Enhancing Freedom, Opportunity and Cooperation in
Through informing and networking Liberals and Liberal Organizations.
Our vision is hundreds of thousands of well-informed
Our Political Priorities ·
Fair Clean Elections and Open Government ·
Fair Taxes and Competent Spending ·
Investment for Productivity ·
Quality Health, Education, Jobs, Income ·
Environmental Protection and Energy ·
Security and Equal Rights ·
Justice and Peace Everywhere ·
International Cooperation and Leadership Conservatives
oppose all of these Let’s End Our National Nightmare Let’s
Restore Our American Dream More
on Conservative opposition to our American Dream Washington State’s 4 Major Needs Federal Funding for Health
and Education ·
A
Progressive Income Tax ·
Replacing
Republican Legislators Quote of the Week A cynic is
not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one who is
prematurely disappointed in the future. Sidney J. Harris (1917-86)
Calendar of Events
Friday, November 7 at 10:30 AM at
Friday, November 7 at 6:30 PM at
Rainier Unitarian Universalist Center (
Saturday, November 8 at 6 PM at
Ibrahim’s Apartment (
Saturday, November 8 at 6:30PM at Bill Bradburd’s home (1640 S Lane Street,
Seattle) – inSpire Potluck, Presentation and Discussion
–
Monday, November 10 at 6:30 at
Heidi Wills’ & Kobi Yamada’ home (
Opportunities, Petitions and Feedback
Communication with Our Members and Feedback
I have compiled all of my
commentaries on our economy into one document which is posted on
our website. I believe one hour
spent reading them will make you better informed than the vast majority of
Americans, including many of our congress members. Without
understanding our economic crises, their causes and needed solutions, you are
unable to act responsibly to correct the situation which affects all of
us. Dave Thomas
Take
a crash course (2˝ hours) about our American economy (video).
Opportunities
Useful
Websites: contacts, maps, community organizing tools, and more.
Access
to jillions of political cartoons.
Download
Michael Moore’s latest movie ‘Slacker Uprising’ for free.
Sign up for a free
Brave New Films subscription to inform more people about the Real John McCain.
Download
Sightline Institute’s climate policy primer ‘Cap and Trade 101’. About
Sightline.
Wellstone
Actions tools of election protection.
Petitions and Donations
Thank Governor Howard Dean
for his 50-State strategy which helped elect Barack Obama
Tell
President Elect Barrack Obama to close the School of the America’s torture
training center.
Tell Barack Obama to
keep his promise to make Darfur a day one priority.
Commentaries From Our Members
Published
by
Senator
“The
governor doesn’t have control over how education policy is implemented and it’s
41 percent of our state’s budget,” Tom said. “Education is our paramount duty,
yet our governor doesn’t have oversight authority over the agency.” The education agency currently drafts
education budget proposals for the governor and Legislature to consider or
disregard. But once a spending plan is enacted OSPI manages education spending
with no oversight from the governor’s office even though it’s the single
largest component of the state’s operating budget.
“Agency
implementation is totally out of their hands,” Tom said. “It’s crazy.” “The public holds the governor responsible
for education policy,” he said. “It’s time we give the Governor’s Office the
authority to implement the needed changes.”
The
measure wouldn’t go into effect until 2012, meaning it would have no bearing on
new four-year terms for governor and superintendent of public instruction that
begin in January. To become law the measure must be approved by a two-thirds
vote of both the House and the Senate and gain a simple majority vote in the
November 2009 election. The measure will
be introduced in time for consideration during the 105-day legislative session
that begins Jan. 12.
Amelia Kroeger: Our People’s Campaign Should Continue
Yes, as I
said previously, the grassroots campaign/s should continue. I'm thinking your
progressive group might network with selected other progressive groups. Do
you have DFL Links in
An example
of what I'm thinking is this 1Sky effort. Volunteers around the country met with
all candidates (especially for U.S. Senate and Congress) to share deep concern
to get meaningful and significant climate change legislation. 1Sky has
networked with many other environmental groups to get this done. First follow up
will be a day of 'Welcome' on November 18 when volunteers with phone, write,
and some even meet in D.C. with re-elected and newly elected policy makers.
