Republicans: Gays Threaten Marriage! All Others Can Marry Multiple Times, Cheat & Then Divorce!

THIS DESERVES ATTENTION: Most media missed this one, but, hey, that's why you read blogs! Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (Washington DC) said that marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and that altering that definition would denigrate society... OK, so what? Well, he had the guts to say that it's the business of the secular state to allow same-sex civil unions! Wow! McCarrick said although it's not his ideal, the government needs to protect the rights of same-sex couples to care for each other or visit each other in a hospital. He said allowing civil unions would protect those rights! [here's the link]

When homosexual persons allowed to marry, all the other traditional marriages will fall apart at an alarming rate! No? If we let the “gays” marry each other then the traditional marriages will be worthless; so, some 50% of those marriages will fall apart and, god knows, how many will be held together not by love but by mere necessity. Marriage—the foundation of society, according to the President—isn’t doing well in these United States of America! Fortunately, this Republican Congress and Mr. Bush are coming to the rescue by proposing a Constitutional Amendment whereas homosexual persons will be allowed to marry someone of the opposite sex only! Nice!
Senator Rick Santorum [R-PA] delivered a passionate speech on the Senate's floor about moral values, riled against sodomy and all the other ..Biblical sins. I’m sure the theocrats were very pleased with Mr. Man-on-dog Santorum. He has often reminded us that if we allow two men to marry, then what would stop a man from marrying his ..dog?!! What would indeed?! I wonder, if those who want to merge our secular laws with religion—and let’s not hide behind the middle finger, they’re talking about Biblical law—are ready to tell us whether they have masturbated, had sex outside their marriage, and, if unmarried, they’ve remained celibate. I would like to see the so-called defenders of marriage resigning their posh seat in the Congress. I presume that all them sinners have already repented so they may not be stoned to death! [though I'm no expert on Biblical punishment]

A hedonist would say, “if it feels good do it!” I guess the theocrats and the political manipulators have something in common with the hedonists, because it may feel good to them to propose constitutional amendments that have nothing to do with reality and fixing a problem. Is marriage really being threatened by the homosexual community that wants same human & civil rights? Or, is marriage threatened by other forces, some of which are of our own creation? The political decisions we’ve made and the social order we’ve established carry many threats to marriage.

People are good and bad, make sound or imprudent decisions, and their character does affect the relationships they establish. But, what we, as a society, do to enhance people’s lives and help the married ones stay together in a healthy and stable family unit? The economic stress is one of the top reasons for divorce. Do we provide health care so the parents can be healthy to raise their children? Do we provide health care to the children so they’ll grow up to be parents themselves one day? How about day care? What kind of a social safety net do we have in our country? I think the answers to these questions reveal a lot about the root of the problem.

There are just too many wingnuts in our country that believe whatever feels good to them regardless of the proximity to reality. Many others fall into what the philosopher Immanuel Kant described as perpetual immaturity because they don’t like to think for themselves and let others tell them what to do. If it weren’t so, the likes of Pat Robertson, Falwell, Coulter, Hannity, Limbaugh, O’Reilly, David Duke, would be in the margins of society, but they are not because they have millions of people behind them.

At any rate, recent polls reveal that, although 58% of Americans are against same-sex marriage (and civil unions), 51% are against a constitutional amendment and prefer to leave the marriage laws to the states. Yet, some 42% think that their marriage will be worthless if homosexual legal unions take place! However, there is a glimmer of sunshine in all of this as the majority of Americans under 30 years old would support a same-sex legal union!

Keep an Eye on those Queer Republicans
I believe that 50 years from now we’ll look back at this issue and as a nation will have the same reaction we have today regarding the racial divisions and the racial segregation of the past, ie. Florida’s state constitution (sadly one of many) that explicitly forbade the marriage between a white person and a negro (4th generation inclusive).

Obviously the issue of same-sex unions isn't a top priority in the agenda of Americans [only 3% see it as a very important issue], but the Republican demagogues feel that their only chance of surving in power is to play the cards of fear, race and thus motivate their very conservative base to come out and vote. This is a wedge issue! The Republican party has controlled all branches of government for the last 6 years and basically it has screwed up royally. They have no excuse for their failures and nothing good to show for. Fear and confusion are their only hopes. Much of the rest of the country is more concerned about the war, energy costs, health care, federal deficit, terrorism, and education.

