This vigorous, expanding, progressive, confident, competitive stage of industrial capitalism dominated the nineteenth century. It passed over into the monopoly-ridden capitalism of the twentieth century, which has carried all the basic tendencies of capitalism, and especially its most reactionary features, to extremes in economic, political, cultural, and international relations.
While the processes of production have become more centralized, more rationalized, more socialized, the means of production and the wealth of the world have become concentrated in giant financial and industrial combines. So far as the capitalist sectors of society are involved, this process has been brought to the point where the capitalist monopolies of a single country, the U.S., dictate to all the rest… .
The spokesmen for capitalism say that nothing more remains to be done except to perfect their system as it stands, and it can roll on and on and on….
Socialists give a completely different answer based upon an incomparably more penetrating, correct, and comprehensive analysis of the movement of history, the structure of capitalism, and the struggles presently agitating the world around us… .
Capitalism has produced many things, good and bad, in the course of its evolution. But the most vital and valuable of all the social forces it has created is the industrial working class. The capitalist class has brought into existence a vast army of wage laborers, centralized and disciplined, and set it into motion for its own purposes, to make and operate the machines, factories, and all the other production and transportation facilities from which its profits emanate.
The exploitation and abuses, inherent and inescapable in the capitalist organization of economic life, provoke the workers time and again to organize themselves and undertake militant action to defend their elementary interests. The struggle between these conflicting social classes is today the dominant and driving force of world and American history, just as the conflict between the bourgeois-led forces against the precapitalist elements was the motivating force of history in the immediately preceding centuries.
Perhaps dogs are the more affable and patient in their training of us Humans, but cats also have this natural talent.
Winston, the Wonder Cat has both
Cathy and myself trained, but mostly Cathy.
I am told by Winston when he needs more food and when he wants out...or in. The call for food is verbal...loud meowing, while the in and out commands are done via clawing on the woodwork nearest the desired door.
But his real charm is how he has conned Cathy into letting him snuggle in her lap. She might be sitting at her computer ordering supplies or doing client entry work. Winston walks past me, seated at my computer, and stares up lovingly at Cathy.
"Forget it!" she snaps. "You're not getting up here!" Winston moves ever closer, gazing with longing at her lap. She looks down. "All right. Get up here."
Did I mention that Winston the Wonder Cat weighs 23 pounds? He can sit on Cathy's lap until her legs go numb. "Winston, you're killing my legs", she groans.
"Put him down", I suggest. "you're bigger than he is".
That usually is not the smart thing to say. We both know that I'm just as big a pushover as she is, but Winston seldom selects my lap.
Now that he is almost totally blind we make certain that Winston does not have obstacles in his path, and we hover about the door when he goes out, fearful that he will wander into the jaws of a waiting coyote.
And yet, Winston the Wonder Cat continues to capture...and eat...the field mice who foolishly decide to live in our garage.
12 years old, rolley-polley and blind, Winston continues to do what he does best, usually leaving only the tail as proof that he is still hard at work.
Subject: Re: Romney Tried to Levy a "User Fee" on Being Blind When Governor of Massachusetts
I assume the blind person wasn't certified and therefore, couldn't qualify for programs or aid for blind people.
Miriam
This is exactly what it meant Miriam.
But forcing the blind to register for a 10 dollar fee is more than a method of certifying blind people in order to put a dribble of extra dollars in the state's treasury. As you say, once such a list is established it becomes the only way blind people can prove that they qualify for any of the governmental services, and eventually for any assistance.
Lists that single out particular people are dangerous. Just ask any old Jew left over from Nazi Germany.
Why set up an extra certification anyway? When most of us were told by our eye physicians that we were blind or legally blind, the doctor offered to provide us with a letter stating this information. What good purpose would it serve me or anyone, for me to then have to take that letter and apply for a certificate from the state?
Who would use such a list? Presently I do not go about announcing to the world that I am a blind man. I don't hide this fact, but when the phone rings or a knock at my door exposes me to a stranger, I may choose not to give them information that could put me at a disadvantage. We do live in a Land of Predators. There are those folks who make their living by taking advantage of others. Telling a strange voice on the phone that I'm blind could bring an unwanted guest to my basement door in the middle of the night.
So why would I want the state to hold a list with my name on it, declaring that I am fair game to anyone who could access that list. And trust me, once you are on the list, there will be many who will use it for all sorts of purposes.
