Tonight, the much anticipated State of the Union speech was presented by President Obama.
I will go into more depth in another posting but would like to comment on one item presented.
As Obama pointed out, for many years, America has been the innovator in any number of ways... however, our pioneering spirit is now being overshadowed by other countries; China being one that understands in order to progress, students must be well-schooled in math and science. We have rested far too long on our laurels, now we're seeing others move ahead, even as we begin to lag.
America represents some of the finest colleges and universities in the world, yet if our students are unable to access higher education, where will that leave us as a society?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
FLASH! update on the gulf spill...
NASA takes a shot, May, 2010.
It seems like eons ago (but on the historical scale, it's probably more like a few milliseconds)... that the May, 2010 explosion and subsequent spill occurred which will continue to impact the gulf for quite some time.
Naomi Klein recently reporting in The Nation discovered that oil is no longer missing (according to BP minions and U.S. government reports). It's been safely contained and tucked away for future use, and the eco-system is back to pre-Deepwater Horizon explosion levels.
Yeah, right!
You know, we're great at sweeping things under the rug, and if corporations wait long enough, whatever disaster has struck this country will move out of the line of sight of those who never seem to pay attention. In fact, as some in the British press indignantly commented, we "Yanks" unfairly wronged BP... "one of Britain's greatest companies."
With friends like this, who needs enemies, especially when the environment is involved... all those pesky sea creatures.
Ask those who make their living from the gulf whether all is back to normal...
They, better than those with a vested interest outside the gulf should be able to ascertain whether life along the gulf is "back." Ask them whether or not they've been recompensed for lost wages or revenue, or whether they continue to hurt in the face of this tragedy. I'm almost positive you'll hear a resounding "NO!" coming from the southeastern-most parts of the country... especially those directly impacted by the events.
If the history of the Exxon Valdez is an example, then we're in for a long bumpy ride!
It seems like eons ago (but on the historical scale, it's probably more like a few milliseconds)... that the May, 2010 explosion and subsequent spill occurred which will continue to impact the gulf for quite some time.
Naomi Klein recently reporting in The Nation discovered that oil is no longer missing (according to BP minions and U.S. government reports). It's been safely contained and tucked away for future use, and the eco-system is back to pre-Deepwater Horizon explosion levels.
Yeah, right!
You know, we're great at sweeping things under the rug, and if corporations wait long enough, whatever disaster has struck this country will move out of the line of sight of those who never seem to pay attention. In fact, as some in the British press indignantly commented, we "Yanks" unfairly wronged BP... "one of Britain's greatest companies."
With friends like this, who needs enemies, especially when the environment is involved... all those pesky sea creatures.
Ask those who make their living from the gulf whether all is back to normal...
They, better than those with a vested interest outside the gulf should be able to ascertain whether life along the gulf is "back." Ask them whether or not they've been recompensed for lost wages or revenue, or whether they continue to hurt in the face of this tragedy. I'm almost positive you'll hear a resounding "NO!" coming from the southeastern-most parts of the country... especially those directly impacted by the events.
If the history of the Exxon Valdez is an example, then we're in for a long bumpy ride!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
one person/one vote
Not exactly...
When the U.S. Supreme Court awarded "personhood" to corporations last year, they opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending in elections across the land. Whether this trend will continue to subvert the political process remains to be seen, yet the short-term toll will no doubt affect the electoral process, since approximately $4.2 billion was spent to support specific candidates and issues.
The long-term perversion will quite possibly change our country between the haves and the have-nots and since approximately 1% of the population control nearly 95% of the wealth, I wonder whether voters understand what this will mean to those not inhabiting the upper strata. Historically, this means we in the middle will continue to see our salaries diminish, our spending capabilities will cease to purchase as those controlling the moneybags, move closer to controlling every facet of our lives.
The giant question is: who actually built this country?
Granted, wealth was a factor, but it was the sweat and industry of our ancestors, and those who came as indentured servants and slaves who provided the labor necessary to allow this country to succeed...
I see a time when once again we will be forced to provide for those who have succeeded not because of their contributions to the greater good, but rather because of their unlimited wealth. Should they be rewarded only for being wealthy... for contributing nothing to the greater society? No... but in fact they are rewarded, even as those less fortunate are castigated for the crime of being weath-less (in other words, poor)!
Is this the country we want, and even more important... is this the scenario we desire for our children?
I hope not.
Long after my generation has been relagated to the pages of history, I would hope for better in this land... healthcare for all, not just those with the ability to pay. I would hope that we would welcome any individuals to this land willing to lend the blood, sweat and tears that helped make this country great in the beginning, rather than shunning them for the color of their skin, or the language of their ancestors. If we reject people out of fear, then we have learned nothing from our history.
I know this started out as a commentary on the corporate state, but somehow it all intermingles. It really does come back to one person/one vote. Money should have little influence on the political process, and in order to move forward, we must all insure this does not become the reality.
election map from Washington Post archives
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
the political climate heats up...
Yesterday, I read that former House member, Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison for undermining the political process in Texas, then lying about it.
"The Hammer" was convicted in November, 2010 on two counts of money laundering and conspiracy charges... taking corporate monies and funneling that money to Republican candidates running in Texas. After the verdict was read, he apparently leaned over to one of his children and whispered he could not get a fair trail in Austin (it being a "liberal" community and all.) As he exited the courthouse, he commented "This is an abuse of power. It's a miscarriage of justice, and I still maintain that I am innocent. The criminalization of politics undermines our very system and I'm very disappointed in the outcome,"
Frankly, I'm not exactly sure what criminalization he refers to... he subverted the process and that (in my estimation) was the true criminal act. The money he funneled helped state Republicans take control of the Texas House which in turn, enabled the GOP majority to push through a congressional redistricting plan sending more Texas Republicans to Congress in 2004 – and strengthening his political cache.
To those who believed him innocent, and continued to cast their ballots for him, I wonder whether he had their best interests in mind as he moved through Congress. Further, did he have the best interests of his state, or even his country in mind as he cast some of his votes, and developed relationships with the likes of convicted former lobbyist, Jack Abramoff... or, was he just looking out for "Number 1?"
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