People can believe whatever they like, but religious dogma & religious laws should stay out of the secular state. A rational society with concerned and thoughtful people should debate the issues on their merits. A “divinely-inspired law” cannot be part of the public discourse. I mean, Zeus has given me a few a priori laws [and we all know that Zeus is the god of gods] but I prefer to follow those "laws" in my own domain, valuing my own relationships not by what others are doing but by how decent of a person I am!

Editor's Note & Addendum:

UPDATE: The Republicans managed to get only 49 votes in the Senate, but their leadership insists on bringing the failed amendment to the House for a vote! They know they've failed but apparently they think this issue has mileage with their conservative base. They're counting heads...

Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter said of gay marriage: "I don't believe there's any issue that's more important than this one." In other words, this catastrophy [<-please click on the link] pales in comparison. Yep, isn't rather obvious that most Republicans don't care to aleviate the human condition and truly enhance life--when it matters!

DHS: New York City Has No National Monuments to Protect!

The Enemy From Within Is of Our Own Creation!
If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere! This American city is iconic, has everything and more. But, it has no "national monuments" according to Big Brother's agency [the Dept. of Homeland Security] in charge of offering protection to the common citizen. I think someone's up for promotion in Caesar's palace; what an outstanding analysis of the security needs of NYC! No national monuments, hey? We're cutting your DHS allowance by 40%, the "hommies" decided. ABC News obtained a document that shows the DHS thinks there aren't any national documents in NYC, therefore it cut the anti-terrorist funding this year from $205 million (2005) down to $125 million (2006).

The DHS is much-ado-about nothing in the fight against terrorism. Of course we must defend ourselves but we have to do it smartly! The DHS is a bloated huge bureaucracy filled with incompetent but loyal-to-Caesar praetorians. Like any entity that has lots of power can create more problems than solutions if it doesn't tread nibbly and with competence. Generally, I'm not in favor of creating an overfed, humongous elephant and then bring him into our living room. He's bound to make a mess and break a few precious things, like our civil liberties. Who's responsible for this monster? All those who were scared out of their wits and allowed themselves to be manipulated by the politics of fear, and those who used 9-11 as an opportunity to grab more power by reducing our democracy, enrich themselves, and even consolidate the winner of the class warfare in our country.

If you look at the decisions being made under the Republicans who have controlled all branches of our government in the last 6 years, then it's rather obvious that we've entered into an alternative-reality universe. Like Bizzaro World! It makes sort of sense only if you try to predict the outcome of an action, like: Clean Air Act means more air pollution; No Child Left Behind, means less support for public schools; Pro Life, means no support for the ..living; Bringing Democracy to the Middle East, means less democracy at home and more terrorism in the Middle East; We know where they [WMDs] are, and Mission Accomplished.....

I have a particular affinity for New York and I know there are many ..structures worth protecting, not to mention the wonderful mosaic comprised of human beings. Maybe Bush got the memo, that New Yorkers (especially in the 5 boroughs) disapprove of him by a margin of over 80%! For me, counter-terrorism (like solving the immigration problem) should be a comprehensive approach, and the current administration has the wrong priorities while misspending billions of our money.

I'd like the White House to inform us when the award ceremony will take place. I'm sure the geniuses who didn't see any monuments worth protecting in NYC will get a promotion or at least a medal--like all the other failures in the Bush administration who screwed up royally but didn't criticize their superiors or had the courage to speak up and admit a mistake or two.

I intend to keep enjoying the city as much as I can. For those of you who visit, here are a few interesting places: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the NY Public Library, Empire State Building, The United Nations, The Statue of Liberty, the Museum of Natural History, The Guggenheim, Times Square, etc, etc, etc. Unfortunately those landmarks have been found on several terrorist lists. I hope this won't prevent you from visiting. The best thing to do about combating terrorism is to give Congress subpoena power (by restoring some check & balances, and a change of leadership) this November and to vote very carefully in the primaries and the general election to follow!

