There is someone else who has finally started a discussion of
Democracy Without Liberty.
I have posted several times about this topic here, here and here.
Truth
The Republican’s won’t stop the gravy train
The Push to Tighten Lobbying Rules Loses Strength
Statements like;
while the Senate did vote this week in favor of a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists, the real fight will be over whether to limit a much more lucrative perk: private travel, and lawmakers’ use of corporate jets.
Results in responses like this:
…the new majority leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, is not keen on the travel ban
“The fervor for reform in this case was driven by a fear that a match was about to be lit to dry tinder. They were scared to death they would go back home and people would be waiting as they got off the plane with buckets of tar and bales of feathers.”
But
Congress tends to have a short attention span.
as
There has been little political fallout from the Abramoff case
so
Without a grass-roots hue and cry of the sort that pushed lawmakers to block the Dubai port deal this week, it was perhaps inevitable that the push for lobbying law changes would diminish.
and everyone will forget, and it will go back to the way it was. Lobbyist in control of Congress.
Left wing teaching, looks fair and balanced
It is quite evident that some of the commentaries here (thanks for the link Fi Fie Foe) have not been in a High school in the U.S. The audio of a so called left wing teacher teaching a class sounds to me, more or less a balanced world view from different perspectives.
(You can read a better review here )
They would have known that for a teacher to even get the attention of the class they would have to engage in controversial subjects and current affairs. The class sounded quiet, and interested. Unlike most classes where the drone of canned ‘facts’ clouds most students minds to the point that they pay no attention at all and chat amongst themselves.
Students in the U.S. Today (but not in Ireland), have immense access to the internet, mass media and other alternative sources for information. They are immersed in information far beyond the textbook learning of the past. And if a teacher does not engage that information, they loose the class.
Much of the far right would love to have only their facts (read propaganda) drilled into students, without critical thinking being part of the plan. Independent thought and freedom of speech are not what they are seeking from the next generation of students.
The very fact that this recording was made (by one of the students who holds an alternative opinion), is evidence that the students have the intellectual capacity to understand the subject matter, even if they are of an opposing viewpoint.
The last days of Fundamentalist Righteous Superiority
In recent weeks in the U.S., there have been numerous attempts by fundamentalist christians to force State legislatures into passing laws reflecting their religious beliefs. A South Dakota Rape Law in the form of a anti-abortion law, Intelligent Design teachings in schools, a law authorizing the establishment of a State Religion. Mad things, and with no hope of them withstanding a constitutional review. (I hope)
On the surface they don’t seem to have much in common except their republican, right wing religious pinnings. But what they share is desperation.
That’s what I said, Desperation. They all have the same fear, that the Republican GOP has run out of steam, and is facing a massive back lash in the upcoming elections. The expectation that the corruption, lies and constitutional violations by the Republicans in Congress and the Executive branch are going to bring about a massive Democratic reversal.
This all comes on the heels of calls for NSA reviews, impeachment and lobbying corruption scandals.
There is also an expectation that now that the Judicial Branch has a decidedly right wing slant. There could be some hope that these State Laws might pass Supreme Court Review, and hence force these laws upon other states.
There is even more fear, as the government is continuing to force states to implement electronic voting machines which clearly do not work, or worst, results in republican bias in their reporting.
The monster that the republicans have created is facing a revolt of the public. There is even more talk of a real overthrow of the current administration.
Some republicans are now having to consider if there needs to be some change in direction. A distancing from the president, and I can only hope that in their desperation that they finally choose to Impeach the President in a effort to save their own skins.
I have a faint hope that they will impeach, and also fail to sustain their majority one world government.
I hope that the American people get their government back without a violent revolution and that just a small revolution will reestablish the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America.
The Conversion
This story is one I heard at the University of Kansas. It was in a Medieval History class I was enrolled in (being as I was bound and determined to be a History teacher). This class was taught by the best history professor I have ever had, and I’m sorry to say, I don’t recall his name after all these years.
He would start out every class with a Medieval Joke or a story. And as best as I can, I will attempt retell one of my favorites.