I don't recall the town, but years ago a city decided that it would be a good idea to put a big sticker with the letter "I" to identify the bed room of disabled individuals in private homes.
That way, if there were an emergency or a fire, the authorities could quickly rescue the disabled person. And who else noticed these signs? Here was an invitation to enterprising crooks to just "come on in". And they did. End of signs.
Subject: Re: Romney Tried to Levy a "User Fee" on Being Blind When Governor of Massachusetts
This is exactly what it meant Miriam.
But forcing the blind to register for a 10 dollar fee is more than a method of certifying blind people in order to put a dribble of extra dollars in the state's treasury. As you say, once such a list is established it becomes the only way blind people can prove that they qualify for any of the governmental services, and eventually for any assistance.
Lists that single out particular people are dangerous. Just ask any old Jew left over from Nazi Germany.
Why set up an extra certification anyway? When most of us were told by our eye physicians that we were blind or legally blind, the doctor offered to provide us with a letter stating this information. What good purpose would it serve me or anyone, for me to then have to take that letter and apply for a certificate from the state?
Who would use such a list? Presently I do not go about announcing to the world that I am a blind man. I don't hide this fact, but when the phone rings or a knock at my door exposes me to a stranger, I may choose not to give them information that could put me at a disadvantage. We do live in a Land of Predators. There are those folks who make their living by taking advantage of others. Telling a strange voice on the phone that I'm blind could bring an unwanted guest to my basement door in the middle of the night.
So why would I want the state to hold a list with my name on it, declaring that I am fair game to anyone who could access that list. And trust me, once you are on the list, there will be many who will use it for all sorts of purposes.
I don't recall the town, but years ago a city decided that it would be a good idea to put a big sticker with the letter "I" to identify the bed room of disabled individuals in private homes.
That way, if there were an emergency or a fire, the authorities could quickly rescue the disabled person. And who else noticed these signs? Here was an invitation to enterprising crooks to just "come on in". And they did. End of signs.
Sometimes I tell folks that I am a recovering Christian.
But anyway, as a self proclaimed Agnostic I am now able to look upon all religion with a totally unbiased, objective view.
During my childhood I did attend Sunday School and learned all the wonderful, simplistic Fairy Tales. And I believed that there must be a God, because adults told me so. I also believed in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. I believed there were little people living in the woods who would guide lost children home. I believed in the Devil and goblins and monsters. I would never let my feet or hands dangle over the edge of my bed at night. something under there would surely grab me and drag me away. And eat me for their dinner.
And so I drifted into attending church, as an adult. But I could never say that I believed or disbelieved.
Then I decided that if God really did exist, and the Bible really was his book, and Jesus really was His Son...if all this was true, then I'd embrace it and dedicate my life to this eternal cause. I was born again, baptized in the holy spirit, spoke in tongues and had visions. The whole nine yards.
I think I drove my poor old dad nuts during those years. All his Radical Teachings were down the drain.
Looking back, I had to do it. How can I know for certain unless I give myself totally to the Cause?
Of course, since I do have a wondering mind, even if it is not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, I began finding holes in the Christian fabric. My Mentors told me that I must accept in Faith. But my answer was that if God had intended us to accept in Faith, He would not have provided us with a natural curiosity. While my fellow believers studied the Bible, the Word of God, I studied my fellow members. I began to see that the Bible was just like a big bucket of sand. Whenever a question arose that they had no answer for, or that contradicted what they believed, they simply shoved their heads into the Bible.
Among the many lessons I learned from my 6 plus years as a born again Christian, was that Christianity and Democracy cannot coexist.
Christianity, and all other religions that I am familiar with, are made to exist alongside oppressive governments. Dictators, Monarchs, Kings, and whatever other names we give to our strongman leaders. Christianity is what helps to keep the masses in line. We can tolerate all sorts of contradictions just so long as we truly believe that our treasure's are laid up in heaven.
But American's, as well as many people in other Western nations, have drifted away from the strong direct influence of the Church.
In its place we now have the Mass Media, pumping Fairy Tales called news, into our eager ears and eyes. We have Super Sports to occupy our leisure time. We have aisles and aisles of toys...IPhones, computers, and other gadgets...to amuse us.
But woven through it all is this basic conditioning from our Christian Heritage. And as long as we must believe in a strong, invisible Being who will save us from ourselves, we will never stand upon our own two feet and take responsibility for our lives and our planet and all that lives here with us.
