The governor of Wisconsin has effectively declared his administration to be the supreme law in the state.
Having had a restraining order issued by the state supreme court against imposition of the "legislation" against collective bargaining - which passed only by right-wing jiggery-pokery - Walker ignored it. Officially. Not just by inaction, but by saying he was ignoring it.
A second restraining order was issued by Judge Sumi, and "The Walker administration's Department of Justice said, 'Whether the Department of Administration or other state officers choose to comply with any direction issued by Judge Sumi is up to them.'" (emphasis mine)
Judge Sumi:
"I must state that those who act in open and willful defiance of the court order place not only themselves at peril of sanctions, they also jeopardize the financial and the governmental stability of the state of Wisconsin."
Judge Sumi is being a bit kind here - the Walker administration has effectively overthrown the rule of law, the government they were elected to, and established their own little fiefdom. This is an act of open and willful rebellion against lawful governance in the United States, and should be treated as such.
Will our president act, or continue to do little cosmetic nonsense and send people to die for his public image in Libya? I'm not sure I see any substantive difference between Obama and Bush, any longer.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Facebook DOES Have It's Uses!
A cousin I have not seen in years contacted me through Facebook to send me pictures of my father and his family - I'd only seen one of these photos before.
I ALSO RECOMMEND THIS AS A CORRECTIVE TO THOSE WHO THINK COUNTRY "SINGERS" MANIFEST WHAT SOUTHERN MALES HAVE "ALWAYS" REGARDED AS FASHION
My father is front - the youngest - with brothers, left to right, M. H. and N.
My father on far left - this was taken in '79, shortly before his death by cancer
My father would've been about fifteen - third from left, J. E. - manifesting a later talent for speaking to someone right before a picture is taken. G. was my grandfather, R. was my great-grandfather.(No, "Neighbor Boy" is not a cute Southern name; I have no idea who he was) H. and M. would've just gotten home after being in the Army and the Navy, respectively, during WWII. H. had served under Patton, I'm told, in the European theatre.
I don't see Dad here, but Granddad and Grandma are standing, left, by the door.
I suspect that that is Aunt L. lounging on the chair arm, right - L. always tended to make a rather elegant impression in a gathering (my favorite of my father's sisters-in-law, btw; married M - I'm not sure he knew what hit him). The thin woman with the forced grin, seated in front of Grandma, is Aunt N., Granddad's sister - she was famous for gaining the attention of a police officer after she sat through three light changes because she was talking to her passenger. Policeman: "I'm sorry, Ma'am, but that's the only shade o' green we got!"
I wish it weren't so, but I found it best to just give initials.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Belated Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!
Sorry I didn't get a chance to wish you all a Happy St. Pat's earlier, but there was a mix-up and I was busy driving some snakes to Kathy Ireland's house . . . not advisable, btw.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Japan
An 8.9 quake struck off the coast of Japan, sending a massive tidal wave through Sendai port.
Two-to-three hundred dead, so far.
Pray, help.
Sendai is historically associated with daimyo Date Masamune, supporter of Oda Nobunaga, and, later, Tokugawa. He was known as the "One-Eyed Dragon" for his fierceness in battle - and, because he had one eye. He was also known as a patron of Christianity (his daughter was a Christian) and of Western military and naval design.
One of his castles was Obama Castle, btw.
Sendai is known as the City of Trees for its numerous zelkova trees.
Two-to-three hundred dead, so far.
Pray, help.
Sendai is historically associated with daimyo Date Masamune, supporter of Oda Nobunaga, and, later, Tokugawa. He was known as the "One-Eyed Dragon" for his fierceness in battle - and, because he had one eye. He was also known as a patron of Christianity (his daughter was a Christian) and of Western military and naval design.
Modern statue of Date Masamune
Sendai is known as the City of Trees for its numerous zelkova trees.
Panoramic view of Sendai
Date Tomb
Zelkova trees on Jozenjidori Avenue
Saikachi River
Sendai City Hall
Miyagi Museum of Art
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I Invite You to a Solemn and Joyous Lent
Lent has received a bad reputation because of the solemn, but it is also joyous.
This is because self-denial, discipline and exercise make us stronger.
As I said at Mimi's, if Truth is to live, the first lies that die must be the ones we tell ourselves.
I've realized that fear, and its child, anger, are not only inextricably linked, but are physically painful. The sleeplessness, the churning stomach, headaches, agitation - all are physical results of the fear/anger/hate complex.