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —G W Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

Addendum: Blogger Bill in Portland Maine (Daily Kos, 6/2/06) points out some of the possible targets the terrorist may add to their list... Like Key West's Chicken Store, Alamo's Toilet Art Museum... The "Freedom Budget" could be used to save our icons of American culture. Now, who could save us from the "hommies"?

Memorial Day Is About Heroic & Purposeful Death Not War-Mongering

Taking a Moment to Reflect and Appreciate
Be a sunflower today, turn your head towards the sun. Close your eyes and take a moment to reflect on your life. Let a sense of well-being come from within. Feel alive. Appreciate you being. And, make the world a little better by doing something nice for those around you, even if some of them are far away. Let's not forget that we're standing on the shoulders of others, who stood on the shoulders of others and so forth. Many of those who came before us and many who came after us but left us too early made the ultimate sacrifice.

The extended Memorial Day weekend is here along with the unofficial start of the summer. This holiday should remind us of those Americans (many of them immigrants and non-citizens) who gave their lives to keep us safe and free. But, this holiday should also be about life, because sacrifices should have some altruistic purpose, a greater contribution, a way to make life better for those left behind. That's why we, as a nation, must be very careful when we commit our blood, sweat and tears to a cause. And, we better make sure that our leaders understand this.

I don't like big proclamations, overused superlatives and fake patriotism. Actually I'm offended by persons who show little respect and appreciation for the many & great sacrifices ordinary people made to build this beautiful country of ours. The presence and/or the size of the flag doesn't necessarily reveal a person's commitment to this country. As a matter of fact, those who wear the American flag on their lapels and fly huge flags are often people who either want to sell us ..used cars or a scheme whereas all the sacrifices are made by us, not them! Kinda like, the business arrangement between the hen and the pig, whereas one provides the eggs and the other one the ham!

Any national holiday should serve as an opportunity for us to reflect on the things that unite us and why we choose to stick together in this commonwealth. What means to be an American and what responsibilities it carries is something we ought to ask ourselves; and we ought to ask our leaders the same question more often. We have plenty of examples in our own history when the leaders failed the people. We have the power to change things for the better, but only if we're informed and engaged in the affairs of our nation. I think this is the greatest honor and a respectful memorial to those who gave their lives for us. This is the patriotic way; to protect this United States of America and enhance the lives of its people.

And speaking of life, don't forget to create memories every day! Give it a try, you'll see life becoming more interesting this way! Have a great summer (and more) ahead!

Enron-like Scandals: Ponzi Scheme & Three Card Monte

Is it just a slight of hand, or do Americans need to pay more attention?
Forty-five and 185 years for Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling respectively would be too long of a sentence for the top executives of Enron, therefore, I’d like to see something more reasonable, say, 25 and 45 years respectively. I’m taking into account their age, so by age 90 or so, they could apply for probation. However, these two scam artists should not only be sent to jail immediately [sentencing will take place Sept. 11th] but to cells with power outages, with no guarantee of a meal every day. Wouldn’t this be a proper fitting, to suffer the effects of their actions? Millions of people were left in the dark, others paid billions in inflated energy bills, and many others lost their pensions and investments because of the actions of these two. Enron along with WorldCom will go down as two huge bankruptcies that adversely affected millions of Americans.

There is a greater point here, that is, the market forces are not infallible! Capitalism has indeed contributed to the economic betterment of people. Even Carl Marx in this Communist Manifesto lauds capitalism. However, there’s no pure capitalism today; hasn't been since the early stages of the industrial revolution in the 1700s. So, the question is, how much regulation and overseeing is necessary to achieve a balance between cost & benefit. I assume that we generally accept that the laws of the market forces not only aren't enough but may be harmful to the common good. My company can greately benefit if I discharge my factory's toxic pollutants into the adjacent lake so I don't have to pay for proper disposal. My fleet of fishing boats can take the last fish out of the water, and my timber company can cut down the last tree, etc.

We also have to take into account that the Enrons, the Exxons, the Haliburtons, the Bechtels, the whatever company receive tremendous benefits from the law, the tax code, the overall strength of the U.S., and the general business environment they operate in. They do not operate in the vacuum of space and they didn't not create the world and their workers & customers from scratch. In other words, they're taking advantage of the existing conditions that were created by a myriad of factors and actors over a long period of time.

