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Living History

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged , , on January 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

John Dingell

There was a short article on the Huffington Post this week from Amanda Terkel that has stuck with me.  In the light of this being the 50th anniversary of JFK’s inauguration, Terkel spoke with Rep. John Dingell to compare the rhetoric of that time with that now swirling around the Obama presidency.  Dingell has been a congressman (Democrat serving from Michigan) since 1955– 55 years- and has seen much come and go politically over that time.

He spoke of the harsh tone of the opposition against JFK in the weeks before his assassination in Dallas in 1963, which included an infamous handbill that circulated in the Dallas area in the form of  a wanted poster, portraying JFK as a criminal wanted for treason for imagined crimes against the American people.  Reading the charges on the poster, I am reminded of the current rhetoric and the way it makes baseless claims in a nonspecific manner, using catchwords to incite the willing mind.  It also brought to mind the hate-filled caricatures of Obama that are pushed forward by the right-wing media of the president as a fascist or Muslim socialist.

This constant incitement by a willing, partisan media was one of the differences that Dingell cited between then and now.  Polarized cheerleaders openly pushing there adherents further and further along on a 24 hour newscycle ,  all the time demonizing the opposing side, were not as visible then.  No Fox News nor MSNBC.  No Glenn Beck or Limbaugh .  No Olbermann.  Well, there’s no Olbermann now either since he announced that last night’s show was to be his last.

The point here is that we have become so ignorant of our recent history that we fail to see the patterns and cycles of history that occur, forcing us to possibly relive history over and over like someone with short-term memory loss repeating the same mistake again and again, thinking that this time the results will be different.  We are at a time of change, much as JFK’s term was a time of change for this nation, and there will always be great fear and opposition to even the most needed change.  However, if we look to history we can see that we will endure and emerge better if only we do not succumb to these fears and embrace change.

John Dingell is a bit of living history for us.  Heed his words and learn from his experience, which is our own history.

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Who’s Next?

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged on January 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

When I heard of the Arizona shooting of 18 people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, that left 6 dead, I was shocked.  Shocked, but not surprised.  If anything, I was surprised that this next shoe had not fallen sooner.

Maybe Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik at the site of the shooting  has it right when he says, “When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.  And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”

How can anyone be surprised that people with an unbalanced mind respond violently especially given the manner in which demonization of our political opponents has taken place in the past few years.  I mean, you’ve got Sarah Palin literally targeting Giffords in an ad for the 2010 election, placing her district in her gunsight.  You’ve got entire news networks devoted to destroying one agenda while propping up another, endlessly spitting out hatred without a moment’s rest. 

 Hyperbole rules the day.  There is no nuance, no gray area in our political discourse.  Compromise has become a word to be avoided, a sign of weakness rather than the virtue it once was with politicians of the past.  Think of  Henry Clay who was  called admiringly The Great Compromiser.  That is a thing of the past.  Now, if you’re not with me, you’re against me.  I am trying to save America, you are trying to destroy it.

Is anyone truly surprised that a person, especially one with an unhinging in his mind, who feels as though his voice is lost in the ever more shrill universe he knows ultimately picks up his gun and does the unthinkable?  One who believes every bit of  rhetoric and every caricature of their supposed enemies put forth? 

Are you really surprised?

You will hear a lot of politicos over the next few days and weeks trying to lay aside any responsibility that their words or actions may have contributed to this atmosphere.  They will try to lay the blame solely on this one individual’s unstable mind and try to gloss over the environment they have fostered.  And maybe this is simply a senseless, horrible act of violence with no connection to anything political.  Maybe.  But I doubt it and the least they should take from this is that this may not be the last such scene. 

And that is a sad thing for our country.

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Living in the Future

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged , on December 30, 2010| 4 Comments »

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These lines above are from the chorus of John Prine’s song Living in the Future, written well over 20 years ago.  I think of this chorus wheneverI hear people expounding on how wonderful or horrible things will be in the future.  It seems that the future seldom reaches the levels of our fears or hopes.