Yet, I seek this complex and its pain. I hate/fear those who represent the right-wing ideal - but I seek out reasons to hate them even more, to feel the rage in response to a casually ignorant and hurtful remark. I scan blogs and news sources for them, so that I may fly into this physically distressing emotional complex.
Why is this? Is it habituation, or some sort of energy high - hate does energize, but at terrible expense. I've realized the rush of angry adrenaline, but not til recently the pain. Anger - or, at least, rage - and fear are not separable. Where fear walks, violence is its companion for the journey. Anger can spark wise action, but not rage - indeed, perhaps not anger, but indignation, a subtler, more complex emotional complex based in compassion, or, at the very least, exclusive affection. I know that Jesus was angry, at least once - one usually doesn't drive a crowd of people with an improvised whip while acting from a cheerful sense of contentment - but does it necessarily follow that anger is a positive rather than a distasteful and unhealthy indulgence? Our emotions have a necessary component - instinct can protect physical existence. Yet, I seem to allow myself to an animal level of mere reaction. Anger, with a true, present focus may save lives or sway minds, but free-floating general anger is far from a tool, rather it is a master. When a human is controlled by emotion, rather than evaluating from a position of detachment, then he loses his humanity, however temporarily. Our lack of ability to embrace the reason and detachment that is the only true difference between ourselves and the "lower" primates is the cause of our universal disaffection and violence. I know this because I've begun to see, in myself, how often I descend to become a mere chimpanzee with a prodigious ability to vocalize.
Now, the invitation is this - do you see the irrational animal in you, as well? It's an emotionally-warming experience to see someone pour out their own failings in public recognition - as I have - but, is it not true of each of us, as well? I see it, but if you can't then there is simply the continuing cycle of self-victimization, and the unhappiness and stagnation of human evolution. A few extraordinary humans have accomplished individual enlightenment and peace, but a sort of threshold number must be reached to truly move us forward as a species. I do not mean repression, suppression or denial of emotion - that is unhealthy - but mastery of our minds in the physical storm of emotion.
I would posit that, rather than a list of deadly sins, we should beware a list of deadly emotions.
This is because self-denial, discipline and exercise make us stronger.
As I said at Mimi's, if Truth is to live, the first lies that die must be the ones we tell ourselves.
I've realized that fear, and its child, anger, are not only inextricably linked, but are physically painful. The sleeplessness, the churning stomach, headaches, agitation - all are physical results of the fear/anger/hate complex.
Yet, I seek this complex and its pain. I hate/fear those who represent the right-wing ideal - but I seek out reasons to hate them even more, to feel the rage in response to a casually ignorant and hurtful remark. I scan blogs and news sources for them, so that I may fly into this physically distressing emotional complex.
Why is this? Is it habituation, or some sort of energy high - hate does energize, but at terrible expense. I've realized the rush of angry adrenaline, but not til recently the pain. Anger - or, at least, rage - and fear are not separable. Where fear walks, violence is its companion for the journey. Anger can spark wise action, but not rage - indeed, perhaps not anger, but indignation, a subtler, more complex emotional complex based in compassion, or, at the very least, exclusive affection. I know that Jesus was angry, at least once - one usually doesn't drive a crowd of people with an improvised whip while acting from a cheerful sense of contentment - but does it necessarily follow that anger is a positive rather than a distasteful and unhealthy indulgence? Our emotions have a necessary component - instinct can protect physical existence. Yet, I seem to allow myself to an animal level of mere reaction. Anger, with a true, present focus may save lives or sway minds, but free-floating general anger is far from a tool, rather it is a master. When a human is controlled by emotion, rather than evaluating from a position of detachment, then he loses his humanity, however temporarily. Our lack of ability to embrace the reason and detachment that is the only true difference between ourselves and the "lower" primates is the cause of our universal disaffection and violence. I know this because I've begun to see, in myself, how often I descend to become a mere chimpanzee with a prodigious ability to vocalize.
Now, the invitation is this - do you see the irrational animal in you, as well? It's an emotionally-warming experience to see someone pour out their own failings in public recognition - as I have - but, is it not true of each of us, as well? I see it, but if you can't then there is simply the continuing cycle of self-victimization, and the unhappiness and stagnation of human evolution. A few extraordinary humans have accomplished individual enlightenment and peace, but a sort of threshold number must be reached to truly move us forward as a species. I do not mean repression, suppression or denial of emotion - that is unhealthy - but mastery of our minds in the physical storm of emotion.
I would posit that, rather than a list of deadly sins, we should beware a list of deadly emotions.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
I've begun to realize that the great unwashed American masses are so terrified of gays and Muslims that they are willing to elect politicians who will sell them and their children to the highest bidder, just because they mouth the right words about patriotism and God.
