Category Archives: Politics

Self-Inflicted Pain.

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Beginning with the Reagan administration, the U.S. has, in effect, taken out its very large supply of guns, taken careful aim and shot itself in the foot.  Of course, I’m speaking metaphorically, but the damage to our nation is very real.

The Reagan administration’s notion that you could dramatically increase defense spending, increase corporate welfare, demonize unions and cut taxes has had a devastating and lasting impact on our country.  It’s because of Reaganomics that our deficits and national debt began to spiral out of control.  Even Reagan’s own budget director has since labeled Reagan’s economic policies a failure.

Of course, the Repugnants, aka right-wing Republicans, are fond of blaming our deficits on Democrats.  But that’s revisionist history.  Under Reagan and Bush The Elder, the deficits reached new heights.  Clinton and, in fairness, a Republican-led Congress, turned those deficits into surpluses.  Then Bush The Junior turned the entire economy upside down by pursuing two unfunded wars, lowering taxes and deregulating Wall Street.  In order to save us from a world-wide economic collapse, President Obama had to increase spending by providing loans to banks and automakers.  He also, for the first time, included the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in his budget.

Republicans have seized on those actions to unfairly blame Obama for the deficits.  Now they want to use the deficits to undo all of the nation’s safety nets for children, the poor, the ill and the elderly.  At the same time, they continue to call for further tax cuts for the wealthy.  (Never mind that our taxes are now the lowest in 60 years.)

There is, of course, an alternative to what Bush The Elder once referred to as “voodoo economics.”  As the economy continues to improve, we could raise taxes back to pre-George W. Bush levels and close the enormous tax loopholes that have been exploited by large corporations.  At the same time, we could reduce the out-of-control defense budget and use a portion of the savings to create jobs by rebuilding our factories and infrastructure.

But if that makes sense to you, don’t hold your breath.  As long as those large corporations and defense contractors are allowed to fund the campaigns of Congressional Representatives and Senators, it’s not likely to happen.

The Great miStake Of Arizona.

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There are now 15 states considering an immigrant-bashing bill similar to Arizona’s.  Some are also considering legislation similar to a bill currently in the Arizona legislature that challenges the 14th amendment.  And many states are trying to match Arizona’s insane gun laws.

Living in Arizona, all I can say is that other states should be more careful in selecting role models.Since President Obama selected Arizona’s Governor Napolitano to lead the Homeland Security Department, the state has gone bonkers.  After turning our citizens against each other by passing SB 1070, Republican legislators passed a bill that allows anyone to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.  Faced with an enormous budget crisis, Republicans have continued to cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy.  And having labeled public education as another form of socialism, they have made draconian cuts to education budgets.

Now these same geniuses have turned their wrath on the federal government.

They plan to challenge the Medicaid program by denying health care access to nearly 300,000 Arizona citizens.  They are in the process of suing the federal government over the health care mandate.  They have passed a “birther” bill that requires federal candidates to produce their original long-form birth certificate in order to be listed on the ballot in Arizona.  (Never mind that, although most of us can easily obtain a copy of our birth certificate, we would find it virtually impossible to get our hands on the original.)  They are in the midst of passing a bill that denies any future cooperation with the EPA.  Now Arizona Republicans are sponsoring a bill that would allow a state legislative panel to ignore any federal laws or mandates it deems unconsitutional.  (In other words, they would usurp the power of the U.S. Supreme Court!)  And the Arizona legislative session is just getting started.

What’s next?  Secession?

If so, Arizona is certain to be the next third world country.

What’s Wrong With Calling For Civility?

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Following the Tucson shooting, Pima County Sheriff Dupnik stirred up the proverbial hornet’s nest by suggesting that our rancorous political climate may have contributed to the violence.  And his statements about Arizona’s insane gun laws fueled even more anger from the right.

How dare the good Sheriff ask for more civility in our public discourse!  How dare he try to keep guns away from the mentally unstable or even the deranged!

Never once did he point fingers at a particular party or individual politicians and radio hosts.  Yet following his statements on national TV, right wing radio hosts and right wing politicians went on the attack.

Certainly the right wingers were not responsible for the shooting.  Still, Sheriff Dupnik made some valid points.  Statements such as Sharron Angle’s threat of “2nd Amendment remedies” and “taking out” Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid most definitely could inspire another unblanced individual to act.  Tea Party members carrying guns to Presidential appearances can only be viewed as a threat of violence to President Obama.  Tea Party  signs reading “Next time, we’ll come armed” can only be seen as a threat to elected officials.  And maps of Congressional districts in the crosshairs of a gunsight most certainly present a violent image.