I’m thinking of this today because we’re nearing the official end of the first decade of this new millenium tomorrow night.  I guess we can drop the new part at that point.  The new car smell has definitely faded.  When I was a kid the idea of living in the 21st century seemed distant and alluring, with the prospect of jet packs whooshing us all over the world and teleportation flights to the amusement park on the moon being an everyday thing.  We’d all be wearing those space outfits that resembled shiny coveralls that we saw in the sci-fi flicks of the 50’s and our meals would be prepared with the touch of a button.  Disease had been eradicated and peace ruled the earth.

Okay, maybe I took it too far.  But it has been interesting living in this time that has long served as a far point in time for literature of the last century.  We have lived past the 1984 that George Orwell wrote of and the year 2000 fizzled like a wet firecracker despite the doomsayers who claimed an apocalypse was imminent at the time.  We haven’t quite seen the rise of Big Brother although it seems like we have taken strides in that direction at times.  We aren’t zipping about in rocket ships or teleporting across the universe but we are connected globally via the web in a way that I don’t think we fully saw thirty years ago.   Maybe we’re not talking with our minds, as John Prine predicted in his song, but we are talking more than ever with cell phones glued to faces and bluetooth headsets permanently jammed into ears.

 Meals are not cooked with the touch of a button.  In fact, we have went the other way.  We now celebrate the time and care of food preparation with television networks devoted to the act of cooking. 

Disease certainly hasn’t been eradicated but if you step back and really examine the strides made in medicine over the past thirty years, it is breathtaking.  Of course,  not all the breakthrough care is available to all of us but that’s a different story for a different time.

Of course, they were right about our garb.  I’m wearing my shiny silver space coveralls even as I write this.  I want to be ready when the future catches up with us.  It’s gaining…

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Some Things Just Keep Coming Back

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged on December 6, 2010| 5 Comments »

Saw an article yesterday that stated that incidents of book burning are on the rise here and abroad, in part due to the effective networking online by the moral storm troopers whose sworn duty is to protect us from our own wayward thoughts.   I felt very queasy after reading this, a deflated sort of feeling. Like, here we go again.

Book burnings  and thought supression have never been a sign of good things to come, have always been the tools of dictators and fascists.  One of the most famous was the burning of books in Berlin in 1933 at the Bebelplatz, a public square where Nazi brownshirts destroyed over 25000 volumes that they felt were antithetical to the German and Nazi causes.  That was a dark omen of things to comes.  On that site there is now a memorial to that event with the words of German poet Heinrich Heine inscribed on a marker.  The books of Heine were among those destroyed and he ominously foretold of the results of the event with his words written over a hundred years before:

“the burning was just a prologue: where they burn books, they ultimately burn people.”

So understand my unease at the news that book burners are back and ready to go into action. 

 It seems so ridiculous and so counterproductive to the movements who stage these events.  Book burning is a trait of the weak and fearful.   Burning a book says that you are afraid of the whatever is in that book and don’t feel confident enough in your own beliefs and morals, or those of your children,  to simply counter the claims with tolerance and logic.  Demonstrate your moral superiority and the strength of your own character by publicly pointing out the flaws and mistruths of the literature in an open forum rather than simply yelling that it is obscene and setting it ablaze.  If you can’t counter the books with logic and truth then perhaps you must look at your own thoughts and motives with a bit more care.

Just put down the goddamn gasoline and matches.

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The Script

Posted in Current Events, Opinion on November 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

 

 

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.

— Demosthenes

 

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For many years, my dad has said, “We’re the most gullible people on the face of the earth.”   Those words rang in my ears last night as I watched  politician after politician, most of them entrenched in the beauracracy of our government, stand before cameras and say that Washington was broken and they would fix it.   Their words didn’t jibe with their actions of the last two years.  Or ten years. Or twenty or thirty.

They were just words.

