Thursday, April 21, 2005
Salon.com | Holy warriors: "But what would Madison say?
This is what Madison wrote in 1785: 'What influence in fact have ecclesiastical establishments had on Civil Society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the Civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not.'
What would John Adams say? This is what he wrote Jefferson in 1815: 'The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles?'
Benjamin Franklin? 'The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.'
And Jefferson, in 'Notes on Virginia,' written in 1782: 'It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. And why subject it to coercion? To produce uniformity. But is uniformity of opinion desireable? No more than of face and stature. Introduce the bed of Procrustes then, and as there is danger that the large men may beat the small, make us all of a size, by lopping the former and stretching the latter. Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other. Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.'"
This is what Madison wrote in 1785: 'What influence in fact have ecclesiastical establishments had on Civil Society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the Civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not.'
What would John Adams say? This is what he wrote Jefferson in 1815: 'The question before the human race is, whether the God of nature shall govern the world by his own laws, or whether priests and kings shall rule it by fictitious miracles?'
Benjamin Franklin? 'The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.'
And Jefferson, in 'Notes on Virginia,' written in 1782: 'It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors? Fallible men; men governed by bad passions, by private as well as public reasons. And why subject it to coercion? To produce uniformity. But is uniformity of opinion desireable? No more than of face and stature. Introduce the bed of Procrustes then, and as there is danger that the large men may beat the small, make us all of a size, by lopping the former and stretching the latter. Difference of opinion is advantageous in religion. The several sects perform the office of a Censor morum over each other. Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth.'"
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Yahoo! News - Rove Decries Media Approach to Government: "Rove Decries Media Approach to Government
By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer
CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The media have started applying the horse race style of campaign coverage to daily reporting on government, leading to adversarial reporting that can obscure the truth just to create conflict, President Bush's chief political strategist said Monday.
Speaking at a forum at Washington College, Karl Rove said the influx of media outlets and the shrinking shelf life of news in a 24-hour news cycle are to blame.
'We are substituting the shrill and rapid call of the track announcer for calm judgment, fact and substance,' Rove told the crowd of roughly 600 students and local residents.
Naming specific reporters and news organizations, Rove said the media unfairly created the impression that President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, introduced early in his first term, was stalled in Congress at every step before its passage.
But the legislation was passed by the House and Senate with wide margins and was signed by Bush less than a year after it was introduced, Rove said. He said the media have taken a similar approach to the current debate over Social Security.
'What really gets me is how short the time horizon is for many members of the media of coming to a conclusion of whether something will pass,' he said.
Another example is the 'obsessive reliance' on polls to create news and political predictions, he said. He cited the media's early reliance on ultimately misleading exit polls from Election Day 2004 that appeared to show Sen. John Kerry headed for a presidential win.
'It is as if they (reporters) believe that all polls are created equal,' he said. 'But it ain't so.'
Rove is widely considered to be the driving force behind Bush's 2000 election victory and his win last year over Kerry. Now a deputy chief of staff, Rove is one of the president's closest and most trusted advisers.
Rove countered the general notion among conservatives that mainstream media outlets skew liberal. He said the press corps is 'less liberal than it is oppositional' and admitted to being a listener of National Public Radio.
Of his boss, Rove said the idea that Bush is not an intellectual is incorrect, citing his Ivy League education and saying 'there's always a book on his night stand.'
'He's one of the most intelligent, curious, intellectually tough people I know, yet the country misunderestimates him continually,' Rove said, playing on one of Bush's more memorable verbal gaffes."
By STEPHEN MANNING, Associated Press Writer
CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The media have started applying the horse race style of campaign coverage to daily reporting on government, leading to adversarial reporting that can obscure the truth just to create conflict, President Bush's chief political strategist said Monday.
Speaking at a forum at Washington College, Karl Rove said the influx of media outlets and the shrinking shelf life of news in a 24-hour news cycle are to blame.
'We are substituting the shrill and rapid call of the track announcer for calm judgment, fact and substance,' Rove told the crowd of roughly 600 students and local residents.
Naming specific reporters and news organizations, Rove said the media unfairly created the impression that President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, introduced early in his first term, was stalled in Congress at every step before its passage.
But the legislation was passed by the House and Senate with wide margins and was signed by Bush less than a year after it was introduced, Rove said. He said the media have taken a similar approach to the current debate over Social Security.