There is
absolutely no question that we need to keep the pressure on. No matter
who gets elected! This election is just the beginning. Citizen lobbyists
are key to a transformation of
I would also mention Wellstone Action and Progressive Majority. Dave Thomas
Liberals and Democrats
Michael Lerner: Meditation or Prayer Before
Going to Vote
Thank You, the Power of Healing and Transformation in the
Universe, that Your energy has moved through human beings in the past and
inspired them to create democratic institutions that would give me and others
this wonderful opportunity to participate in shaping our world. I know that the
outcome of this election will have consequences for all six billion people on
the planet, and that if democratic norms were to be fully established that they
too would be able to participate in shaping the decisions about how the world's
resources should best be used.
So I hereby take it upon myself to vote in a way that is sensitive to the needs
of all the people of the planet, not just to those who are blessed to live in
the richest and most powerful society. I recognize and affirm the unity of all
being, and the interconnectedness and mutual interdependence of all people with
each other and with the well-being of the planet itself.
As I approach this holy act, I recommit myself to the message revealed to the
prophets and sages of old: that our highest task on earth is to bring more love
and kindness, generosity and sanctity into the world, and that to do so we must
vigorously pursue a world of justice and peace and avoid violence and hurting
others directly or indirectly. May my votes actually contribute to these
results.
Please give strength to those for whom I vote. If they are elected, let them
actually contribute to achieving a world of greater peace, justice and love. If
they are not elected, let my vote be one of the factors that contributes to
empowering them to play a positive role in continuing their efforts for peace,
justice and love, so that they represent my intentions and so that they do not
personally fall back into despair or into personal opportunism and forget that
they have the task of vigorously articulating the aspirations of those who were
seeking through voting for them to bring more caring and more generosity into
the world.
Give me the wisdom to understand those who do not vote in the way that I do. I
already know that most people on this planet share with me the desire for a
world of peace, justice, loving-kindness and caring. So it is hard for me to
understand why they don't support the candidates who I see representing those
values.
Please give me the wisdom to understand the complex psychological, social and
political factors that could take fundamentally decent human beings and lead
them into paths that may, I believe, lead to a world exactly the opposite of
what they really want. And let that understanding empower me to be more
compassionate in the way that I think and talk about those with whom I
disagree, and more intelligent in finding ways to reach them, speak to their
goodness, and bring them through my love and compassion for them to be able to
see a better path to achieve the goals that they share with me.
From this point forward, I commit myself to seeing the good in all others, and
to finding the decency and generosity in those who disagree with me, and to
keep that in front of my consciousness even as I continue to disagree with the
paths that they have chosen - and let that understanding give me even greater
energy to act for the causes of social justice and peace.
Meanwhile, let me also have compassion for the leaders of movements and
candidates for office whom I do support - let me not judge them for their
personal failings, for the ways that they are not in their PRIVATE LIVES the
fullest possible embodiments of the ideals that they articulate. Yet let me
simultaneously have the energy and commitment to hold them accountable in their
PUBLIC ACTS to working even harder for social justice and peace and ecological
sanity.
I know that my vote is only one little part of the whole, and nevertheless I
will not belittle what I am doing today in going to vote. But neither will I
use this vote as a way of excusing myself from doing more. I commit myself to
putting more of my time and more of my energy and more of my money into
activities explicitly aimed at tikkun olam, the healing and transformation of
our planet.
Please let me be witness to a dramatic surge of the world's energies toward
love, justice, peace, nonviolence, spiritual awakening, and ecological sanity -
quickly and in my lifetime, and let it be so. Amen. Shalom. Salaam. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin
with us! Rabbi Michael Lerner, Tikkun Community
President
136 million Americans voted this year, up from 122 million in 2004. The percentage of registered voters was 63% which equals the number who voted in the 1964 contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. Many new voters were stimulated to register and vote by Barack Obama’s campaign, during the primaries and the general election. With minor party candidates receiving very few votes, Obama was the first Democrat to win a majority (52% of the vote versus 46% for McCain) of the presidential vote since Jimmy Carter won in 1976 by 50% versus 48% for Gerald Ford. Obama won by the greatest margin since Lyndon Johnson won in 1964 by 61% versus 39% for Barry Goldwater.
Obama won big majorities among
African and Hispanic Americans, and young people, which bodes our Democrats
long into the future. He also won a
big majority of single women. The
Republicans are now a Southern regional party.