But they were words that, to the ear that wanted to hear them, sounded reasonable and true.  But to an ear that was skeptical, an ear that belonged to a person who spent a great part of their earlier life looking for angles and scams, the words were simply part of the script.  A script meant to lead those listening to actions that serve the speaker of the words.

The power of words and the willingness to believe what one wants to hear- the con man’s daily double. 

Now the words, the script,  will begin to change as they have to rationalize their actions in the months ahead that won’t mesh with what they’ve promised in the campaign.  There will be a parsing of words, a play of semantics.  A stall here, a place of blame there.  All classic con moves. 

It’s the same for both sides of the aisle.  There is not a gullibility gap here for either political party.  Just words and empty promises.  And we’re left waiting for that check from that Nigerian princess to come…

 

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Three Scary Days

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged , on November 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Well, here we are on a Monday sandwiched between the two scariest days of this year, Halloween and Election Day.  In the run uo to the elections there has been a constant drumbeat  from candidates all uttering the words Tax Cuts as though they were some magical incantation used to bewitch voters.  And maybe they are.  A good portion of the American public pays little attention and responds to catchphrases and sloganeering without questioning the validity of the argument.

On last night’s 60 Minutes there was an interesting segment that featured David Stockman, who was the wunderkind behind the  Reaganomics/ supply side economic policy of the early 1980’s.   I felt a great sense of vindication when I heard him speak about the failings of this policy and how it has led to the great wealth inequality that bedevils our nation.  I knew that when I first heard of the policy 30 years ago when I was nothing more than a high-school graduate working in a factory.  It didn’t take a brain surgeon to see where those policies would eventually take us.

He was on the show primarily to say that this constant mantra of Tax Cuts is killing us as a nation and is not practically sustainable.  He calls for the Bush Tax Cuts to end for all income levels.

The story also concerned itself with the state of Washington and its ballot iniative to establish a state income tax of 5% that would start after $400,000 of income per year.  Washington currently has no state income tax and, like most states, is in a fiscal bind.  This measure’s largest supporter William Gates, Sr., father of Microsoft founder and bazillionaire Bill Gates, who also supports the bill.  The story didn’t mention that besides establishing a state income tax on the wealthiest 3% of Washington  residents, this bill would also lower the property tax statewide by 20%.  This is for everyone, including the wealthiest citizens.

Of course, it showed the typical scare tactics employed by the wealthy when faced with even the most modest of taxes– we’ll leave and take our jobs with us.  They featured a younger entrepreneur who runs an internet company selling novelty items who had already moved his business from Oregon to Washington to avoid state income taxes in Oregon.  He claimed this would make him pack up and take his prosperous firm elsewhere.  According to the story, under the new tax in Washington, it would cost this guy $50,000 a year in state taxes.  I know, that sounds like a huge number.  But using simple arithmetic, this means he is making a net income, after all expenses and deductions, of $10 million.  Actually, 10.4 million– the first 400,000 is not taxed. 

This man claims that this 50K would be enough to make him pack up and relocate his entire operation, which must be substantial in order for a guy to turn a 10M profit selling crap novelties online.  He also said that this 50K would prevent him from hiring any new employees.  The typical clarion call of business owners faced with taxes of any sort.  No, actually it is a threat and a ludicrous one, at that, made by greedy, greedy people.  I understand him wanting  to not pay more taxes but when they make these threats about taking their ball and going home – well, to some home somewhere in one of the 6 or 7 states that don’t have state income tax– well, it just irks me that they are so willing to play that fear card on the public.  This guy was a prime example of why Reaganomics/ supply side economics were doomed to failure: they could only succeed dependent upon the assumption that these folks were not filled with greed. 

Actually, Stockman, who was one of the main salesmen for these policies, admitted that  the trickle down effect was concocted only  to sell tax cuts for the rich to the middle and lower classes.