I agree that we must find a way to end this crazy belief in Nothingness. But I fear that it is so woven into the fabric of our lives, and so reinforced by the Ruling Class, that we will never find our way to freedom.
1. If taxes are kept low on the very wealthy, what promises are they willing to make in terms of creating jobs?
2. If we get rid of the Healthcare Law, what should replace it, so that the 99% can get affordable health coverage?
3. What should be done about the outsourcing of jobs to other countries? Both parties need to answer this one.
4. You say we need to get rid of overregulation. Yet, the ones that are in place are often not followed. What do you intend to do to insure a safe working and living environments?
*********
Very well put Rick,
Of course your questions will never be answered by the Republicans. First, they are far too busy with important issues, like who has screwed more people...wives included...than the others, and who can "one up" the others with the funniest come backs. Boy, I sit on the edge of my chair when these silly kids are "debating".
But the answers to your questions are answered by one reply.
Answer: The Ruling Class looks out for itself. It does not care what happens to you, your children or your elderly. You and I are so much cattle fodder. The Ruling Class will take all that you and I have in order to advance the American Empire...for their own benefit.
So Rick, how can they begin to seriously answer any of your questions?
During my years with the Orientation and Training Center in Seattle, I met many young blind adults whose parents had "protected" them to the point that they had no practical experiences. They were like babes in the woods. Their social skills were at an immature level, which brought them great grief as they began to explore interacting with other adults. These young adults could not pick out a hammer from a assortment of tools on a bench. They did not know an egg beater from a potato masher. They had never made a bed, hung up their own clothes and some of them had never been taught how to take care of their personal hygiene issues.
Now here was the problem. I ran a Rehabilitation Program. That means we brought in people whose major issue was that they had recently lost their sight. They had been Habilitated.
They knew what a hammer looked like, and had probably hammered many a nail. They could use an egg beater and a potato masher.
But how do you rehabilitate a person who has never been habilitated in the first place? The process is totally different.
And is it possible to teach an adult how to be curious when they have been kept "safe" all their growing up years?
No matter what we did for these young adults, they were crippled the rest of their lives. They had been denied the ability to explore, test, fail, succeed and interact with other children.
I think that there are fewer of these children in America today. In our state the Department contacts the family as soon as they become aware of a blind child's birth, or a new family moving into the state. At least the child and family are given better information, and usually they stay in contact with the School for the Blind, which is probably the finest and most progressive in the nation.
It would be difficult to find a candidate who supports all of my concerns. So I voted for Obama, hoping that he would be good for his word. I knew from looking over his senate record and listening to his clever double talk that he was not going to thrill me. But I blanched at the thought of having Sarah Palin one shaky heart beat from the Oval Office.
As it has turned out, not only did Obama not follow through on many of his promises, he caved in by compromising on other issues long before he needed to.
Obama would make an interesting neighbor...if I could afford to live in his neighborhood, but I would never leave my lawn mower out over night. Since I can no longer trust his word, I can't vote for him any more than I can vote for (ugh) Newt Gingrich. Now, Newt would not make an interesting neighbor...if I could afford to live in his gated neighborhood. I'd have to lock up my wife every night.
Open, curious minds will explore just what sort of a leader Jesus was. But first we must do what we must do to all of our heroes. We must lift him from his pedestal and bring him back to Earth.
I am of the conviction that if we were to meet Jesus today, it would be on the streets near Wall Street, or on the White House steps, demanding equal justice for the 99%. It would be Jesus who would lead the way into the Wall Street Banks and turn over the counters and drive the money lenders out.
It would be Jesus walking alongside the homeless. It would be Jesus teaching on the hill, sending out email pleas for baskets of fish and loaves of bread and jugs of wine. It would be Jesus who would open the flood gates to all the secret documents which would expose the Empire's underhanded plans.
And most of those who currently call out their love for Jesus would turn and curse him...if he were here today.
Broadcasting on many low power and public radio stations, Bioneers continues to grow. This quiet organization could well be one of the advance guard in bringing down the American Empire and returning our nation to the 99%, the real American People.
Carl Jarvis
A New Word.
Founder Kenny Ausubel coined the term Bioneers in 1990 to describe an emerging culture. Bioneers are social and scientific innovators from all walks of life and disciplines who have peered deep into the heart of living systems to understand how nature operates, and to mimic "nature's operating instructions" to serve human ends without harming the web of life. Nature's principles—kinship, cooperation, diversity, symbiosis and cycles of continuous creation absent of waste—can also serve as metaphoric guideposts for organizing an equitable, compassionate and democratic society.