For
more. McCain/Obama votes were South – 58/38,
Obama won due to his superior campaign organization, overcoming Hillary Clinton’s frontrunner status. He was also lucky, aided by public disgust for President Bush and Republicans generally, by the erratic campaign conducted by John McCain, and by the collapse of our financial system just before the election. Obama’s campaign received a major boost when he showed that by comparison with McCain, he could better answer an emergency phone call concerning our collapsing credit system. Had Obama faced a more competent Republican opponent who successfully avoided trying to be both a Bush loyalist and a maverick, he could have lost.
Senate
Beginning with 49 Democratic
Senators and 2 supporting Independent Senators, Democrats have won 6 more seats
formerly held by Republicans (Kay Hagan – NC, Jeanne Shaheen – NH, Mark Udall – CO, Tom Udall – NM, Jeff
Merkley – OR, and Mark Warner – VA) for a total of 56 Seats. Still undecided are races in: AK-Sen
(absentee ballot counting). GA-Sen (runoff), and MN-Sen (recount). If Democrats win 1 of the undecided senate
races, Democrats may be able to convince some Republicans (such as Susan Collins
– ME and Olympia Snowe - ME) to vote with them to stop filibusters. Note that Democratic Governors in
I also expect that Barack Obama will carefully
orchestrate his legislation to begin with measures which are strongly supported
by our public. Then with increasing
political clout, move on to others for which our people’s movement will build
public support. (First jobs, including
addressing global warming. Then health
care.) This will increase the cost to
Republicans who filibuster to obstruct our legislation.
House of Representatives
20 Democrats have been added and 1 (in
Bobby Bright (AL-02) Ann
Kirkpatrick (AZ-01) Betsy Markey
(CO-04)
Jim Himes (CT-04) Alan
Grayson (FL-08) Suzanne Kosmas
(FL-24)
Walt Minnick (ID-01) Debbie
Halvorson (IL-11) Gary Peters (MI-09)
Mark Schauer (MI-07) Larry
Kissell (NC-08) John Adler
(NJ-03)
Martin Heinrich (NM-01) Harry Teague
(NM-02) Dina Titus (NV-03)
Dan Maffei (NY-25) Eric
Massa (NY-29) Michael
McMahon (NY-13)
John Boccieri (OH-16) Steve
Driehaus (OH-01) Kathy Dahlkemper
(PA-03)
Gerry Connolly (VA-11) Glenn Nye
(VA-02)
Eight races are still undecided:
CA-04 (probable recount) CA-50
(probable loss) LA-04 (general
election in December)
MD-01 (probable win) OH-15 (still
awaiting final results) SC-01 (still
awaiting final results)
VA-05 (still awaiting official results, probable recount) WA-08 (still awaiting final results)
State
Democrats gained two governors: Jay Nixon (MO), and Beverly Perdue (NC). Democrats expanded their one party control from 23 states, while Republicans held steady at 14 states, leaving 13 states with divided control of their Governor and Legislative houses. See the map and more detail. In 2010, we need to gain control of more states to prevent unfair redistricting after our 2010 census.
Of our registered voters 72% voted. Barack Obama won 58% of the vote compared to 40% for John McCain. Thanks to Obama’s coattails and grass roots organization, Governor Christine Gregoire also won (54 to 46%) in spite of our declining economy and state revenues. Hopefully, our Congress will pass legislation to provide state and local governments with funds for infrastructure, green and education jobs. We already owe Obama and may come to owe him much more.
Incumbents (Democrats or
Republicans) won our congressional races (except that the Dave Reichert-
In our Eastside, Legislative
Districts 45, 48 and 41 will continue to have all Democratic Legislators. We congratulate 45th LD
Representative Roger Goodman for beating Toby Nixon, Fred Jarrett for becoming
our 41st LD Senator and Marcie Maxwell for becoming a 41st
LD Representative. In the 5th
legislative District the race between Democratic
Who Voted for
John McCain and Sarah Palin?
John McCain and Sarah Palin received votes from Religious Conservatives (wooed by Sarah Palin); Traditional Conservatives (who support unregulated markets and less government and taxes; some Libertarians who oppose Democratic compassion more than they oppose McCain’s support for our Iraq Occupation and allowing religion in government; Cynics who vote against Barack Obama’s message of hope; and anti-black racists who don’t belong to these other groups.
I guess that the percentage of voters who belong to these groups might be Religious Conservatives (15%), Traditional Conservatives (18%); Libertarians (6%), Cynics (2%) and anti-Black Racists (5%).