I still can't fathom the greed by persons who have so much to begin with. We may look down upon people who broke the law by emigrating illegally in order to make a living, to better their lot, by working hard and being contributing members to our society. Yet, we tend to pick on those more visible and most probably lesser trespasses than to carefuly examine what's going on behind closed doors where billions of dollars in transactions take place. The energy bill was agreed in this manner by the Vice President and the oil/electricity/coal top executives.

Many Americans who vote against their economic interests by voting primarily for the Republicans aren't paying much attention to the details. Admitedly, it's easier to see the local bum who may be abusing the welfare system, spending food stamps on ..marshmellows, etc. Everyone knows of someone who cheated on taxes or somewhere along the way. However, the biggest cheats aren't well known. Who got the biggest tax cuts and a big transfer of wealth [guess which way] while the country is at war? Isn't a scandal that the first thing the Republicans wanted to do after coming back from vacation following the Katrina disaster was to repeal the estate tax, you know, to benefit the Paris Hiltons, affecting less than 1% of Americans! And, most Americans are for it eventhough they'd never, ever, be affected by such a law! Lottery tickets anyone?

So, what is the role of the government? Who do we elect to represent us? What price do those who betray the public's trust & interest pay? Are politics independent of the people or to what extend do they reflect the collective psyche?

One thing for sure, Americans often don't vote reality but their dreams! And, then they complain for getting a Bush that they asked for in the first place!

Where Bush is Still Popular

I have mixed feelings about this; I'm happy to see that most Americans have seen the light, or, more accurately, the dark side of President Bush. But, I can't feel good about the sad state of our union. I hope those who disapprove of the current regime start cleaning house in this year's elections.
Spending His Political Capital
This map above shows the states where Dubya has a positive approval rating! [and you laugh when I say that some Americans live in a alternative-reality universe!] Despite what some media are reporting that Bush is on the rebound (from 29% to 33% or so), even conservatives (especially the fiscal conservatives) are beginning to accept that this Bush is the worst President ever. Billmon's site has more numbers.

I'm happy, though, to see that--according to SurveyUSA--my home state of New York is at the ..bottom of the list, giving Bush the lowest approval rating of 23%! OK, Rhode Island can be equally proud!

The Twelve Steps of the Al Gore Recovery. It May Help the US Too!

A Dose of Al Gore Will Be Good. Are You Ready for 2008?

Winner of the majority of the presidential votes in 2000, Al Gore went on Saturday Night Live [SNL video] last week to tell us that during the last 6 years of his ..Presidency we have a huge budget surplus (instead of the $9 trillion deficit), mainly because no war in Iraq and no tax breaks to the 1% of the ultra rich, fuel prices are a lot cheaper, and the only negative impact is the reverse of global warming so much that the "glaciers once melting are now on the attack"!

Wouldn't that be nice? I'd add that we wouldn't have Alito and Roberts on the Supreme Court, and our civil liberties would've been much safer! Maybe our national priorities would be different too. Instead of destroying the most effective federal agency, FEMA, our government could have averted much of the Katrina disaster--a hurricane detected & tracked several days before in struck the Gulf Coast--and when Congress would come back from its summer recess, its first action would have been to alleviate the suffering in New Orleans and elsewhere, and instead of the majority's first act to repeal the estate tax [what I call The Paris Hilton Benefit], the President would have pushed for a universal health care system.

Al Gore is running these days to promote his film, An Inconvenient Truth, which opens in select theaters on May 24th. Of course the bigger question is whether Al Gore is getting ready to run for the big office in 2008. This is a very interesting possibility that would change the status of the so-called frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, and change the dynamics in the Democratic party first, and the national campaign later. I, along with many progressive bloggers, would welcome Gore's candidacy. His pro-environment stance is a passion he lacked in 2000. He's grown not only in weight but in political development, though I still think he needs to relax further as he hasn't shed all of his stiffness when a news camera turns on.