'What really gets me is how short the time horizon is for many members of the media of coming to a conclusion of whether something will pass,' he said.
Another example is the 'obsessive reliance' on polls to create news and political predictions, he said. He cited the media's early reliance on ultimately misleading exit polls from Election Day 2004 that appeared to show Sen. John Kerry headed for a presidential win.
'It is as if they (reporters) believe that all polls are created equal,' he said. 'But it ain't so.'
Rove is widely considered to be the driving force behind Bush's 2000 election victory and his win last year over Kerry. Now a deputy chief of staff, Rove is one of the president's closest and most trusted advisers.
Rove countered the general notion among conservatives that mainstream media outlets skew liberal. He said the press corps is 'less liberal than it is oppositional' and admitted to being a listener of National Public Radio.
Of his boss, Rove said the idea that Bush is not an intellectual is incorrect, citing his Ivy League education and saying 'there's always a book on his night stand.'
'He's one of the most intelligent, curious, intellectually tough people I know, yet the country misunderestimates him continually,' Rove said, playing on one of Bush's more memorable verbal gaffes."
Yahoo! News - New pope intervened against Kerry in US 2004 election campaign
Great. The new pope is the one who tried to influence the US election against John Kerry.
Great. The new pope is the one who tried to influence the US election against John Kerry.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
The New York Times > International > International Special > Europeans Fast Falling Away From Church: "Only 21 percent of Europeans say that religion is 'very important' to them, according to the often-cited European Values Study, conducted in 1999 and 2000 and published two years ago. A similar survey in the United States by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life put the number at nearly 60 percent."
washingtonpost.com: Fox's Sandstorm
William Raspberry says Fox is causing people to think all news reporting is as biased as Fox.
Have you heard people say, 'Well both sides do it." in relation to politics? (Of course, it's not true that both sides have a Tom Delay, that both sides refuse to let opposition into their scripted rallies, that both sides hurl massive giveaways to corporations at the expense of the American people. "Both sides do it" is a Republican rationalization for whatever their current mess is.)
Raspberry is warning that Fox's virulent partisanship makes viewers think other media is similarly biased to the left. The sad thing is that I wish we did have a liberal media.
William Raspberry says Fox is causing people to think all news reporting is as biased as Fox.
Have you heard people say, 'Well both sides do it." in relation to politics? (Of course, it's not true that both sides have a Tom Delay, that both sides refuse to let opposition into their scripted rallies, that both sides hurl massive giveaways to corporations at the expense of the American people. "Both sides do it" is a Republican rationalization for whatever their current mess is.)
Raspberry is warning that Fox's virulent partisanship makes viewers think other media is similarly biased to the left. The sad thing is that I wish we did have a liberal media.
Why the Liberals Can't Keep Air America From Spiraling In: "
Sure, talk radio is partisan, sometimes overheated. But it's also a source of argument and information. Together with Fox News and the blogosphere, it has given the right a chance to break through the liberal monoculture and be heard. For that, anyone who supports spirited public debate should be grateful. "
Conservative guy says Air American is going down. He says we already have the liberal media so we don't can't fuel a market for radio.
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!
Sure, talk radio is partisan, sometimes overheated. But it's also a source of argument and information. Together with Fox News and the blogosphere, it has given the right a chance to break through the liberal monoculture and be heard. For that, anyone who supports spirited public debate should be grateful. "
Conservative guy says Air American is going down. He says we already have the liberal media so we don't can't fuel a market for radio.
AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!
Inequality.org Facts and Figures
The poor get poorer. The wealthier get poorer -- except for that magic 1% at the very top who are lapping it up.
The poor get poorer. The wealthier get poorer -- except for that magic 1% at the very top who are lapping it up.
Monday, April 18, 2005
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: A Radical in the White House: "Roosevelt referred to his proposals in that speech as 'a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all regardless of station, race or creed.'
Among these rights, he said, are:
'The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation.
'The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation.
'The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living.
'The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.
'The right of every family to a decent home.
'The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.
'The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment.
'The right to a good education.'
I mentioned this a few days ago to an acquaintance who is 30 years old. She said, 'Wow, I can't believe a president would say that.'"
Among these rights, he said, are:
'The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation.
'The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation.
'The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living.
'The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad.
'The right of every family to a decent home.
'The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.
'The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment.
'The right to a good education.'