There were a couple of merchants who were friends, one a Catholic the other a Jew, and they were in constant discussions as to the superior nature of each their chosen religion. At the time around the 13th century Catholicism was on the rise and there was a consistent stream of conversions and the Jewish merchant was always amazed. The two friends were each attempting to convert the other and neither succeeding. On one occasion the Jewish man who was intending a trip to Rome for business, told his Catholic friend in a bit of an amusing way that if what he found in Rome could convince him of the superior Catholic church, he would convert. Upon hearing this the Catholic man was fraught with fear as the Rome of that period was as corrupt as could be, with Bishops, Cardinals and Priests selling dispensation, granting favors and indulgences. While themselves participating it drunken debauchery and whoring. A generally poor example of the nature of the Catholic church. But knowing this the Catholic merchant did not illustrate this for his friend, hoping that such things might not be observed during his trip. So the Jewish merchant made his trip, and upon his return came to his friend and confessed that he would convert to the Catholic Religion. And his friend was perplexed, and ask what had been the determining factor. His friend then went on to describe the worst fears of what he had heard of Rome. The Catholic man was shocked at what he heard, and ask his friend that in the face of such corruption's, how could he want to convert to such a church. And the Jewish man said, it was because of such chaos that he determined that for a religion to grow as it had, then it must be the one true religion as nothing else could explain the rise of this religion. And the Jewish man converted to Catholicism.
Now this is interesting as it has a universal applicability to politics and religion in that with all the political corruption’s of democratic governments they continue to grow. Even in the face of fumbling presidencies corrupt politicians and bungled opportunities, when democracy has a chance, it will succeed even in the face of such chaos. Errors are corrected, politicians are convicted, presidents impeached, and bungled opportunities are recovered.
They are not without pain and require much work by honest men. And as it’s been said before;
Democracy is the the worst form of government, except for all the other’s
Sinn Fein, Hamas and George Washington
Someone ask me what I thought about Sinn Fein being elected as part of the government of the Republic of Ireland. And I flipped off an answer
If the people vote Sinn Fein into government, that is their will. If Sinn Fein are voted in on a platform that they will not fulfill. Then they are no different than any other politician that they replaced, untrustworthy, and they too, should, and will be replaced.
And then I hear that many people in Ireland fear terrible things will happen if Sinn Fein, “the Murdering IRA Thugs”, win more seats in the government.
And sure, I know that there are concerns there, but what would you say to George Washington. To the the British, he was a “Murdering rebel Traitor” but he became President of the United States. Some Americans wanted to make him King, but he declined. It seemed to work out fine for them, being a good man that he was.
I’ll quote you something normally attributed to Ben Franklin
Revolution is always illegal in the third person, such as ‘Their’ Revolution
it’s only legal in the first person, as Our revolution
So if Sinn Fein are, in their own minds, Revolutionary Patriots, then what would make them different from George Washington. The fact that they do not hold office yet, or that what they stand for is not what you stand for?
And if that’s the only difference, being that their platform distinguishes them from any other party, it only makes them politicians, like any other. And you wouldn’t be voting for something you don’t believe in as no amount of thuggery will get the average Irishman to change his mind, only kindly persuasion. (or maybe the parish priest)
Do you think maybe, that Hamas may believe they are patriots for their own people too?
It is really only a matter of perspective.
It’s much like a boxer entering a knitting contest, he wins only if he can knit.
Democracy is philosophically complex
When ever I hear some one proclaiming that they are striving to bring ‘Democracy to the world’ I shutter, and then mark it down as some one else who does not know what they are talking about. The following is an example of why I know they don’t know what they advocate when they say such things.
U.S. and Israelis Are Said to Talk of Hamas Ouster
The professed supporter of Democracy usually means that they support democracy so long as they win, or that the winners believe the same things as, and fall into line with, the speakers own agenda. The U.S. and Israeli politicians believed that the winners in the Palestinian election would be clones of themselves. And that is just not going to happen in a true Democracy.
The previous government in Palestine was corrupt, detached and did not help, or reflect the needs of the people they were elected to work for.
And if you think this is revolutionary, try reading the rest of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
Simpleton minds, hearing simplistic rhetoric often misunderstand what democracy really means. The form of government that the U.S. (and U.K, and most of the western ‘democracies’) exercises, is not a pure democracy, but a republic, with democratic foundations, governed by Laws that prevent Majorities from overturning minority rights. Such things as Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are protections for minorities, they prevent the rule of the mob from overcoming the rights of the minority.
The mighty Hunter?
This might explain why the Vice President enjoys torture so much Humane Society Statement
“If the Vice President and his friends wanted to sharpen their shooting skills, they could have shot skeet or clay, not resorted to the slaughter of more than 400 creatures planted right in front of them as animated targets.”