Before he does anything, he needs to swear that he won't hire any of his former consultants, and the new ones he hires [hi Al, I'm available] shouldn't be allowed to over-handle him. He should be a lot more relaxed now; he's very rich, he's respected as an individual and as a leader, he's got a message, and he's proven that he can win on a national level. All I'm saying is that a new attempt at the presidency won't make or break Al Gore! "I'm a recovering politician on about Step 9," Gore told The Associated Press. "But I'm on a different kind of campaign now--to persuade people to take action to solve the climate crisis, and it's always easier when you're focused on one thing."

If Gore is on Step 9, the last 3 won't be hard to complete. I believe after the disastrous eight years of the Bush presidency and six or more years of Republican control of the Congress, America will be ready for an experienced pol with integrity. The progressive, netroots activists in the Democratic party are not thrilled with a possible Hillary candidacy. I think she's alienated many of us, though, as I said earlier, I'd support her against any Republican in a general election. However, I'll do what it takes to prevent her from becoming the nominee, unless it's a choice between her and Lieberman.

Speaking of that DINO (Democrat In Name Only), Gore needed to be smacked over the head for his vice-presidential selection in 2000--one of his many serious mistakes. This won't happen again if he runs in 2008. As a matter of fact, let's make sure that Mr. Lieberhosen loses in the Dem primary in Connecticut on August 8th. If you haven't heard of Ned Lamont, here's his site (and TV ads) and how you can help unseat a big Bush supporter and gain a Democrat in the Senate this November.

Climate change has and will affect everyone, but the most severe effects will be first experienced by the poorer humans, just like pollution has done since the industrial revolution. The big oil companies are launching an attack on Gore's message and much on the consensus in the scientific community that says human activities are contributing to global warming. Public sensitivity is increasing on this issue and that's good. A US president has lots of power, but much of it depends on how he exercises his leadership. He holds the biggest megaphone and can set the national agenda. I think there isn't a debate any longer on weather the BushCo presidency has failed; nor whether he's led our country into a treacherous path.

Every day Bush remains the President, Al Gore looks better and better.

The Burlesque Show of Bush & Co: Shredding Our Constitution, Shedding our Secrets, Stripping our Liberties

Leave it to the professionals to protect us. Don't you worry, unless you have something to hide!
Why not give up your freedom if this would keep you safe? Come on, what's more important, some ..liberal & probably mostly theoretical notion of freedom, or, being safe here in our home? In a practical sense, it's easier to leave fighting the terrorists in a war with no fronts & no end to the experts than to worry about it yourself. Besides, as a nation we've already decided that we don't really want many of our freedoms & civil rights. Our actions speak louder than our words. Most Americans don't care about voting and they show it; especially if you don't count those who are single-issue [ie. ban the homosexuals from making our marriage worthless; the Democrats from taking away our Bibles] and very infrequent voters. Just note how many will cast a ballot in November in this critical election. Maybe those who don't vote approve what's going on! I bet you that you haven't thought of it in this light.

Right Chief, I'm on the case. America is safe from KAOS, but next time we talk we should use the Cone Of Silence... I have the feeling someone is eavesdropping in my shoe conversations.

Americans don't care about reality, to the extend that they want to be aware of the truth if truth is uncomfortable. We are a people who like comfort, and bigness, and splurging, and speed. It's rather comforting to have a feeling of being taken care of. Why, even our president feels the truth, doesn't think about it. If it feels good do it. I'm all for feeling good too! I'm a hedonist. I believe life should be about joy not suffering--especially unnecessarily--but some common sense should prevail. I can't, for example, assume I'm a rich person and live the posh life by maxing my credit cards today. The pain later isn't worth it. But, who lives for ever? Better enjoy this day and let others worry about tomorrow. Who knows, I may become rich by then. Why, act like most Americans who don't vote their reality but their dreams!