But right wingers claim that the violent implication of these statements and images is a misinterpretation of their intent; a fabrication by the left.  For example, Rush Limbaugh said that liberals were the ones truly responsible for the Tucson shooting.  Half-term Governor Palin defended her Mama Grizzly approach to politics by claiming she and other right wingers are the victims of “blood libel.”  Even The Arizona Republic got into the act by printing an editorial calling for Sheriff Dupnik to “remember his duty” and “to recall that he is elected to be a lawman.”

In other words, right wingers have the right to state opinions in any manner they please.  But if someone on the left takes issue with those opinions, they should remember their place and shut up.

Meanwhile, how have political commentators on the left responded?  Have they displayed similar angst at the suggestion their discourse may have contributed to the shooting (despite the fact that they’ve never encouraged violence)?  No.  Instead of defending themselves, they seem to have taken the Sheriff’s suggestion to heart.  Indeed, Keith Olbermann has announced that he will be acutely aware of language from now on.  He’s even stated that he is dropping his show’s segment “World’s Worst Persons.”

The difference in reaction couldn’t be more revealing.  Either the right is feeling some sense of shame and guilt over the Sheriff’s comments.  Or they are so determined to win at all costs, they simply don’t care if their actions and words lead to more senseless violence.

Personally, I’m betting both of those motives are true.

Republican Leaders Provided Fertilizer For The Seeds Of Hate.

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We don’t yet know why an armed lunatic chose to shoot Congresswoman Giffords.  But we do know that the seeds of violence have, for years, been sown by commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and their ilk.  Moreover, we can be certain that those seeds were well-fertilized in the 2008 presidential campaign, most especically at the Republican National Convention.

I watched both national conventions gavel to gavel and was shocked by the vitriol prominently displayed in every speech by Republicans.  Rather than focus on policy, Republicans chose to focus on personal attacks.  From the snarky comments by Sarah Palin to the snide diatribes of Senator McCain, the conservative venom was unrestrained.  We were treated to derisive questions about President Obama’s citizenship and his service as a community organizer.  By contrast, I heard no such attacks from speakers at the Democratic National Convention.

And when the results were in, Republicans suggested that they didn’t lose the election, ACORN helped the Democrats “steal” it.

Since then, the ugly rhetoric from the right has only gotten worse.  Republican leaders have used every conceivable legislative trick to block Democratic initiatives.  They railed about the “big government takeover.”  They talked about “death panels.”  And they howled about Democrats trying to “push through their liberal agenda.”  Then, leading up to the mid-term elections, we were treated to the sight of Tea Party demonstrators carrying signs portraying President Obama as Hitler and as the Joker.  We were also forced to witness demonstrators bringing guns to rallies and threatening to “exercise their 2nd Amendment rights” if Republican Tea Party candidates didn’t get their way.

Here in Arizona, I have often been forced to bite my tongue as local Republican leaders referred to President Obama as “illegitimate” and Nancy Pelosi as “a disgusting pig.”  I have listened to McCain, Governor Brewer and State Senator Russell Pearce vilify latinos.  And, like most people, I have been the recipient of a seemingly endless variety of ugly, untruthful chain emails against our President and his supporters.

Now I know that those on the right will suggest that liberals are just as bad.  But any comparison of Rush, Beck or Fox News Channel with MSNBC is a false equivalency.  Certainly many on the left have contributed to the unpleasantness but, unlike their right-wing counterparts, I have yet to witness a Democrat talking about committing violent acts such as “taking out” an opponent.  I have never heard Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow or Ed Schultz call for Democrats to take weapons to rallies, or to “target” those with whom they disagree.

In any case, we all must change the way we discuss politics.  We must try to respect those with whom we disagree even when we disagree with their opinions.  We must try to separate the policies from the person.  And we must politely, but firmly, tell those who make outrageous statements that they are not acceptable.  We must refuse to vote for candidates who invoke hatred.  And when we hear political commentators make disgusting, violent statements, we must switch channels and inform the station or network that we will no longer tolerate the rhetoric of violence and hate.

If not, the event in Tucson is likely to be repeated across our nation.

It’s Time For A We Party!

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“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union…” Those are the opening words of the Constitution of the United States of America. Yet our two major political parties seem to have forgotten them. Instead of representing the citizens of this nation, the two parties – especially the Republican Party – seem to pander to the interests of the powerful, the well-to-do and the well-connected.

For years I was an independent, voting for the candidates I felt would best serve the nation’s interests. Finally, the Republican Party moved so far to the lunatic right, I could no longer envision myself voting for a Republican candidate. Now the Democratic Party has shown itself to be rudderless and gutless.