So, when you hear the nattering chant of Tax Cuts! without any reason answer as to how they can be paid for, recognize that you are being pandered to.  Recognize that you are being assumed to have a lack of intelligence and a lack of attention.  And question what other things they may be trying to pull over on you.

Think!  Then vote.

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Rally Day

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged on October 30, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I wasn’t going to write any more about today’s Rally to Restore Sanity being held today on the Mall in Washington, DC.  I’ve written that I hoped it provided a way for many to see that not everyone out there is teetering on the brink of insanity.  But it’s been interesting the past few days, seeing how this event has grown in the media and hearing some of the commentary about and aimed at it.   Many words have been written against and in favor of it, the critics citing it as frivolous and self-important and the supportersseeing it  as an important statement on the current state of our political discourse.  Both are probably correct.  Satire is often frivolous and self-important but also often provides clarity in the form of social commentary.

I don’t know exactly where I sit in this situation but I will be watching today and hoping to get a laugh and hear something that makes me think that we are not, as a whole, crazy and/or stupid.  That last hope, to convince me of our sanity, might be quite a feat considering the political events of the last few weeks. 

Rand Paul supporters throwing a girl who was protesting Paul to the ground then stepping on her shoulder and neck.  Joe Miller’s security detail posing as police and placing a journalist under arrest, placing him in handcuffs until the real police arrived and made them release the man.  Sharon Angle refusing to answer questions of any sort about her positions on pertinent issues, often running away from cameras.  Anything concerning Christine O’Donnell.  Politicians from both parties blatantly lying about their military service, which seems crazy in a time when facts are so easily checked and exposed.

I’ve written before how Jon Stewart, despite his obvious handicap of being a comedian, has replaced serious journalists in being the source for the questioning of those who seek or are in power.  The so-called serious journalists have made it clear that they either don’t have the intelligence or the will to stand up to the gibberish and stonewalling that politicians often offer up.  This was made painfully obvious on yesterday’s morning show on MSNBC that is hosted by Chuck Todd.  In two consecutive segments, he hosted two Republican operatives and in both segments he allowed them to basically spew nothing but talking points without any challenge, any single question, as to the validity of these points or of how they hoped to accomplish some of their stated goals.  He sat there like  a lump and nodded  like a ventriloquist’s dummy.  David Gregory of Meet the Press was moderating a town hall event and was challenged by a member of the audience for this same attitude as Todd’s in his questioning of the guests on MTP.  The man accused him of asking softball questions and allowing his guests to evade answering.  Gregory became angry and claimed he was asking the questions but what could he do if they chose not to answer? 

Any good used-car saleman could answer that question.

Such is the state of our political world and the people of the press upon which we depend to be our watchdogs.

Is it any wonder that Stewart’s show has become must-see watching for millions of Americans?  Sure it’s comedy.  But there is also social commentary there.  Hopefully, today’s event will be humorous and maybe a little more.  We’ll see.

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End of the Season

Posted in Current Events, Favorite Things, tagged on October 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

It’s always disappointing as a baseball fan when your team’s season ends unceremoniously in defeat.  Such is the case today as I ponder a long year that began in March with the high expectations of spring training for the Yanks and ended nearly eight months later with a loss to the Texas Rangers, who move on to the World Series.  The Rangers outplayed the Yankees on every level, outhitting, outrunning and definitely outpitching the defending champs in all but a handful of innings in the series.

The Yankees had a pretty good year but the watchful fan had a feeling they came into the postseason out of rhythm.  They struggled in September, losing their divisional lead and going into the playoffs as the wildcard.  There was seemingly a renewal of spirit after their sweep of the Twins in the first round but, in reality, the Twins had come into the playoffs in as much of a funk as the Yanks and were even more out of step.  It created a false hope that this team could simply turn it on and be back in a smooth winning rhythm.

The Rangers made certain that this was not the case and made the Yanks look older and slower and uninspired.  Oh, they were professional and always on the verge of springing to life but never seemed to make the crucial pitch or play.  As much as it galls me to say it, after watching George W. Bush clapping in the stands next to Nolan Ryan during some of the games, the Rangers were simply the better team.