Some Traditional Conservatives may have not voted or even voted for Barack Obama, due to their dismay at the messes President Bush and his Republican Colleagues in Congress have done. Some Libertarians voted for the Libertarian party and a few suffering from our economic crises may vote for Obama.
Our
Six Revolutions
In 2006, we Liberals took control of our Congress. But continued to be stymied by Republican filibusters and President Bush’s veto threats. We have now won control of the White House and increased our control of Congress.
Our Wall Street/K Street Complex has negatively influenced our government and gravely harmed our American government and economy. Although their reputation has gravely suffered, they still retain enormous influence. After dealing with some low hanging fruit. After focusing upon creating jobs with fair earnings. We must confront the Wall Street/K Street Complex to free up money for implementing our many priorities. And for implementing universal access to quality health care.
Reforming our Democratic Party has only begun with a more bottom up continuing 50-state strategy which uses our internet to empower our grassroots. As Republican influence fades, we need to base our Democratic Party firmly on Liberal Principles. We need to hold our elected officials accountable to realizing these principles through adopting our agenda, without being bought off or compromising with special interests. For more. For more.
We need to reform
We also need to reform ourselves. We each need to adopt a lifestyle which is compatible with our Liberal Principles. We each need to base our lifestyle upon earning, conserving and investing, instead of borrowing, consuming and speculating. We need to continue our political involvement to ensure that our urgent revolutions continue. We need to maintain our people’s movement that Barack Obama has stimulated.
Vermont Senator Bernie
Sanders: It’s Time for Big Ideas With the nation embroiled in two wars and the economy in
distress, Senator Bernie Sanders said
Read a pessimistic view about the many messes that Obama will confront.
Conservative Arguments that Barack Obama Can’t
Change
Mainstream
Conservatives are arguing that Americans are Conservative. The only reason Americans voted for Barack Obama is their disgust with President Bush and their being impressed by Obama’s personality and speeches. This argument is wrong. On virtually all issues which separate Liberals and Conservatives, most Americans agree with Liberals. For more. Obama will find support among our people for Liberal changes. For more. For more. Resistance will come from corporate special interests and Conservatives who are a noisy minority. For more.
Democrats Will Unite with Barack Obama’s Leadership
Conservatives argue that Democratic congress members will squabble instead of unite. That Obama will be unable to lead them as a unified group. Obama has insider knowledge of our Congress and excellent relations with its members. New congress members owe him for his coattails. Democrats have learned the costs of disunity that occurred regarding the 1993 health bill. Most of all, Obama was able to create and manage an extremely competent campaign to win the presidency. He can do the same to pass his legislative proposals. Meet his likely transition team.
Democrats Will Invest to Increase Our Economy and Government Revenue
Conservatives also argue that our Government is so in debt with more deficits projected, that Democrats won’t be able to spend the money required for necessary changes. It would be nice to balance the budget as quickly as possible. But our debt as a percentage of gross product is less than it was following World War II. We can obtain a large amount of money by reducing our military-industrial budget. Our present stagflation requires a Keynesian response which can reinvigorate our economy to produce a government surplus.
We have risked $1 trillion to attempt to increase credit. Instead of bailing out financial companies, we should bail out our warming climate. We can spend $˝ to 1 trillion to create jobs and increase incomes – both a stimulus and a long term return to earn and invest instead of continuing to borrow, consume and speculate. For more. We shouldn’t prop up financial companies which will continue our present habits. We need to spend to create green jobs (conservation and alternative energy), infrastructure jobs (transportation (including public transit), communications, education, health), safety net (unemployment extensions, increased minimum income and earned income tax credit, higher wages for educators and care takers) and unionization. For more. For more. For more. For more. For more. We should also force refinancing 2-3 million mortgages to produce affordable homes.
Republicans Are Now a Southern Regional Cult
Republicans will be unable to obstruct the changes that Democrats will make. Reduced to a southern regional Consistently Conservative Cult out of touch with Mainstream Liberal America, they will argue among themselves about who is to blame for their decline, what to do and who should lead them. For more.
Message from Barack Obama
Dave, I'm about to head to Grant
Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first. We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it.
You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked
on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors
about why you believe it's time for change. I want to thank all of you who gave your time,
talent, and passion to this campaign.