A Leading Source of Innovative Solutions.
As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, we provide a forum and social hub for education about solutions presented through the Bioneers Conference and our programs. Our media productions leverage this content to reach millions of people around the nation and the world with our award-winning radio series, Bioneers: Revolution From the Heart of Nature; anthology book series; television programs; and our interactive website. We act as a key source for the media, including third-party films and the press. Our DVDs, CDs and other educational materials are also used by colleges and schools and by community-based and other organizations to inform and inspire positive change at the local level.
An Annual Conference.
The Bioneers Conference is a leading-edge forum where you can see tomorrow today: a future environment of hope. Social and scientific innovators focus on breakthrough solutions inspired by nature and human ingenuity. These visionaries are already creating the healthy, diverse, equitable and beautiful world we want to live in—our legacy for future generations and the web of life on which our lives depend. You can connect with hundreds or thousands of engaged folks making a real difference.
In 2008, more than 12,000 people attended our main Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, California and 18 local Beaming Bioneers satellite conferences across the country. Bioneers fosters connection, cross-pollination and collaboration by bringing together diverse people and projects. We link strategic networks at the local, regional, national and international levels.
A Systemic Framework.
The bioneers are engaged citizens from all backgrounds and fields who focus on solving our world's most urgent problems within a framework of interdependence: It's all connected. Just as the web of life is intricately interconnected, so too are all environmental and social issues. We take a "solve-the-whole-problem" approach that is holistic, systemic and multidisciplinary.
A Network of Networks.
Bioneers fosters connection, cross-pollination and collaboration by bringing together diverse people and projects within a broadly progressive framework. We connect people with solutions and grow social capital for positive change by linking strategic networks on the local, regional, national and international levels.
A Catalyst for Restoration.
Sustainability is the dynamic midpoint between perpetual natural cycles of destruction and restoration. In this severely damaged and depleted world, we need to tip the scales toward restoration, regeneration and resilience to sustain the web of life for future generations.
An Oasis of Hope.
As a celebration of the dazzling genius of people and nature, Bioneers helps spark mass creativity and engagement. As author and social entrepreneur Paul Hawken said, "Bioneers is central to the re-imagination of what it means to be human."
*******
"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights."
Exactly. You got me pegged. I strive to be accepted by others. Being a child that was always left out of games and never invited to birthday parties by the smug little rich kids in my school(are my biases showing?), and struggling inside my own head to be "just as good as anyone else", I was conditioned to Need to Be Wanted and Accepted. It's a real curse, but that's why I am an Agnostic instead of an Atheist.
Dear Curious Carl,
I think that I'm an atheist, in that I do not believe that there is a higher power. I don't think that I'm rigid about that. I suspect that people who define themselves as atheists, may be rigid in response to all the criticism they receive. If you say you're an agnostic, that means that you're not denying that there may be a higher power and it makes you more acceptible to folks so they're not as judgemental.
Your Friend
Note from another friend,
I believe that atheism is, in itself, a religion. The only difference is those who practice it actually worship not believing in something. And, yes, like you, Carl, I've known atheists who can be just as rigid in their thinking as the most rigid conservative Christian. And yet they will tell you that since they're atheist they're open-minded. I admire true agnostics like you, Carl, because you have truly eschewed any mind-trapping dogma from either side.
I'm sipping my morning coffee and thinking that I'd better hop into the shower before heading off to see several clients.
But I wanted to say that you put your finger on the button. For me, Jesus is the embodiment of all that is good about Mankind. And all that we strive to be. I am pretty sure that the man Jesus walked this Earth, but I no longer believe the myths that have built up around him, anymore than I believe that George Washington chopped down the Cherry Tree and said, "Pop, I did it".
Carl, you have given me a good mind-stretcher to go with my first cup of coffee on this early morning. You make a good point about the institutional church and organized religion making it necessary to twist facts in order to keep one's self on the road to Heaven. However, as you probably know from your time studying the Bible, especially the Gospels, Jesus didn't call us to be what the organized or corperate church is these days. He called us to follow Him by loving Him and accepting the grace of God. Man created most of the rules that the fundamentalists want us to obey.