For now.

So my investment of time rooting for my team comes to an end and my remaining fan allegiance for this season is transferred to the San Francisco Giants.  They are a team that is fully in rhythm and playing as a cohesive unit.  Although they have less talent than any of the teams still standing, they are doing the most with what they have, playing with an attitude of confidence and destiny.  Hopefully, they pull it out tonight against the Phils.

I mean, how can you not root for a team whose best players are named Buster Posey (what a great moniker!) and Tim “the Freak” Lincecum?

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Rally Tidbits and Media Fetish

Posted in Current Events, Opinion, tagged on October 17, 2010| 4 Comments »

Some interesting things on the upcoming Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Keep Fear Alive, taking place October 30 on the Mall in Washington, DC have been coming up lately.

Over 200,000 people have signed on as attendees on the Rally’s Facebook page.  The Huffington Post has agreed to provide free transportation to and from the rally from NYC and already has over 10,000 riders signed on.  Many news organizations– NPR, the Washington Post, the NY Times, ABC, CBS and others- have forbade their employees from attending, citing this as a political rally of the Glenn Beck/Tea Party sort. 

I suppose this restriction is customary for political rallies athough I am not sure this qualifies as a completely partisan gathering.  The very idea behind this rally is to put aside partisanship and get the wider population reengaged in the political system so that the more extreme and vocal fringe groups don’t dictate our national conversation. 

 Jason Linkins of the Huffington Post has a good article on these restrictions and how the media will cover the rally.  In it he talks about how the media is almost proud of the way in which they “fetishize the stupidity” of these most extreme groups, giving them coverage without ever questioning their content.  When was the last time you ever heard a news reporter ask a probing question (and is so, get an answer) of one of these candidates who make grand statements about how they would change Washington but only offer vague references as to how they would accomplish it?

That term. fetishize the stupidity, has stuck with me over the last couple of days.  It says so much about how we have come to value the  absurd rather than the sane, about how we are all more attracted to the side show than the mundane.  Unfortunately, solutions are usually of the mundane variety, requiring work and sacrifice and a unity of will.  And until the media realizes that, they will always fetishize the stupid, wallow in ignorance and make arbitrary restrictions on their employees, fearful that they might find some sanity.

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Good News

Posted in Current Events, tagged on October 13, 2010| 3 Comments »

It has been interesting in watching the coverage of the rescue of the Chilean miners, the first emerging from the ground in a tube-like capsule reminiscent of some early NASA  experiment to test the ability of astronauts to withstand claustrophobia.  At this point, 9 miners have made it to the top and it appears that it will take the better part of today, perhaps into tomorrow, before the last men are brought to the surface.

It’s nice to finally have a story dominating our 24 hour news cycle that is, at this point, good news.  It’s refreshing to feel good after watching a story  being covered to the nth degree, having every possible aspect examined until the viewer just stops hearing words and focuses on the images before them.  I’m just glad that everyone is focused on a story of rescue and the coming together of people rather than watching stories  with morbid curiosity about the personal horror stories of others.  This is a story that is about the better parts of us.

Probably the biggest danger for the miners who have made it to the surface thus far is having to deal with the clamor over this whole thing without the comfort of their mining companions.  After hearing psychologists speaking about the mental challenges that face these men once they are freed  then seeing how well these fellows have survived thus far, I found myself believing that these guys were going to be fine after this because of the camaraderie they experienced with one another.  I have a feeling that it will be tougher going for them out of the mines. 

 Together, they were a group that came together to survive an ordeal unlike anything  else.  Above ground, they will be without that support system for the most part.  I will be interested in seeing how many of them return to the mines and how quickly.  My bet is that many will be down below again sooner than one might think.

But it is good news.  It’s good to see a celebration of joy for once.  Let’s relish this until the next horror story takes over the newscycle.

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