We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in
touch soon about what comes next. But I
want to be very clear about one thing... All of this happened because of you.
Thank you, Barack Obama
It sounds like our people’s movement will continue. I eagerly await information about what comes next. Dave Thomas
More
on What to Call Our Movement
Last week, I asked what we should call our movement that Barack Obama has inspired. I mentioned some possibilities: ‘Unity Movement’, ‘Tough Hope Movement’, ‘Yes, We Can Movement’, ‘American Renewal Movement’, ‘People’s Movement’, and ‘People’s Interest Movement’.
In response to my offer of a free
subscription, Ray McBain suggested: ‘Back to
the People Movement’ and ‘Movement for the People’. Dick Kroeger suggested: ‘Limitless Possibility’. He suggested that our cry is "We
Can and We Will!". I welcome more
suggestions. Dave Thomas
Gay and Lesbian
Victory Fund Supported Candidates
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here’s the Beef
Kos predictions for 2008 election results.
Barack Obama is the choice of the world for president.
Read Nelson Mandela’s letter of congratulations to Barack Obama.
History isn’t over. Barack Obama will lead us to make history.
Our new president, what happened and what’s next?
Center for American Progress calls for changes.
In These Times recommends 22 people for Obama to appoint to high positions.
Who should Obama appoint as Secretary of Treasury?
Why Obama shouldn’t keep Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense.
Reflections on Obama’s appointments. More cabinet suggestions.
Zillions of people have zillions of ideas about what Obama should do first.
Union of Concerned Scientists expects Democrats to respond aggressively to environmental challenges.
Friends of the Earth leader calls for investment in green jobs.
Latin American experts call on Obama to improve our relations with Latin America. For more.
Seed Magazine endorses Barack Obama as one who will advance our discovery and innovation.
Five groups should form a Green Alliance.
Most Americans like to see the wealth spread.
If progressive taxation is socialism, Adam Smith was a socialist. So was George Washington. For more.
Implementing universal health care will repeatedly remind users of basic American values.
See ACLU’s list of actions for restoring our freedoms.
Fun video lampooning John McCain and Sarah Palin.
State and Local
Eastside Light Rail is Approved, but What Route?
58% of Voters in
urban areas of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties approved Proposition 1,
which includes extension of light rail from
In their
publicity, Sound Transit has used diagrams which suggest that the route would
be through residential areas to the west of I-405. Later phases might include extending light
rail north from
We must closely attend to the EIS and subsequent choice of Eastside Light Rail routes. If done right, our Light Rail will be a tremendous Eastside transportation resource, particularly as our transportation grows and our fuel becomes more expensive. Dave Thomas
Two Arguments for Progressive Income and
Estate Taxes
In William H.
Gates Sr.’ and Chuck Collins’ 2002 book Wealth
and Our Commonwealth, Why
The first argument
is that progressive estate taxes reduce
financial inequality, which threatens our Democracy. When wealth is concentrated in a small proportion
of our people, they can use it to influence our legislators and other officials
against the
The second argument is that progressive estate taxes reduce financial unfairness. People obtain their wealth due to a variety of factors: capital, labor, supplies and our social heritage, which includes our social and physical infrastructure. They must pay for their capital, labor and supplies. But in the absence of progressive taxes, they do not pay for creating and maintaining our social heritage. They are unfairly getting a free ride upon the backs of past generations and at the expense of future generations.
They are considering money to be their earnings, which is not. Just as their earnings would not include money that they owed to their suppliers of capital, labor and other supplies. Their keeping of money owed for their social heritage is illegitimate and unfair.
In a
"
If we abolish the state's inheritance tax we
stop the opportunity recycling program. We allow the common wealth to stop
flowing and concentrate it in the hands of a few. And worse, we slow the
investments in opportunity that aim to provide every young person a chance,
whether they were born in South Seattle or
I regard this
second argument as the more important.
Opponents of progressive taxes can and often do accuse those who attempt
to reduce financial inequality of socialistic class warfare. They assume that progressive taxes take
wealth that belongs to people to give it to others. This argument fails if it is pointed out that
the wealth that is taken
See all of our Washington Tax Reform Commentaries in one document.
Here’s the Beef
Dozens of new ideas for restoring our Puget Sound
Will coastal wave energy be helpful?
A new program enables environmentally sound disposal of electronics equipment.