Perhaps we need to set aside our demands for social justice in order to get more progressive leaders elected - the Obama-style leadership is not serving us well, in any case - to restore the social programs and government restrictions and reforms on business necessary to reinvigorate the middle-class and get our economy going again. Once these progressive politicians are in place, and the economy has become more stable, we'll be able to run over the manipulations of the laissez-faire capitalists and the frightened and uneducated to enact social justice, as well.
At this point, if we are not willing to do what is necessary to calm the barking dog, we're going to get mauled. Gay or straight, we will soon all be in a drop straight to Third-World-economy status and we'll all be in the doghouse, excepting that 1% - who will have a while to drop, but will do so, as there will be no one to buy their goods or services any longer.
It isn't the increasingly-hysterical religious right who's the enemy, but the wealthy and merely affluent who are able to spend the money to make sure the majority remain poorly-educated and afraid. These wealthy folks know how to sell, so, if you have a malleable, ignorant populace, you just market simplistic fears and solutions, and they'll never see the balloon payments coming - they won't care, because they're too terrified to realize what they've sold.
Perhaps we need to set aside our demands for social justice in order to get more progressive leaders elected - the Obama-style leadership is not serving us well, in any case - to restore the social programs and government restrictions and reforms on business necessary to reinvigorate the middle-class and get our economy going again. Once these progressive politicians are in place, and the economy has become more stable, we'll be able to run over the manipulations of the laissez-faire capitalists and the frightened and uneducated to enact social justice, as well.
At this point, if we are not willing to do what is necessary to calm the barking dog, we're going to get mauled. Gay or straight, we will soon all be in a drop straight to Third-World-economy status and we'll all be in the doghouse, excepting that 1% - who will have a while to drop, but will do so, as there will be no one to buy their goods or services any longer.
It isn't the increasingly-hysterical religious right who's the enemy, but the wealthy and merely affluent who are able to spend the money to make sure the majority remain poorly-educated and afraid. These wealthy folks know how to sell, so, if you have a malleable, ignorant populace, you just market simplistic fears and solutions, and they'll never see the balloon payments coming - they won't care, because they're too terrified to realize what they've sold.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Even Forbes Knows It, Dammit!
From the Forbes Magazine blog
As noted at The Friends of Jake, even a pro-business mag like Forbes has begun to realize the disaster of unbridled laissez-faire capitalism, as the Republican Party has forced it on us.
When measuring for income inequality, the U.S. now falls within the ranks of Uruguay and Cameroon, according to the CIA World Factbook. Evidence from the Levy report suggests that middle class incomes have stagnated and as a result, households are increasingly relying on debt to finance normal consumption expenditures. The middle class may be in for yet another pinch. As my colleague Robert Lenzner writes here, rising inflation is expected to put a further strain on indebted and unemployed households. “It’s only a matter of time before a political figure decides to exploit this. Why Obama hasn’t, I’ll never know,” says Gladwell. Social stability is threatened when a society becomes too stratified. “If we want to continue to grow, we have to equalize a little bit,” he says.
Nice.
Then, we have the commentary from Robert Reich, a man I place a bit more confidence in than a senator who thinks the Bible means that global warming is impossible, or the "average joe," who is manifestly ignorant enough to elect such a senator because he is promising to make sure the ol' SUV keeps a-runnin' and the godless commie libruls don't sue churches.
The truth is that while the proximate cause of America’s economic plunge was Wall Street’s excesses leading up to the crash of 2008, its underlying cause — and the reason the economy continues to be lousy for most Americans — is so much income and wealth have been going to the very top that the vast majority no longer has the purchasing power to lift the economy out of its doldrums. American’s aren’t buying cars (they bought 17 million new cars in 2005, just 12 million last year). They’re not buying homes (7.5 million in 2005, 4.6 million last year). They’re not going to the malls (high-end retailers are booming but Wal-Mart’s sales are down).
Only the richest 5 percent of Americans are back in the stores because their stock portfolios have soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has doubled from its crisis low. Wall Street pay is up to record levels. Total compensation and benefits at the 25 major Wall St firms had been $130 billion in 2007, before the crash; now it’s close to $140 billion.
But a strong recovery can’t be built on the purchases of the richest 5 percent.
The truth is if the super-rich paid their fair share of taxes, government wouldn’t be broke. If Governor Scott Walker hadn’t handed out tax breaks to corporations and the well-off, Wisconsin wouldn’t be in a budget crisis. If Washington hadn’t extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich, eviscerated the estate tax, and created loopholes for private-equity and hedge-fund managers, the federal budget wouldn’t look nearly as bad.