I mentioned this a few days ago to an acquaintance who is 30 years old. She said, 'Wow, I can't believe a president would say that.'"
Friday, April 15, 2005
Tom Delay's House of Scandal
This is a really well-done website. Click on "How tangled up with Delay is your member?" for Washington and read about our Republican representatives and how they've voted.
This is a really well-done website. Click on "How tangled up with Delay is your member?" for Washington and read about our Republican representatives and how they've voted.
Is Safeway Sucking Your Soul? / Are overlit, heavily toxic supermarkets making you ill and eating your brain? Why, yes
This column by Mark Morford is great.
This column by Mark Morford is great.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
AlterNet: Goodbye Uncle Sam, Hello Team Europe
A new poll finds that citizens in 20 out of 23 countries would rather see Europe have more influence in world affairs than the US. Heck, they would rather have China have more influence. A surprising percentage would probably rather have dogs in charge -- oh wait...
Even 35% of Americans would like Europe to have more influence than the US. The vast harm that this administration has done to the world and our standing in the world is ongoing. An administration whose claim to fame is the largest deficits in history and its unilateral military power thrown into Iraq on false pretences has made our country weaker.
Where are our values? Where has our country gone? Even now Congress is voting on the bankrupcy bill (written by credit card companies) and repealing the estate tax (affecting the top 7% of
American society.)
A new poll finds that citizens in 20 out of 23 countries would rather see Europe have more influence in world affairs than the US. Heck, they would rather have China have more influence. A surprising percentage would probably rather have dogs in charge -- oh wait...
Even 35% of Americans would like Europe to have more influence than the US. The vast harm that this administration has done to the world and our standing in the world is ongoing. An administration whose claim to fame is the largest deficits in history and its unilateral military power thrown into Iraq on false pretences has made our country weaker.
Americans work more hours, live shorter lives, and are much more likely to be poor than their European counterparts. The American economy is considerably less worker-friendly, more in debt, and increasingly owned by foreigners. The categories where the United States is the undeniable leader, military budget, government debt, trade deficit, automobile size, are dubious achievements.
Where are our values? Where has our country gone? Even now Congress is voting on the bankrupcy bill (written by credit card companies) and repealing the estate tax (affecting the top 7% of
American society.)
Friday, April 08, 2005
GregoireSenateHouseComparisonShort.pdf (application/pdf Object)
Good comparison of the three Washington State budget plans so far. It is really going to be good to get more money for education.
Good comparison of the three Washington State budget plans so far. It is really going to be good to get more money for education.
SAlterNet: MediaCulture: Muslim Refusenik
This interview with Irshard Manji is terrific. She wrote "The Trouble with Islam Today." She says that, unlike Christianity and other religions, mainstream Islam is fundamentalist, due to its history. At the end of the 11th century, after the Arab Enlightenment period, the main Muslim leader closed the gates to freethinking. 135 sects were narrowed down to four main ones, with a literal reading of the Koran and enforced fatwas, which she says are a series of legal opinions that scholars cannot question or overturn. Innovation was termed a "fitna," something that divides society. This has persisted until today.
She sees similarity between all fundamentalist religions.
Irshard Manji produced and hosted "Queer Television" and currently produces and hosts "Big Ideas," a interview program with progressive thinkers around the world. She's won awards from Oprah Winfrey, Ms. Magazine, Maclean's, and she's received the Simon Wiesenthal Award of Valor. She is a person who is truly making a difference.
This interview with Irshard Manji is terrific. She wrote "The Trouble with Islam Today." She says that, unlike Christianity and other religions, mainstream Islam is fundamentalist, due to its history. At the end of the 11th century, after the Arab Enlightenment period, the main Muslim leader closed the gates to freethinking. 135 sects were narrowed down to four main ones, with a literal reading of the Koran and enforced fatwas, which she says are a series of legal opinions that scholars cannot question or overturn. Innovation was termed a "fitna," something that divides society. This has persisted until today.
She sees similarity between all fundamentalist religions.
Irshard Manji produced and hosted "Queer Television" and currently produces and hosts "Big Ideas," a interview program with progressive thinkers around the world. She's won awards from Oprah Winfrey, Ms. Magazine, Maclean's, and she's received the Simon Wiesenthal Award of Valor. She is a person who is truly making a difference.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
American Fundamentalism
I read a short story by Brian Stableford called, "A Short History of Death," in which he advanced the idea that Puritanism came about after the spread of syphillis through Europe in the 16th century, as "repressive sexual morality was the only truly effective weapon against its spread." Puritanism, and its habits of thought, he says, are directly responsible for the economic and political systems in the West. How interesting that we have our new American fundamentalism in the face of another fatal STD. This is the motivating energy behind a lot of the anti-gay agenda.
