Policy, Values, and the People Affected

Politics = values.  Enacted policies affect people.  Everyday.

Every single decision a politician or political representative makes is representative of a value they hold true.  If they don't state it, it must be remembered that still their policy is reflective of their values.

We can't forget that.  Voters can't forget it, especially when deciding between two very different candidates (i.e. President).

So when Mitt Romney supports a policy of keeping the Bush tax cuts and scrap the medicare tax, what values are he promoting?  When he simultaneously supports a policy of slashing medicare, medicaid, and social security, what values are he promoting?  Who does it affect, and how?

Mitt Romney’s economic plan is of, by, and for the wealthiest 1 Percent of Americans. Millionaire Mitt Romney would give himself a $4 MILLION tax cut, while raising taxes on the middle class and cutting the programs tens of millions of Americans depend on each day.

So we know who his policies affect, but what values are he promoting?  That one is tougher to see.  I think...

(1)  Taxes, the funds that are needed to support the government, are unnecessarily high.  Wealthy people are paying too much and middle and lower class aren't paying their share.  Because...

(2)  The middle class and poor are getting too much help from the government without paying their fair share of taxes.  And...

(3)  The government should not be in the business of helping out the American people and providing for the common good.

(4)  "I [Mitt Romney] don't have enough money.  I should pay less taxes so that I can be richer."

I don't think he'll ever come out and say it explicitly (although he did slip up recently).  But do you want a candidate who thinks the government shouldn't provide for the common good?  That the wealthy should pay a lower share than the rest?  That the super wealthy should get even more wealthy at the expense of the rest?

Do you believe in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?  One that provides for the general welfare of its people?

Or do you believe in a government which values the wealthy over the rest?

VALUES are important.

It's how we should vote, and what we should think of every time we hear some policy from these candidates.

Remember...

Mitt Romney’s economic plan is of, by, and for the wealthiest 1 Percent of Americans.

PEACE


p.s.  Bonus points if you can name what famous document the phrase "general welfare" appears in without clicking on the link.

Muppets on the Attack

Go figure, Fox was right all along.  Watch as those liberal, socialist Muppets go after Fox News for exposing the truth.

Someone has to stop them.  They're out of control.

PEACE

Newt's Three Weddings = Great President

If you're not aware of the fact yet, Newt Gingrich has had three marriages, and two divorces.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, what I meant to say was...

Three traditional marriages and two traditional divorces.  And two traditional affairs.  None of that faggoty, gay, homo stuff.  You know, those homos that are destroying traditional marriage.  And ruining it for people like Newt...

Anyways...

If you're at Fox News, somehow his infidelity, dishonesty, and general scuminess (real word?) are good traits in a president.  What's that you say?  I must be talking about an Onion article right?  Guess again...

I will tell you what Mr. Gingrich’s personal history actually means for those of us who want to right the economy, see our neighbors and friends go back to work, promote freedom here and abroad and defeat the growing threat posed by Iran and other evil regimes.

You can?  DO go on...

1) Three women have met Mr. Gingrich and been so moved by his emotional energy and intellect that they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with him.

Damn, why couldn't one of those be me.  I'm moved by his emotional energy.  See!  I'm blogging about him!

2) Two of these women felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married. 

And this is related... how?

 3 ) One of them felt this way even though Mr. Gingrich was already married for the second time, was not exactly her equal in the looks department and had a wife (Marianne) who wanted to make his life without her as painful as possible. 

Such passion!  If only the rest of America could be moved in such ways.

4) Two women—Mr. Gingrich’s first two wives—have sat down with him while he delivered to them incredibly painful truths: that he no longer loved them as he did before, that he had fallen in love with other women and that he needed to follow his heart, despite the great price he would pay financially and the risk he would be taking with his reputation.

Those are treasonous words.  Are you saying Newt will fall out of love with America?  Mitt Romney never would, he would love America to death, after taking all its money and firing all its workers...

5) Mr. Gingrich’s daughters from his first marriage are among his most vigorous supporters. They obviously adore him and respect him and feel grateful for the kind of father he was.

These must be why Republicans are so "pro-life"... potential voters!

So in conclusion, Newt's passion for America would make him a great president.  And Fox wants him to seduce America, perhaps a younger, hotter America, using some nice lingerie to hold up his man boobs.  And when he's done, he'll get us all some diamonds from Tiffany's!  You get some diamonds!  You get some diamonds!  YOU get some diamonds!  (Oprah style)


All joking aside, this article is so incredibly stupid.  And yet, we all know there are Republicans out there who will justify every wrongdoing of not only Newt but all Republicans as something good.  a.k.a. the fuck up known as the Bush-Iraq-war-venture-oil-fun-time.  Do YOU want to see a President Gingrich?

Seducing America?

PEACE


p.s. If you want to be really confused, read this whole article out loud to yourself.  Its pretty tough actually.

p.p.s.  My creative, amazing sister made those photoshop images above.  Please check out her website with her great art and photography.

