12/01/2007

Why Are We All So Scared?

Tom Tancredo, the Republican congressman from Colorado is running for president, but he’s not running for president. He has no chance of winning the nomination; he’s running to inject his racist, vindictive views on immigration into the debate.

One-issue candidates seeking to shift the dynamic of a race are nothing new, but they’re rarely as successful as Mr. Tancredo’s been. Why is that?

OK, the GOP candidates are playing to wingnuts and wackjobs that dominate their parties selection process, but why has the immigration issue turned so ugly across the political spectrum?

Why did Hillary Clinton first waffle over, than condemn New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s plan to allow undocumented workers to get driver’s licenses in their state? The plan made sense from both public safety and law-and-order perspectives.

It’s predictable that the Republican fear machine is revving up for 2008. In recent cycles, the topics have been gay marriage, “Islamofascism”, Social Security “shortfalls” and “cultural elites.” The question is: why do the Democrats buy into these tactics and why do we?

By floegel | Posted in Asides, Civil Liberty, Electoral Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
11/29/2007

Impeachment Now!

In Zen Buddhism, there is the idea that while enlightenment can takes years of meditation and discipline, it can also happen in a flash. Suddenly, the mind becomes clear and everything makes sense. In Zen, it’s called satori, which means “kick in the eye.”

I had one of those Monday when a local blog quoted John Nichols of The Nation magazine as saying the impeachment of George W. Bush is “a necessary response to a presidency that so dramatically mismanaged and misguided this nation. If we can’t impeach now, then we can never impeach because I guarantee to you that every president will always tell you that the times are too extraordinary to allow that president to be held to account.”

Of course, it makes perfect sense. I have to admit, I’ve been one of those “practical” people who’s been thinking that, yes, Mr. Bush and Dick Cheney deserve to be impeached and then charged with crimes domestic and international, but it’s more important for Congress to go about cleaning up some of the Bush/Cheney mess and start getting the country back on track.
Continue reading »

By floegel | Posted in Civil Liberty, Commentary, Electoral Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)
11/28/2007

No One Asked JFK That Question….

Turns out, Mitt Romney may have a religion problem in his presidential quest after all.

Talking Points Memo this morning reports that at least three Republicans and two publications are quoting Mr. Romney as saying he would not consider appointing a Muslim to his cabinet, if elected president.

Two of the Republicans paraphrased Mr. Romney’s remarks at a Nevada forum as, “They’re radicals. There’s no talking to them. There’s no negotiating with them.”

Hmmm… sounds like the kind of slurs thrown at Mormons in the not-too-distant past. Why do so many people only recognize bigotry when their group is on the receiving end?

By floegel | Posted in Asides, Civil Liberty, Electoral Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
11/27/2007

Stuck in Neutral

This is why we’re doomed when it comes to global warming. The science in clear and abundant, sensible options for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide are many and available – although each will require some inconvenience and cost.

Our leaders, however, who can see no interest beyond their own terms of office, will only commit to the stupidest of ideas.

Case in point:

This spring, the Vermont Legislature made global warming a priority. It passed a comprehensive bill to encourage energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy sources. Governor Jim Douglas (R), vetoed the bill, but promised to come up with an even better plan.

The governor established the commission on climate change, which in October proposed 38 ideas for reducing Vermont’s contribution to global warming, many of them similar to those proposed by the legislature.

Mr. Douglas ignored his own commission and is instead promoting the notion that the state government and the University of Vermont will develop what he calls “Vermont Green Standard,” designed “to define the financial value of offsetting CO2 emissions.”

Carbon offsetting does not do a damn bit of good; it’s only purpose is to sooth people possessed of superficial conscience and intellect. Paying someone ten dollars to plant a tree in Africa does not give you the right to drive a Hummer.

A couple of lads in England, appalled as you might expect by the concept of carbon neutrality, decided to expand the concept to marital infidelity. If you can spew carbon and pay someone not to, why not cheat on your spouse and pay someone to remain faithful or celibate?

Why stop there? Pay someone to diet while you binge, to take in orphans while you beat your kids or give to the poor while you cheat on your taxes? (Uh, I guess we already have that last one….)

By floegel | Posted in Asides, Economy, Electoral Politics, Global Warming, Oil | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
11/24/2007

…and a chicken in every pot?

Cambridge Energy Research Associates is likely to release the 2008 edition of its “Gasoline and the American People” report soon. Before they do, I’d like to call attention a telling statistic from the 2007 edition:

Number of cars per thousand of population:

United States: – 1,148
India – 11
China – 9

It’ll be interesting to see this year’s numbers (if reported). The overall message is clear. The atmosphere cannot tolerate American-style affluence in India China. The atmosphere cannot American-style affluence in America. It’s time to change.

See last year’s full report here.

By floegel | Posted in Asides, Economy, Global Warming, Oil | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)
11/23/2007

Once Again, with Better Stats

The WaPo’s Eugene Robinson has similar thoughts about the American dream and the disappearing middle class, but has a better bunch of stats to back it up. (Hey, he gets paid for doing this…)

By floegel | Posted in Asides, Economy | Tagged , | Comments (0)
11/22/2007

Working Class Middle Class

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you’re enjoying the day away from work and with family and friends. On our semi-secular holiday, we give thanks not only for what we have, but also for the blessings we anticipate in the year to come.

We anticipate blessings, both small and large. Someone in the family may be looking forward to making the basketball team, a promotion at work, an extended vacation or acceptance at a wished-for university. Our baseline wish – perhaps assumption – is that the blessings we enjoy will continue for another year: good health, safety and the level of prosperity to which we have become accustomed.

Because Thanksgiving is an American holiday, we expect new blessings or at least those things will remain as they are. Thanksgiving is a holiday of backward and forward glances; looking to past and future, we see that things are not as they have always been or will be.

My Thanksgiving memories, of the 60s and 70s, are of a family that belonged to the now disappeared “working class middle class.” That class rose after the Second World War and was primarily comprised of factory workers who were either supported by unions or whose companies paid a wage designed to compete with union jobs.
Continue reading »

By floegel | Posted in Commentary, Economy | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)