I read a short story by Brian Stableford called, "A Short History of Death," in which he advanced the idea that Puritanism came about after the spread of syphillis through Europe in the 16th century, as "repressive sexual morality was the only truly effective weapon against its spread." Puritanism, and its habits of thought, he says, are directly responsible for the economic and political systems in the West. How interesting that we have our new American fundamentalism in the face of another fatal STD. This is the motivating energy behind a lot of the anti-gay agenda.
Baghdad Burning talks about American television in Iraq.
Don't they get Rush, too?
Riverbend is the Iraqi blogger who writes Baghdad Burning. She tells us that they are now getting American television, which is so sad. After two minutes of women's rights in Afghanistan, 1 minute of army training in Iraq and 20 minutes of Terri Shiavo, along with an interview with Sabrina of Abu Graib fame who never had a seminar on the Geneva convention, she says:
Don't they get Rush, too?
Riverbend is the Iraqi blogger who writes Baghdad Burning. She tells us that they are now getting American television, which is so sad. After two minutes of women's rights in Afghanistan, 1 minute of army training in Iraq and 20 minutes of Terri Shiavo, along with an interview with Sabrina of Abu Graib fame who never had a seminar on the Geneva convention, she says:
Well, I have a suggestion for a reality show. Take 15 Bush supporters and throw them in a house in the suburbs of, say, Falloojeh (Fallujah) for at least 14 days. We could watch them cope with the water problems, the lack of electricity, the checkpoints, the raids, the Iraqi National Guard, the bombings, and -- oh yeah -- the "insurgents." We could watch their house get bombed to the ground, their few belongings crushed under the weight of cement and brick, or simply burned or riddled with bullets. We could see them try to rebuild their life with their bare hands and the equivalent of $150.
I’d not only watch that reality show, I’d tape every episode
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
It will be a hard night for Blair on May 5 - Opinion Guest contributors - Times Online
Scary Frank Luntz article on British politics. Interesting that when they merely showed Tony Blair with Bush approval ratings plummeted. What does that say for the Republicans here?
Scary Frank Luntz article on British politics. Interesting that when they merely showed Tony Blair with Bush approval ratings plummeted. What does that say for the Republicans here?
Salon.com Politics:
I was hoping for more from this "liberal" channel. I guess we'll have to wait and see. He has the same backer who pulled out of Air America right at the start. I hope he doesn't try to cut and run again.
"The new youth-based cable TV channel Current, or better known by its shorthand, GoreTV, was announced Monday at an industry trade show. With a launch date of Aug. 1, Current will be available to 19 million subscribers. Rumors that Gore was plotting a counter to Fox News with a lefty news channel appear to be unfounded. 'We have no intention of being a Democratic channel, a liberal channel, or a TV version of Air America, that's not what we're all about,' Gore said Monday. (Interestingly though, one of Current's financial backers is Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks Inc., who bailed out Air America last summer when money got tight.)"
I was hoping for more from this "liberal" channel. I guess we'll have to wait and see. He has the same backer who pulled out of Air America right at the start. I hope he doesn't try to cut and run again.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
AlterNet: MediaCulture: Right-wing Radio
We've seen here that right-wing religious programming has taken up our public access cable as well. We need to pay attention to taking back the media.
We've seen here that right-wing religious programming has taken up our public access cable as well. We need to pay attention to taking back the media.
AmBushed! -- A Comedy Musical Mystery
I highly recommend this local comedy production. We went to the previous incarnation and spent hours laughing. This promises to be even better with new songs and outrageous characters! I'll give away some tickets at the PCO training.
What: AmBushed! A Comedy Musical Mystery
When: Friday and Saturday nights April 15 to May 7, 2005 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sueña Coffee & Dessert House, in the old Hollywood Library building, 3930 NE Hancock, Portland
Tickets: $16 - $20 Portland Box office at 503-288-5181
Contact Address: PO Box 13370, Portland, OR 97213-0370
Contact Phone: (503) 288-5181
Website: www.broadarts.org
Email: BroadArts@aol.com
BroadArts Theatre Presents AmBushed!