Be a proud LIBERAL

Short but sweet post today.  More coming next week.

"What did liberals do that was so offensive to the Republican Party?I'll tell you what they did.  Liberals got women the right to vote.Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote.Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty.Liberals ended segregation.Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act,the Voting Rights Act.Liberals created Medicare.Liberals passed the Clean Air Act,the Clean Water Act.

What did Conservatives do?  They opposed them on every one of those things, every one.  So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, 'Liberal', as if it were something to be ashamed of,something dirty, something to run away from, it won't work,because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor."

- Lawrence O'Donnell Jr.

PEACE

This Blog's Purpose

In the last couple of days, and especially after watching last night's presidential State of the Union address, the purpose of this blog has been made clearer to me.  And I think this will also make blogging easier and more enjoyable.

It is two parts:

(1)  Continue the Occupy discussion - While Occupy may not be making much news anymore, and while people may not be hearing about what they are still doing, the movement is still alive and thriving, although winter is setting it back some.  The corporate owned media does not want you to know about the Occupy movement, because it challenges the status quo of the rich getting richer off the backs of everyone else.  And in a time when people are struggling beyond their comprehension, their actions must be challenged and real change must be demanded.  In the same vein, that leads me to the second purpose of my blog.

(2)  Ensure that Barack Obama gets elected - After watching last night's state of the union, its clear where each presidential candidate falls.  It is also clear which candidate's rhetoric and actions side with the people versus siding with the cruelty of the 1% or even the .1%.  As Occupy continues, and the division between the two sides has been made clearer to me, it seems imperative that the candidate becomes president who will support policies that will benefit the most people of this country rather than the fewest at the top.  I will embrace the candidacy of Barack Obama for reelection, even as he has disappointed me in many ways since he took office in 2009.  Voting Republican, not voting, or voting for a third party candidate out of frustration with Obama will be destructive to this country.  I will debate and challenge anybody who disagrees with me on this blog, respectfully of course.

Ultimately, what it really comes down to is this front page article from Arizona.

TAMPA, Fla. — GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney isn’t just in the top 1 percent of Americans with income — he’s in at least the top 0.006 percent, tax returns he released Tuesday show.

The 2010 adjusted gross income of Romney and his wife, Ann, totaled $21.7 million, according to their tax return. That means they ranked high even among the top 8,274 tax returns.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and private-equity executive, made more than half of his income from capital gains and dividends. They are taxed at a top rate of 15 percent, rather than the top rate of 35 percent for ordinary income.

Mr. "Corporations-are-people"?  Freddie Mac "historian"?  Or community organizer?

PEACE

Music Spotlight #2 - The Del McCoury Band

Hi everyone.  It's time for another Music Spotlight!

A couple nights ago the lady took me out to the Chicago Bluegrass Festival downtown.  Pretty awesome huh?  The best part of the show was one of my favorites, The Del McCoury Band.

The Del McCoury Band is a bluegrass band. Originally Del McCoury and the Dixie Pals with Del on guitar and his brother Jerry on bass, the band went through a number of changes until the 1980s when the band solidified its line-up, adding McCoury's sons, Ronnie and Robbie on mandolin and banjo, respectively. In 1988, the "Dixie Pals" name was dropped in favor of the current name. Fiddler Tad Marks and bass player Mike Brantley joined in the early 1990s while the band became a national touring act. In 2004 they were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for It's Just the Night, and in 2006 they won that category for The Company We Keep. 

The band recorded with Steve Earle on his 1999 album The Mountain. The band has also often performed in recent years with The Lee Boys, with setlists mixing bluegrass, funk and gospel with extended jams on many songs.

They have been performing since 1967, and here they are with one of my other favorite band, The Chieftains.

 They're fun to listen to, are very talented, and if you haven't listened to or gotten into Bluegrass music, they're not a bad place to start.  Enjoy!

PEACE

Hey Newt: STFU

In last night's debate, Mr. King of CNN had the gall, the gumption to ask Newt Gingrich, the man running for President, about his personal life.

Let's predict how Newt responded.  After you make that prediction, lets make a prediction about how the South Carolina crowd responds to the red meat.

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Ready?

In case you don't know this Newt, when you're running for President, your past decisions, past misgivings, and past wrongdoings are open laundry for the rest of us to wonder about.  ESPECIALLY when you are a hypocrite who rails about the sanctity of marriage when it comes to homosexuals.  What John King should have asked him was:

"Given that you think gay marriage should be illegal because it undermines straight marriage, should individuals who are unfaithful within the context of straight marriage be allowed to stay married?"

Ironically, this is the same Newt Gingrich who went after Bill Clinton hard when he lied about a blowjob.  Hypocrite much?

This is how it works with bullies.  Newt Gingrich is a BULLY.  And when somebody fights back and calls out a bully for the shit that they say and do, they can't handle it.

So to you Newt...

PEACE