Our democracy can only be destroyed from within. Right now there are two factors working to do so. Citizens United and lobbyists who use their money to buy our law makers.
The Supreme Court, in its supposed wisdom, decreed that a Corporation is an individual and should have the same rights. This decision allows them to spend obscene amounts of money on political campaigns. Their enormous wealth together with the Chamber of Commerce make it almost impossible for the citizen voter to be heard. This in turn gives them the power to control elections.
While Conservatives at this time find the need to use that power, eventually it will destroy them. Too much power does that. Look at Libya, Egypt, Russia and all previous regimes who have succumbed.
Even more so when big money is used to propagate lies. Opposition money will also find a way to do so. You lie about me and I will lie about you. That has given us leaders few have faith in.
We have to have an amendment to bring sanity to the vote, by repealing this ludicrous idea or at least a reversal by the Supreme Court.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Thinking of Whitney: My Top 10 Black Female Vocalists
With the passing of Whitney Houston, whom I found to be a warm and gracious person, I decided to give my opinion of the top ten black female vocalists I have seen in person. Not one of these great singers needed a special wardrobe, dancers or an overproduced act to convey the meaning of a song.
They are listed alphabetically because at different times, depending on my mood, I feel differently about them.
Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Cleo Laine, Leontyne
Price and Dinah Washington.
There have been others who have enthralled me at times, but any top ten list always leaves out some.
Of course it should almost be demanded that Whitney's version of "The Star Spangled Banner" be sung at all sporting events.
They are listed alphabetically because at different times, depending on my mood, I feel differently about them.
Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Etta James, Gladys Knight, Cleo Laine, Leontyne
Price and Dinah Washington.
There have been others who have enthralled me at times, but any top ten list always leaves out some.
Of course it should almost be demanded that Whitney's version of "The Star Spangled Banner" be sung at all sporting events.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Romney: Fighter for the middle class
Like the union man in "The Pajama Game," with a pencil and a pad, I figured it out.
Mitt Romney has stated that he will fight for the middle class, not the wealthy or the poor.
Before you call him a hypocrite or a liar let me explain. At no time did I hear him set the boundaries economically as to who is in the middle class.
When a guy makes $21 million a year, anyone who makes $1 million a year is, to him, middle class. So he will fight President Obama all the way on his proposal to tax those earning a million dollars a year.
As for those making less, they will have to resort to the safety nets that he proposes to wipe out. Now you figure it out.
Mitt Romney has stated that he will fight for the middle class, not the wealthy or the poor.
Before you call him a hypocrite or a liar let me explain. At no time did I hear him set the boundaries economically as to who is in the middle class.
When a guy makes $21 million a year, anyone who makes $1 million a year is, to him, middle class. So he will fight President Obama all the way on his proposal to tax those earning a million dollars a year.
As for those making less, they will have to resort to the safety nets that he proposes to wipe out. Now you figure it out.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Should the GOP win
So far the Republican debates have been a joke - a reality TV show void of reality. So let's carry the joke a little further. This is what I imagine would happen if any of them would be elected president.
Under Mitt Romney, America would have an immediate economic boom because he would sell the blue States to China.
Under Newt Gingrich we would have the "Contract for China" and he would be the Commissar of Human relations and bi-partisanship. He - and not Mitt the Mormon - would probably legalize polygamy, because every politician should have more than one wife. And definitely more than one mistress.
Under Ron Paul, all laws would be judged by a Constitution Committee (unpaid) because the Supreme Court cannot be trusted anymore.
Under Rick Santorum, you could go to public school when you got your voucher from your church. Freedom of choice would be about which church. Scratch Santorum, he's taken his sweater vests and gone home to do his taxes. He should probably call Romney's accountant.
Under Mitt Romney, America would have an immediate economic boom because he would sell the blue States to China.
Under Newt Gingrich we would have the "Contract for China" and he would be the Commissar of Human relations and bi-partisanship. He - and not Mitt the Mormon - would probably legalize polygamy, because every politician should have more than one wife. And definitely more than one mistress.
Under Ron Paul, all laws would be judged by a Constitution Committee (unpaid) because the Supreme Court cannot be trusted anymore.
Under Rick Santorum, you could go to public school when you got your voucher from your church. Freedom of choice would be about which church. Scratch Santorum, he's taken his sweater vests and gone home to do his taxes. He should probably call Romney's accountant.
Monday, January 23, 2012
A very unelectable "most electable"
I hate to break the news to South Carolina Republicans, but the winner of their primary was President Obama.
Newt Gingrich has much too much baggage. He probably is best suited to win the Conservative and Tea
Party crowd, but they will not elect anyone and many of them are disturbed by his high-paid consulting work for Freddie Mac. Even Democrats who are unhappy with President Obama would come out to vote against Newt.
Newt will bring out more Democrats who hate him for his hypocritical attack on President Clinton's affair when he was having one of his own. He will bring out more Independents who hate him because they feel he is mostly responsible for the deep divisions in our country. They point to his "Contract On America" which was erroneously called "The Contract for America," as
the turning point. There will probably be a vast number of Republican women who will probably sit on their hands rather than vote for this serial philanderer.
None of the GOP candidates have as many negatives or have built up as much animosity as Newt.
Even Glenn Beck has said he's the one Republican candidate he couldn't vote for.
Newt Gingrich has much too much baggage. He probably is best suited to win the Conservative and Tea
Party crowd, but they will not elect anyone and many of them are disturbed by his high-paid consulting work for Freddie Mac. Even Democrats who are unhappy with President Obama would come out to vote against Newt.
Newt will bring out more Democrats who hate him for his hypocritical attack on President Clinton's affair when he was having one of his own. He will bring out more Independents who hate him because they feel he is mostly responsible for the deep divisions in our country. They point to his "Contract On America" which was erroneously called "The Contract for America," as
the turning point. There will probably be a vast number of Republican women who will probably sit on their hands rather than vote for this serial philanderer.
None of the GOP candidates have as many negatives or have built up as much animosity as Newt.
Even Glenn Beck has said he's the one Republican candidate he couldn't vote for.
Who are the "moderate" Republicans?
While watching the New Hampshire primary results a few weeks back, I saw a commentator with a district map show the purported breakdown of votes from conservative, moderate, and liberal Republicans.
Moderate Republicans? Liberal Republican?
I thought the moderates were an endangered species and the liberals were extinct.
So, if anyone who reads this blog can come up with the names of some moderate or liberal Republicans, please send them my way.
Moderate Republicans? Liberal Republican?
I thought the moderates were an endangered species and the liberals were extinct.
So, if anyone who reads this blog can come up with the names of some moderate or liberal Republicans, please send them my way.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Keystone Pipeline
I think I have a solution to the Keystone Pipeline problem.
President Obama should tell Congress he will approve of any bill that they pass with these provisos.
1. Five billion dollars must be left in escrow with FEMA to cover the costs of any illnesses to workers or people in the pipeline territory who get sick from the pipeline.
2. The oil cannot be sold outside of Canada and the United States.
3. All the members of the Board of Directors of Keystone must live in homes within 10 miles of the pipeline.
President Obama should tell Congress he will approve of any bill that they pass with these provisos.
1. Five billion dollars must be left in escrow with FEMA to cover the costs of any illnesses to workers or people in the pipeline territory who get sick from the pipeline.
2. The oil cannot be sold outside of Canada and the United States.
3. All the members of the Board of Directors of Keystone must live in homes within 10 miles of the pipeline.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