Seems the VP can’t even shoot straight even then, he shot one of the other group, and then hid the incident for 18 hours until he could report that the victim hadn’t died.
If the VP really has such a challenge shooting caged game birds, I know that he would love a barnyard full of free range chickens.
Hunting used to be a sport.
More on Externalities
This is Classic externality, the Oil companies profit, and the the world pays the price. Climate ‘makes oil profit vanish’ This is a misleading headline, it should read “Oil companies Profit, world pay’s climate costs”
So called ‘Science President’
It looks like the so called ‘Science President’ is really helping out NASA, not only has he accepted the resignation of his ignorant press suppresser, Deutsch, but he’s helping them so much that they are having to beg for financial support from other nations, and industry just to keep programs running.
NASA seeks partners as budgets tighten
So the nation that when to the moon, can’t get even get some programs off the ground.
The New Dark Age
Over at this blog post The Cartoon War
I agree with his “cynical assumption”, I believe this has been orchestrated, and if Muslim’s are feeling increasingly beleaguered, they should get in line.
The greater mass of the general population is increasingly isolated from the functioning of their own governments. Control of events has long since been passed into a very few hands. Partly into the corporate multi-nationals and the ruling elite and partly into their religious proxies in the extremes of both the Muslim an Christian fundamentalist.
The tools are simple, fear and righteousness. Blind obedience, the only condition for membership in the crusade.
But I also believe that while the cartoons were gratuitously inflammatory, you won’t see embassies burnt when the Muslims print holocaust cartoons (which is historic, and not religious). Nor have they when other cartoons printed in Muslims papers deplicting Jews and Christians in an unflattering way have been printed.
We are entering into another dark age where religions rule the minds of the public. And we are ruled by a democratic mob.
Idolizing Cleric’s
It is allowed to Idolize Cleric’s who interpret Muhammad, but it’s not allowed to display a depiction of Muhammad?
This just rings as another religious hypocrisy, as there are no paintings, photos or drawings of Muhammad (that’s forbidden), you can only depict what you believe Muhammad looked like, just like you can depict a laughing Jesus. It’s only someone’s ‘opinion’ of what Jesus, or Muhammad looks like not the real thing.
It’s only an Idol, if you believe that it’s a true representation of what Muhammad, or Jesus, looks like. So if you are motivated to burn down buildings and attack others it’s because that you believe the depiction IS Muhammad or Jesus, and that the depiction desecrates the TRUE image of Muhammad, or Jesus. And that makes no sense at all, as no one has see either of them for thousands of years.
Perhaps that’s why they burn national flags, as if a countries soul is embodied in the fabric somehow.
Perhaps Muhammad was correct, no Icons, no imagined images of him, his cleric’s or his flags. That might make more sense.
E-mail postage, just cashing in on Spam
AOL and Yahoo have got to have some nerve, claiming that this will stop spam!
Postage Is Due for Companies Sending E-Mail
The Internet companies say that this will help them identify legitimate mail and cut down on junk e-mail, identity-theft scams and other scourges that plague users of their services. They also stand to earn millions of dollars a year from the system if it is widely adopted.
This is just a way to cash in on e-mail traffic. The spammers will work around this in a week, and will end up billing invalid accounts or valid ones incorrectly. There is nothing in an e-mail packet that can’t be spoofed. Including any ‘accounting’ that might be required.
Given the fact that e-mail has never been a ‘Guaranteed’ protocol in the TCP/IP stack. How would AOL or Yahoo indemnify e-mail? They couldn’t, so they are selling vapor. They could only ensure email delivery within their own systems, and even that would be questionable.
This is more of what the telco’s are already trying to do by having everyone pay double for what they have already paid for. Paying double for bandwidth, pay double for e-mail.
Another Rip-off scam by big business.
If you can’t Stop the Government lying, File Suit.
I love this stuff. This falls under an earlier post I made about using the Civil Courts to preserve the rights of the common citizen from the government and big business. And this covers both.
EFF sues AT&T over U.S. wiretapping program
Discussions here:
Empire Building better than ‘isolationism’
During The State of the Union George Bush declared:
“In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline,” he said. “The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership, so the United States of America will continue to lead.”
Read here, that the U.S. will continue to Empire Build the American way. And that minding your own business is now called ‘Isolationism’.
More here