Chris
On Feb 21, 2011, at 9:19 PM, Carl Jarvis wrote:
Ted,
Exactly right. Because religion is Faith Based, and because religion has been a major player in our civilization, we are pretty much locked into religion's influence.
When I was a Christian, I picked my "facts" to support my Christian Beliefs. And guess what? As an Agnostic, I select my facts to support my beliefs.
But as an Agnostic, I am not so driven to prove my beliefs. Changing my mind is not going to threaten my entry into Heaven. Any religion has as a basic premise the knowledge that it is the True Pathway to Life Eternal. Any deviation could cost you your immortality.
And so you must twist facts to fit your particular religion. And you must defend it against all Heretics and Infidels.
I must admit that I do not know what causes some Atheists to get so bull headed. They're not going anywhere after this life. But us Agnostics are mostly a laid back bunch of easy going folk.
Let the facts prove themselves. We don't need to twist them, just watch them and learn.
How does a religious person learn anything new? They are so busy trying to prove an un-provable, that they shut out any hope of new experiences.
Miriam, If I am understanding your question correctly, the answer is "No". In fact, I think that the use of different "facts" by conservatives, whether knowingly or not, is designed to make the argument insoluble.
And I'll add a third point made very clear in the Chris Hedges commentary: many people now believe that truth is based upon on how they feel about any given subject, no matter what the factual information may be. And I am afraid that some religions, particularly those that rely upon spiritual witness for information, are leading people down the road of believing more in what they feel than in on-the-ground facts.
Ted ---- Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@optonline.net> wrote: Are those two assertions mutually exclusive? Miriam ----- Original Message ----- From: "ted chittenden" <tchittenden@cox.net> To: "Blind Democracy Discussion List" <blind-democracy@octothorp.org> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 9:57 PM Subject: Re: What Conservatives Really Want
I agree with everything in this commentary, but there is a glaring omission. Conservatives do not believe, as liberals do, that 1% of the population has 95% of the wealth. Point that out to them and they will quote "facts" showing that wealth has risen in all classes. I have written this before, and I will write it again: When both sides of an argument disagree on basic facts, it is hard to see how the argument can be peacefully resolved.
Ted ---- Claude Everett <ceverett@dslextreme.com> wrote: What Conservatives Really Want Posted on February 19, 2011 by georgelakoff| 3 Comments -Dedicated to the peaceful protestors in Wisconsin, February 19, 2011
The central issue in our political life is not being discussed. At stake is the moral basis of American democracy.
The individual issues are all too real: assaults on unions, public employees, women's rights, immigrants, the environment, health care, voting rights, food safety, pensions, prenatal care, science, public broadcasting, and on and on. Budget deficits are a ruse, as we've seen in Wisconsin, where the Governor turned a surplus into a deficit by providing corporate tax breaks, and then used the deficit as a ploy to break the unions, not just in Wisconsin, but seeking to be the first domino in a nationwide conservative movement.
Deficits can be addressed by raising revenue, plugging tax loopholes, putting people to work, and developing the economy long-term in all the ways the President has discussed. But deficits are not what really matters to conservatives. Conservatives really want to change the basis of American life, to make America run according to the conservative moral worldview in all areas of life.
In the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama accurately described the basis of American democracy: Empathy - citizens caring for each other, both social and personal responsibility-acting on that care, and an ethic of excellence. From these, our freedoms and our way of life follow, as does the role of government: to protect and empower everyone equally. Protection includes safety, health, the environment, pensions and empowerment starts with education and infrastructure. No one can be free without these, and without a commitment to care and act on that care by one's fellow citizens. The conservative worldview rejects all of that.
Conservatives believe in individual responsibility alone, not social responsibility. They don't think government should help its citizens. That is, they don't think citizens should help each other. The part of government they want to cut is not the military (we have 174 bases around the world), not government subsidies to corporations, not the aspect of government that fits their worldview. They want to cut the part that helps people. Why? Because that violates individual responsibility.
But where does that view of individual responsibility alone come from?
The way to understand the conservative moral system is to consider a strict father family. The father is The Decider, the ultimate moral authority in the family. His authority must not be challenged. His job is to protect the family, to support the family (by winning competitions in the marketplace), and to teach his kids right from wrong by disciplining them physically when they do wrong. The use of force is necessary and required. Only then will children develop the internal discipline to become moral beings. And only with such discipline will they be able to prosper. And what of people who are not prosperous? They don't have discipline, and without discipline they cannot be moral, so they deserve their poverty. The good people are hence the prosperous people. Helping others takes away their discipline, and hence makes them both unable to prosper on their own and function morally.