An Interactive, Raving Mystery that Asks the Musical Question,
How Did The Right wing Beat All Us Smart People?
If you're packed for Canada or singing the Blue State Blues, join BroadArts Theatre at our newest comedy musical AmBushed! Starting April 15, BroadArts will provide relief to all of us overtaxed and blue.
In 16 songs and two acts, AmBushed! rollicks through a demented game of Clue, as we try to solve the mystery, how Did They Beat Us? Perhaps Union Carbide did it in Bhopal with indigestion? Maybe Sinclair Broadcasting did it with the Monopoly Man in a TiVo box? Or did Condoleezza do it as a duet while perched upon a Grand Old Piano with an Elephant? What Elephant, Where? Audience members team up with Miss Scarlet Reputation, Ms. Peacoquette and Mrs. Non-White Anglo-Saxon-Protestant as we all try to resolve our reservations and Get A Clue. Each evening's winner will receive either a $157 billion dollar rebuilding contract in Fallujah or... milk.
Featured in AmBushed! are some of your favorite Broads, including ‘Portland’s Bad Girl of Comedy’ and BroadArts Theatre Artistic Director Melinda E. Pittman as Miss Scarlet Reputation ; former Hallelujah Chorus Member Mollie Hart as Mrs. Non-White Anglo-Saxon-Protestant and ethereal punny-girl Firiel Galloway as Ms. Peacoquette. Dan “Colonel MustardGas” Linn and Aaron “Mr. GreenJeans” Linn round-out the AmBushed! Mystery Band. New songs like “Secretary Condoleezza”, “The County of Love” and “The Blue State Blues” join favorites like “In The Middle of the Right I Move Further to the Left” and “The Boy I Fell In Love With Is A Girl”.
I highly recommend this local comedy production. We went to the previous incarnation and spent hours laughing. This promises to be even better with new songs and outrageous characters! I'll give away some tickets at the PCO training.
What: AmBushed! A Comedy Musical Mystery
When: Friday and Saturday nights April 15 to May 7, 2005 8:30 p.m.
Where: Sueña Coffee & Dessert House, in the old Hollywood Library building, 3930 NE Hancock, Portland
Tickets: $16 - $20 Portland Box office at 503-288-5181
Contact Address: PO Box 13370, Portland, OR 97213-0370
Contact Phone: (503) 288-5181
Website: www.broadarts.org
Email: BroadArts@aol.com
BroadArts Theatre Presents AmBushed!
An Interactive, Raving Mystery that Asks the Musical Question,
How Did The Right wing Beat All Us Smart People?
If you're packed for Canada or singing the Blue State Blues, join BroadArts Theatre at our newest comedy musical AmBushed! Starting April 15, BroadArts will provide relief to all of us overtaxed and blue.
In 16 songs and two acts, AmBushed! rollicks through a demented game of Clue, as we try to solve the mystery, how Did They Beat Us? Perhaps Union Carbide did it in Bhopal with indigestion? Maybe Sinclair Broadcasting did it with the Monopoly Man in a TiVo box? Or did Condoleezza do it as a duet while perched upon a Grand Old Piano with an Elephant? What Elephant, Where? Audience members team up with Miss Scarlet Reputation, Ms. Peacoquette and Mrs. Non-White Anglo-Saxon-Protestant as we all try to resolve our reservations and Get A Clue. Each evening's winner will receive either a $157 billion dollar rebuilding contract in Fallujah or... milk.
Featured in AmBushed! are some of your favorite Broads, including ‘Portland’s Bad Girl of Comedy’ and BroadArts Theatre Artistic Director Melinda E. Pittman as Miss Scarlet Reputation ; former Hallelujah Chorus Member Mollie Hart as Mrs. Non-White Anglo-Saxon-Protestant and ethereal punny-girl Firiel Galloway as Ms. Peacoquette. Dan “Colonel MustardGas” Linn and Aaron “Mr. GreenJeans” Linn round-out the AmBushed! Mystery Band. New songs like “Secretary Condoleezza”, “The County of Love” and “The Blue State Blues” join favorites like “In The Middle of the Right I Move Further to the Left” and “The Boy I Fell In Love With Is A Girl”.
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: An Academic Question
Thank you, Paul Krugman, for another seminal editorial.