No, I’m not jumping on the “Blame It on Obama” bandwagon (although he’s at least partially to blame). I’m simply stating the obvious. The Democratic Party is filled with great candidates and great supporters. Unfortunately, it also has many self-serving candidates whose sole focus seems to be getting re-elected. And it is populated by impractical elitists who refuse to deal with the realities of working Americans. Moreover, the party is aimless. It has no concrete direction. No strategy to accomplish its agenda. And, when it comes to communications, the Democratic Party is utterly incompetent.

It’s time for a change!

I humbly propose that Democrats form a movement of practical progressives who are motivated to leave this nation in better shape than what we inherited from our parents. A group of committed individuals who refuse to accept what is and strive to create what can be. A group determined to change our government to better represent working families by improving education, improving the environment, making health care affordable for all Americans, bringing jobs back to the U.S., breaking our dependence on foreign oil, reducing the deficit, and reasserting control over the military-industrial complex.

We don’t even have to leave the Democratic Party. We simply must create enough of a groundswell to garner attention and force the Party to re-examine its direction and, hopefully, reinvent itself.

If a few thousand greedy, racist and mean-spirited teabaggers can impact the Republican Party, imagine what the millions of frustrated progressives can do for the Democratic Party. If you agree, please pass this message along to your family and friends. Perhaps you even know some individuals who are capable of leading the effort and organizing those of us who have had enough of the status quo.

Together, we can make a difference!

Who Do Republicans Really Represent?

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As most of you know, the Republican mantra is “lower taxes, less government.”  But for whom?  The past couple of years have revealed the Republican agenda as never before.

Take the Bush taxes cuts.  Democrats want the tax cuts for millionaires to expire, which would save $700 billion over the next 10 years.  But Republicans have made an extension of tax cuts for the wealthy their top priority.  And Republicans are willing to filibuster an extension of unemployment benefits to get their way.

This past election cycle, Republicans and their phony Tea Party candidates ran as populists, claiming to represent all Americans.  Yet Republican legislative votes tell another story.Just today, Republican Senators voted against a bill that would provide health care to 9/11 responders.  They have consistently voted against extensions of unemployment benefits for those struggling in the recession created by Republican policies.Republicans fought against regulation of Wall Street.  They fought against health care reform that would limit the obscene profits of large pharmaceutical companies and giant health insurance while providing health care access to more than 30 million working Americans.  They fought against stricter regulation of oil companies following the Gulf oil spill, and even apologized to BP when the Administration held BP accountable.

Republicans have successfully fought to eliminate estate taxes on large inheritances.  They have fought to lower capital gains taxes on investments.  They have voted against closing tax loopholes on large corporations that ship jobs to other countries.  They have fought against regulations against large corporations that create P.O. Box “headquarters” in other countries in order to avoid paying U.S. income taxes.  They have promoted no-bid contracts for private contractors to take over military functions such as “security”, transportation and food preparation.

Republicans have reduced funding for public schools while increasing funding for private and parochial schools.   They have made it easier for corporations to clear-cut our forests, for large mining operations to remove mountain tops, and for large electric generating companies to pollute our air and lakes.  At the same, they have refused to support alternative energy that would create competition for Big Oil and Big Coal.

Republicans claim that all of these actions create jobs and reduce taxes – a theory that has been thoroughly disproven.  So why do working class Americans continue to support the party that has so obviously sold its soul to large corporations and the wealthy?

You tell me.

The Corporate Takeover Of America

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It’s really nothing new.  For many years, large corporations have been given special privileges by our governments.  After all, it’s believed that they expand the tax base and fuel our economy.

But do they really?

The vast majority of jobs in the U.S. are created by small businesses.  And, while it is true that large corporations are responsible for large contributions to local, state and federal taxes, the contributions are largely the result of their employees’ tax payments.  Fact is, given the resources they consume, the pollution they create, and the expensive infrastructure they require, large corporations pay relatively little in taxes.

What large coporations and their executives do contribute are donations to the political campaigns of those who will give them what they want – government access, influence and power.  And those donations have paid off handsomely in recent years.

Despite the fact that government deficits have increased dramatically over the past 30 years, corporate taxes have routinely diminished.  Indeed, city, county, state and federal governments have bent over backwards to attract and appease large corporations.  For example, cities have provided Tax-Increment Financing (TIF) to large corporations, allowing them to avoid paying property taxes on large buildings.  And when the TIF expires, another large corporation purchases the building with the help of (you guessed it) Tax-Increment Financing.