The market itself is seen in this way. The slogan, "Let the market decide" assumes the market itself is The Decider. The market is seen as both natural (since it is assumed that people naturally seek their self-interest) and moral (if everyone seeks their own profit, the profit of all will be maximized by the invisible hand). As the ultimate moral authority, there should be no power higher than the market that might go against market values. Thus the government can spend money to protect the market and promote market values, but should not rule over it either through (1) regulation, (2) taxation, (3) unions and worker rights, (4) environmental protection or food safety laws, and (5) tort cases. Moreover, government should not do public service. The market has service industries for that. Thus, it would be wrong for the government to provide health care, education, public broadcasting, public parks, and so on. The very idea of these things is at odds with the conservative moral system. No one should be paying for anyone else. It is individual responsibility in all arenas. Taxation is thus seen as taking money away from those who have earned it and giving it to people who don't deserve it. Taxation cannot be seen as providing the necessities of life, a civilized society, and as necessary for business to prosper.
In conservative family life, the strict father rules. Fathers and husbands should have control over reproduction; hence, parental and spousal notification laws and opposition to abortion. In conservative religion, God is seen as the strict father, the Lord, who rewards and punishes according to individual responsibility in following his Biblical word.
Above all, the authority of conservatism itself must be maintained. The country should be ruled by conservative values, and progressive values are seen as evil. Science should NOT have authority over the market, and so the science of global warming and evolution must be denied. Facts that are inconsistent with the authority of conservatism must be ignored or denied or explained away. To protect and extend conservative values themselves, the devil's own means can be used against conservatism's immoral enemies, whether lies, intimidation, torture, or even death, say, for women's doctors.
Freedom is defined as being your own strict father - with individual not social responsibility, and without any government authority telling you what you can and cannot do. To defend that freedom as an individual, you will of course need a gun.
This is the America that conservatives really want. Budget deficits are convenient ruses for destroying American democracy and replacing it with conservative rule in all areas of life.
What is saddest of all is to see Democrats helping them.
Democrats help radical conservatives by accepting the deficit frame and arguing about what to cut. Even arguing against specific "cuts" is working within the conservative frame. What is the alternative? Pointing out what conservatives really want. Point out that there is plenty of money in America, and in Wisconsin. It is at the top. The disparity in financial assets is un-American - the top one percent has more financial assets than the bottom 95 percent. Middle class wages have been flat for 30 years, while the wealth has floated to the top. This fits the conservative way of life, but not the American way of life. Democrats help conservatives by not shouting out loud over and over that it was conservative values that caused the global economic collapse: lack of regulation and a greed-is-good ethic.
Democrats also help conservatives by what a friend has called Democratic Communication Disorder. Republican conservatives have constructed a vast and effective communication system, with think tanks, framing experts, training institutes, a system of trained speakers, vast holdings of media, and booking agents. Eighty percent of the talking heads on tv are conservatives. Talk matters because language heard over and over changes brains. Democrats have not built the communication system they need, and many are relatively clueless about how to frame their deepest values and complex truths.
And Democrats help conservatives when they function as policy wonks - talking policy without communicating the moral values behind the policies. They help conservatives when they neglect to remind us that pensions are deferred payments for work done. "Benefits" are pay for work, not a handout. Pensions and benefits are arranged by contract. If there is not enough money for them, it is because the contracted funds have been taken by conservative officials and given to wealthy people and corporations instead of to the people who have earned them.
Democrats help conservatives when they use conservative words like "entitlements" instead of "earnings" and speak of government as providing "services" instead of "necessities."
Is there hope?
I see it in Wisconsin, where tens of thousands citizens see through the conservative frames and are willing to flood the streets of their capital to stand up for their rights. They understand that democracy is about citizens uniting to take care of each other, about social responsibility as well as individual responsibility, and about work - not just for your own profit, but to help create a civilized society. They appreciate their teachers, nurses, firemen, police, and other public servants. They are flooding the streets to demand real democracy - the democracy of caring, of social responsibility, and of excellence, where prosperity is to be shared by those who work and those who serve.
Regards,Claude Everett Everyone has a disability, some are more aware of it than others. "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln February 12, 1809-April 15, 1865