. . .
The final truth is as income and wealth have risen to the top, so has political power. The reason all of this is proving so difficult to get across is the super-rich, such as the Koch brothers, have been using their billions to corrupt politics, hoodwink the public, and enlarge and entrench their outsized fortunes. They’re bankrolling Republicans who are mounting showdowns and threatening shutdowns, and who want the public to believe government spending is the problem.
. . .
These are the truths that Democrats must start telling, and soon.
As noted at The Friends of Jake, even a pro-business mag like Forbes has begun to realize the disaster of unbridled laissez-faire capitalism, as the Republican Party has forced it on us.
When measuring for income inequality, the U.S. now falls within the ranks of Uruguay and Cameroon, according to the CIA World Factbook. Evidence from the Levy report suggests that middle class incomes have stagnated and as a result, households are increasingly relying on debt to finance normal consumption expenditures. The middle class may be in for yet another pinch. As my colleague Robert Lenzner writes here, rising inflation is expected to put a further strain on indebted and unemployed households. “It’s only a matter of time before a political figure decides to exploit this. Why Obama hasn’t, I’ll never know,” says Gladwell. Social stability is threatened when a society becomes too stratified. “If we want to continue to grow, we have to equalize a little bit,” he says.
Nice.
Then, we have the commentary from Robert Reich, a man I place a bit more confidence in than a senator who thinks the Bible means that global warming is impossible, or the "average joe," who is manifestly ignorant enough to elect such a senator because he is promising to make sure the ol' SUV keeps a-runnin' and the godless commie libruls don't sue churches.
The truth is that while the proximate cause of America’s economic plunge was Wall Street’s excesses leading up to the crash of 2008, its underlying cause — and the reason the economy continues to be lousy for most Americans — is so much income and wealth have been going to the very top that the vast majority no longer has the purchasing power to lift the economy out of its doldrums. American’s aren’t buying cars (they bought 17 million new cars in 2005, just 12 million last year). They’re not buying homes (7.5 million in 2005, 4.6 million last year). They’re not going to the malls (high-end retailers are booming but Wal-Mart’s sales are down).
Only the richest 5 percent of Americans are back in the stores because their stock portfolios have soared. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has doubled from its crisis low. Wall Street pay is up to record levels. Total compensation and benefits at the 25 major Wall St firms had been $130 billion in 2007, before the crash; now it’s close to $140 billion.
But a strong recovery can’t be built on the purchases of the richest 5 percent.
The truth is if the super-rich paid their fair share of taxes, government wouldn’t be broke. If Governor Scott Walker hadn’t handed out tax breaks to corporations and the well-off, Wisconsin wouldn’t be in a budget crisis. If Washington hadn’t extended the Bush tax cuts for the rich, eviscerated the estate tax, and created loopholes for private-equity and hedge-fund managers, the federal budget wouldn’t look nearly as bad.
. . .
The final truth is as income and wealth have risen to the top, so has political power. The reason all of this is proving so difficult to get across is the super-rich, such as the Koch brothers, have been using their billions to corrupt politics, hoodwink the public, and enlarge and entrench their outsized fortunes. They’re bankrolling Republicans who are mounting showdowns and threatening shutdowns, and who want the public to believe government spending is the problem.
. . .
These are the truths that Democrats must start telling, and soon.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Isn't It Odd?
You have pretty amazing things happening in Wisconsin. Ordinary citizens have taken to the streets to protest the continuing attack on the working classes, and receiving public support - even the police have refused the governor's order to throw protesters out of the capitol building - and yet . . .
. . the liberal media, as the oligarchs of the Republican/Tea Party assure us they are, have been so quiet.
Perhaps they realize that the rest of us might get up on our hind legs and give their political bedfellows the heave-ho?
. . the liberal media, as the oligarchs of the Republican/Tea Party assure us they are, have been so quiet.
Perhaps they realize that the rest of us might get up on our hind legs and give their political bedfellows the heave-ho?
My Political Views
I am a far-left social moderate
Left: 9.36, Libertarian: 0.21
Political Spectrum Quiz
My Foreign Policy Views
Score: -6.5
Political Spectrum Quiz
My Culture War Stance
Score: -7.79
Political Spectrum Quiz
I am a far-left social moderate
Left: 9.36, Libertarian: 0.21
Political Spectrum Quiz
My Foreign Policy Views
Score: -6.5
Political Spectrum Quiz
My Culture War Stance
Score: -7.79
Political Spectrum Quiz
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