House speaker Frank Chopp promotes multi-use Seattle waterfront viaduct.
Governor Christine Gregoire calls for stimulus package that creates jobs and rewards work.
Barack Obama agrees with Christine Gregoire. For more.
Business Leader who want educated workers support education-wrecking Dino Rossi.
Those who supported Doug Sutherland were helping Dino Rossi.
Hello Hispanics. Hello Democratic voters.
Nation
and World
Where is the Real
Sarah
Palin and various other Conservatives have recently referred to rural areas and
small towns as the Real America.
What is it about our urban and metropolitan areas that they reject as
part of Real America? Is it our
diversity: Ethnic groups? Religious
groups? Poor people? Gays and Lesbians? People who in rural areas and small towns
have stayed in the closet or left for less prejudiced and discriminating areas?
The primary distinguishing features of Conservatives is
their unwillingness to accept that all Americans
should have equal opportunities and freedoms. Their
lack of compassion for people who have fewer opportunities and freedoms. There refusal to accept that we are all
members of one community, with responsibilities to create opportunities and
freedoms for all of us.
The insular rural and small town environment of many
Conservatives has fostered their values that only people like them are Real
Americans. As Liberals, we believe that
all Americans are Real Americans, no matter their differences. We accept and feel compassion for those
Americans among us who have a reduced understanding of the values that have
long made
Barack Obama Is Our First Metropolitan
Candidate
Unlike most presidential candidates, Barack
Obama has spent his life in large cities:
Obama views urban areas not simply as areas with
problems. He views them as basic
resources which must be enhanced for the welfare of our nation. We can expect Obama to give close attention
to enhancing urban areas. He will work
closely with our local officials, granting federal funds to them for improving
their physical and social infrastructure.
Imagine Chicago
Mayor Richard M. Daley as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Correcting Our Housing Market
Our commercial media have cheered as housing prices have
soared, in spite of the ill effect upon renters and people wishing to purchase
a home. Now they groan as housing prices
decline. For fairness, housing prices
should continue to decline until they reach historic levels of 3-3.5 times
median household income. In the short
run, this will harm people who recently bought houses at inflated prices. And those who refinanced their houses and
spent the money. In the long run, it
will offer many more people the opportunity to obtain a house.
20%
of our houses have mortgages which are worth more than the house. In other words, the owners have negative
equity. 60% of these houses are in
Median housing values have declined 20% (with much
regional variation) since their peak in June 2006. But to return to the traditional ratio of
3-3.5 times median household income, they
must decline 20-25% more.
In March 2007, 7.5
million subprime mortgages worth $1.3 trillion were outstanding. During 2007, 1.3 million housing mortgages
were subject to default. By July 2008,
financial companies reported losses of $435 billion. Mortgage
defaults are not expected to peak for another year, so losses will continue
and housing values will continue to decline.
Proposal for an International Conference
for a New Global Financial System
Dick
Burkhart
Here’s
the Beef
ACLU releases presidential transition plan to restore our civil liberties.
Private interests lobby against easing anti-drug laws.
President is only Commander in Chief of military and only during war.
Andrew Bacevich says there is no War on Terror. Need to define consistent foreign policy strategy.
Without a militarized enemy, our Defense Department has lost accountability. For more.
Both war on terror and war on drugs are expensive frauds.
Bankruptcies are increasing, even though the 2005 law made it more difficult.
AFL-CIO calls for bailout for working families.
Bailout or giveaway to favored firms?
Will the credit card bubble be the next collapse?
600 non-governmental orgs call for major changes to international financial system, including IMF.
Congo strife results from factions seeking to control mineral wealth.
Our Liberal Spirit
Cynicism and Other Responses to Our Human Condition
What is a cynic?
A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)
A cynic is a man
who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin. H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
A cynic is not
merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one who is prematurely
disappointed in the future. Sidney J. Harris (1917-86)
We humans are like other animals in many ways. Our major difference is the extent of our imagination. We can imagine more freedom and opportunity for ourselves, our families, workplaces, communities, nations and the world. For ourselves, our children and future generations. With these dreams comes pain: the pain that our dreams are not realized, that realizing them requires struggle, and that any realization may be temporary.