I know we're not supposed to call the red-state-thinkers dumb, but really. Are we supposed to believe that universities are staffed by liberals because of bias? To me it's self-evident that learning and reasoning are at odds with the "party of theocracy." The fights against evolution and global warming indicate the lack of respect Republicans have for scholarship and science, and there are many other examples as well of Republicans ignoring science and facts. This lack of respect translates into fewer faculty positions.
Thank you, Paul Krugman, for another seminal editorial.
I know we're not supposed to call the red-state-thinkers dumb, but really. Are we supposed to believe that universities are staffed by liberals because of bias? To me it's self-evident that learning and reasoning are at odds with the "party of theocracy." The fights against evolution and global warming indicate the lack of respect Republicans have for scholarship and science, and there are many other examples as well of Republicans ignoring science and facts. This lack of respect translates into fewer faculty positions.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
This is a report on the degradation of worldwide ecosystems which says that we have already used up 2/3rd of our natural resources.
This is a report on the degradation of worldwide ecosystems which says that we have already used up 2/3rd of our natural resources.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
We have a meeting this afternoon to talk about rural strategy. I see our (R) legislators manipulating rural voters by saying that the urban areas want to control them, tax them, who knows what else. They're selling fear. All three of our legislators live in the small towns in the 18th: Ridgefield, Woodland and Kalama, so the urban/suburban areas of the 18th have no representation. Meanwhile the legislators complain that the Clark County Commissioners are controlled by Vancouver so there is no rural representation in the county.
I don't understand rural areas -- but this is by design. My mother grew up in a small town in northern Minnesota and couldn't leave fast enough. She even found a way to finish high school in a larger town. Her mother stayed and ended up being a gossip item because in her nineties she was dating a man twenty years younger than she was. (Way to go, Gram!) When my parents were just starting out, my dad managed dam construction projects. But after six or seven years of moving to one gigantic rural construction project after another, they decided that they wanted the benefits of an urban area with a nice climate. I barely remember the long ride across America in the back seat of our Buick, moving to Portland.
I know there's a lot of agriculture in our Legislative District. Clark County has $54 million a year in agricultural products {broilers, raspberries and strawberries}. We're ranked 21st in 39 counties. If you account for area, we're a lot higher, since we're a small county. We also have over $200 million in food processing here, or over 1280 full-time equivalent jobs for a ranking of 8th in 39 counties, so that a very positive inpact from our rural areas around the state.
We're told that rural voters are practical, fiercely independent people who are afraid of how fast the world is changing. The Republicans are offering a vision of "Father Knows Best" 1950's mind-set that helps them feel safer. (Of course, the Republicans are trying to reinforce the fear as well. I remember looking at a poll before the election that showed that people in red states and red counties were the most afraid of terrorists -- and yet it's the people in the urban areas who actually deal with the threat.) The Democrats don't have a vision right now that appeals to rural voters, and if voters can't imagine a good outcome for themselves in a Democratic world, they won't vote for it. So where's our rural vision?
I don't understand rural areas -- but this is by design. My mother grew up in a small town in northern Minnesota and couldn't leave fast enough. She even found a way to finish high school in a larger town. Her mother stayed and ended up being a gossip item because in her nineties she was dating a man twenty years younger than she was. (Way to go, Gram!) When my parents were just starting out, my dad managed dam construction projects. But after six or seven years of moving to one gigantic rural construction project after another, they decided that they wanted the benefits of an urban area with a nice climate. I barely remember the long ride across America in the back seat of our Buick, moving to Portland.
I know there's a lot of agriculture in our Legislative District. Clark County has $54 million a year in agricultural products {broilers, raspberries and strawberries}. We're ranked 21st in 39 counties. If you account for area, we're a lot higher, since we're a small county. We also have over $200 million in food processing here, or over 1280 full-time equivalent jobs for a ranking of 8th in 39 counties, so that a very positive inpact from our rural areas around the state.
We're told that rural voters are practical, fiercely independent people who are afraid of how fast the world is changing. The Republicans are offering a vision of "Father Knows Best" 1950's mind-set that helps them feel safer. (Of course, the Republicans are trying to reinforce the fear as well. I remember looking at a poll before the election that showed that people in red states and red counties were the most afraid of terrorists -- and yet it's the people in the urban areas who actually deal with the threat.) The Democrats don't have a vision right now that appeals to rural voters, and if voters can't imagine a good outcome for themselves in a Democratic world, they won't vote for it. So where's our rural vision?
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