Counties and states often provide no-interest loans and exemptions from regulations to attract large corporations.  And the federal government often creates tax loopholes to the benefit of corporations.  Many have been given tax breaks for setting up a P.O. box offshore to create a new “headquarters.”  And many have been given tax breaks for exporting manufacturing and tech-support jobs to other countries.

So how have large corporations repaid these favors?

They routinely pull up stakes at the first hint of increased taxes or regulations.  And they fund political campaigns against any elected official who has the temerity to oppose them.  Of course, corporate meddling in our political process will only increase now that the Republican-controlled Supreme Court has ruled that corporations enjoy the Constitutional rights of individuals (a startling decision given the fact that a corporation is little more than a piece of paper that creates a corporate “veil” protecting its founders from creditors in the event of failure).

Minority Is The New Majority.

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After Democrats were swept into office in 2008 on a tidal wave of anger and frustration toward the Bush administration, the Republican part was pronounced virtually dead.  “It would be decades,” political pundits said, “until Republicans can regain control of the House, Senate or White House.”

Yet, in last month’s mid-term elections, Republicans took back the House and narrowly failed at gaining control of the Senate.

How did they accomplish such an amazing turnaround?  Simple.  They said “No.”  Not just to a few key pieces of legislation, but to everything.  They blocked hundreds of Presidential appointments.  They voted against the Democratic stimulus plan that saved millions of jobs and lowered taxes to the lowest level in 50 years.  They voted against loans for General Motors and Chrysler which saved, by most estimates, nearly 10 million jobs.  They voted against health care reform which will give health care access to more than 50 million Americans.  They voted against extending benefits to the unemployed.  They voted against regulation of Wall Street (the very people who caused the Great Recession).  They voted against regulation of off-shore oil drilling despite the worst oil spill in history.  They blocked ratification of the START Treaty which will provide oversight of all nuclear weapons.  If President Obama and Democrats were for it, they were against it.

And, in reality, they voted against the vast majority of the American people.

So how did American voters punish them in the mid-term elections?  They put them in charge of the House.  So now Republicans are in an even better position to block any initiatives by the President and the Democrats.  Republicans will now control House committees and the budget.  And they will still be able to block any Democratic initiatives in the Senate through the filibuster.

So what’s the outlook for the next two years?

Senator Mitch McConnell has already stated that Republicans’ primary goal is to ensure that Barack Obama is a one-term President.  That means Republicans will continue to block any of the President’s attempts to further improve the economy and lower unemployment.  And since their tactics worked before, what’s to stop Republicans from continuing to lie, block and delay?It certainly wouldn’t be a sense of conscience or concern for our country.

The New Tone Of “Bipartisanship”.

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So, after the mid-term elections, both parties talked about a new effort for bipartisanship.  To facilitate that, President Obama invited leaders from both parties to the White House for the so-called Slurpee Summit.  Unfortunately, Republican leaders had “conflicts” with the original date.  (So what else is new?  Haven’t they had conflicts with everything President Obama has proposed since his inauguration?)

After the re-scheduled meeting, Republican leaders in the Senate almost immediately announced that they would block all legislation for the rest of the year until after a vote on extending the Bush tax cuts and a new Congressional budget.  In other words, “Don’t even think about bringing up a vote on the extension of unemployment benefits, the START treaty, DADT, the Dream Act or anything else unless we get our way!”

Great way to foster bipartisanship, don’t you think?

Yet when House Democrats scheduled a vote on extending the tax cuts for all but 2% of American taxpayers, the Republican leadership howled that Democrats have “undermined the tone of bipartisanship set in yesterday’s summit.”

I guess Republicans have forgotten the road to bipartisanship goes both ways.

The Corporate Takeover Of Political Funding.

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Quick.  Tell me which political contributions are most scruitnized by our government:  Individual contributions of $20 or less to candidates?  Or multi-million dollar gifts from corporations to political action committees?

If you guessed the latter, you’re wrong.

Political parties, local clubs and individual candidates are required to account for every political donation to the penny.  On the other hand, political action committees such as those created by Karl Rove to attack Democratic candidates don’t even have to disclose the sources of tens of millions in contributions.

What’s wrong with that picture? 

In the Citizens United case, the Republican appointees to the Supreme Court of the United States overturned decades of legal precedent to rule that corporations have the same rights as individuals.  Yet, in the political arena, corporations now enjoy the privilege of spending as much as they want to influence elections without disclosing their contributions.  And how many large corporations are run by Democrat-leaning CEOs?

Unless you’re an executive of a large corporation or a Republican running for office, you have reason to be concerned.  Very concerned!