Caught between our dreams and the limits upon realizing our dreams, we adopt various strategies. One approach is to assume that if we work hard enough and smart enough, we can realize our dreams. We attempt to be more than a human being. More like GOD. This approach fits with our American activist approach to improving our lives. It is basic to Libertarians who believe that they are self made and a role model for everyone else. But we can never guarantee that we will realize our dreams and if we do, it will only be termporarily.
Another approach Is to attempt to deny that we can realize our dreams. We see ourselves as victims of our parents, spouse, children, society, whatever who prevent us from realizing our dreams. We go through life moaning and whining.
Believing that Dreams are just temptations that cause pain, we attempt to avoid dreaming. We throw cold water on the dreams of others. We attempt to be less the human beings. More like a cow. But human beings are continually tempted to dream. Offended by being reminded that we may be able to realize our dreams, we strike out against those who are successful or who advocate striving for success. Being afraid of dreams and those who pursue them, we become angry. As cynics, we are fearful and angry.
A third approach is to continually sneak back and forth, trying to pursue feasible dreams and forsake infeasible dreams. We pursue a dream until the going gets tough. We continually look for excuses to quit. Many politicians, including John McCain’s campaign have suffered from this promiscuity of trying one strategy, then another, and another. Being unfaithful to our dreams, others lose their trust in us.
A fourth approach is to passionately dream and embrace dreams, knowing that struggle and failure will occur. That successes will be temporary. To practice tough faith, tough hope and tough love. This approach is exemplified well by Barack Obama. Like children, we can enjoy working together to build sand castles on the beach, which will continually need renewing as the suffer from the tides of history.
Practicing this approach requires discipline. The discipline to live in tension, between dreams and reality. The discipline to make difficult choices. The discipline to continue when the going gets tough. The discipline to pick oneself up after either failure or success. To continually build stories of the past, possible futures and what to do in the present.
Which approaches have you used? Which approach do you prefer? Dave Thomas
Recommended Books – See our list of books for
liberals
Andrew J. Bacevich, 2008, The Limits of Power, The End of American Exceptionalism
Paul Kennedy, 1887, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
Barack Obama has called for us to change our mindset that
has led us to occupy
Bacevich first addresses our crisis of consumption, without recognizing or paying the costs. To ensure our ability to consume, we are driven to imperial control of others. Then to militarism. But believing we are exceptional, we refuse to recognize the costs of our consumption, our imperialism and our militarism. And that we can not sustain these costs. George Bush and our other leaders have refused to confront our illusions. They have instead helped us to maintain them, to shape our mindset to enabling their political and financial profits.
I found Bacevich’s book difficult to read. Instead of succinctly stating his main points and then illustrating them, he wanders here and there through examples, little summaries, well crafted proverbs, and so on. He often seems cynical, expecting that we and our leaders don’t want to or can’t deal with our crises.
I have described our crises differently: We have drifted blindly into a Consume, Borrow and Speculate mindset, not recognizing its costs and unsustainability. Our most expensive consumption has been the maintenance of our military-industrial complex, with the temptations to use our military. Our industrial and commercial businesses, their lobbyists and bought and paid for legislators have led us into this mindset. As speculative bubbles have occurred and collapsed. As environmental consequences have become obvious As resources have become scarce and expensive. We have finally become aware of our crises. We are now becoming aware for our mindset which has enabled these crises.
With our increasing awareness, we can now increase our understanding of our situation and what we must do. Without cynicism, we can change our mindset. We can adopt the necessary mindset of earn, conserve and invest. Dave Thomas
Andrew Bacevich says evangelical foreign policy is finished.
Free Member Advertising
Hire Our Lake Hills Neighbors
· Auto Repair, price varies depending on job (but always fair), Jaime Speicher (AAS Auto Repair Technician) (425-746-2353)
·
Babysitting for infants (occasional
evenings and weekends) - $5 per hour-
·
Data Entry- $10 per 12 font, double
spaced page-
· Debt Elimination Counseling, Seminars and Workshops – price negotiable – Sherry Brandt (206-356-8034, somerev2@comcast.net)
·
Home Repair- prices vary, depending
on job-
·
Home
Repair and Remodeling,
·
Housekeeper,
price negotiable –
·
Life
Support Therapies,
· Private Piano Lessons (students must have a piano), afternoons - Anna Khosrowian (378-7938), price negotiable
·
Psychotherapist,
accepts insurance - Sandy Mathews (462-7889,
www.sandramathews.com)