Those others have been proactive in the massive surveillance of Americans. I'm sure President Bush mis-spoke when he said his government is spying on terrorists only, or on phone calls with overseas connections. At any rate, Big Brother can only be effective if we give in and give up. However, once He gets what he wants it's very difficult to return to the land of the free. Americans in a recent poll said that they are willing to give the President anything he needs to keep us safe. Anything! [some readers were offended when, in another posting, I asked whether babies on ..skewers would be an appropriate measure under the "anything" permit the majority were willing to give the President. Obviously that would be extreme, but we've already crossed the line of legality and, I'd argue, of sanity]

So, when the government is monitoring the phone calls of 200 million Americans, is an appropriate action for safety's sake. The law? Bush said the FISA Court--established in 1979 and Congress amended its rules to make it easier for the government to get permission to eavesdrop, even after the fact--does not reflect the needs of today! He had to break the law in order to protect us. He said that much. Our Attorney General, who supposedly represents the law & order and the citizens of this country, told Congress that he wouldn't "rule out" the domestic spying program. The telcos had a choice to comply or not, but they thought Americans want us to find the terrorists in our midst and it never hurts to make a buck or two. Our government is paying (that's our money) the telcos to spy on us! [click this link for more info & telco contacts]

I feel like singing, oh say does that spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave... Ben Franklin is so out of touch with today's reality when he said that "those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither." Or, maybe Americans have changed over the years. And, every time we remove a freedom and make Big Brother stronger, our national psyche changes. Authoritarian/totalitarian regimes produce a certain kind of citizen. Wouldn't you act much differently if you knew that your activities were being monitored? Perhaps you wouldn't mind a little ..attitude adjustment if you believed your safety increased. Some day, you could end up in a locked cell, for your protection of course. Or, for the protection of the society at large! Better be safe than sorry! And, you don't have to be friends with Al Queda. Your criticism of the war, our President, or, simply your resistance to comply, is a threat to our national cohesion. You either with us or against us. It's that simple!

Amendment IV, US Constitution:
Τhe right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

ADDENDUM: As I've said many times before, despite all the complaining about the quality of the politics in our country, collectively we get what we deserve. The quality of our democracy isn't independent of the citizens' attitudes and actions. Those of us who are very concerned about the government's domestic spying program should be aware that we are in the minority! Only 35% of us think this illegal NSA program is unacceptable, while 66% say they're not bothered by this, and 63% said it's an "acceptable way to investigate terrorism." Here's the latest poll that scoffs at Ben Franklin's adage.

Vote Against this Good-for-Nothing Congress

No Time to Waste
On November 7th, there is a very important election in our country, whereas 435 seats in the House and 33 Senate seats are up. There will be plenty of time to analyze the races, but the time to mobilize is now. We can’t afford to take a long vacation this summer, because by Labor Day it may be too late. There are many Democrats, registered voters, who live abroad and didn’t vote in the last election.

Democrats Abroad seek to change this. Here’s an easy wizard to help those who live abroad or maybe traveling outside the country on election day. Hope you pass the word around. We need to get rid of this Do-Nothing Congress. In these times when our freedoms are more threatened from within, exercising our civic rights is a duty we can't afford to shed. Use it or lose it!

A Missed Opportunity to Round Up Millions of Law Breakers

Apparently Only El Presidente can Break the Law!
May Day was different this year, because the people are taking back this day from the...Bolsheviks, and because there were huge rallies across the US in support of the “undocumented immigrants.” The House Republicans passed a bill that would make anyone illegally present in the country a felon! I guess they didn’t have enough buses lined up one behind the other from Florida to Alaska to deport these people, otherwise what better opportunity than those rallies for the INS to round up millions of illegal immigrants! The intended impact on the economy is hard to measure, as one-day boycotts don’t work; people shop a little more before or after that day. Despite the million (or more) people at the rallies, most immigrants worked that day as many couldn’t afford (for a variety of reasons) to take the day off. I wonder how the 12% of Americans who are not native born—the highest percentage since 1920—feel about the current immigration policy.

At any rate, the failed immigration system has to be reformed. A broken law doesn’t reflect reality. I’m not going to rehash a recent post of mine, but I’m tired of hearing that “people who broke the law should be punished and sent back.” It’s not practical, it’s not fair to take advantage of people when they contribute but turn our backs to them when they ask for basic rights, it’s not good for our economy, and it wouldn’t look good to tell millions of Americans to stay in...Canada and never return! All those people are breaking the law many times over by buying drugs from our neighbor because they can’t get or afford them here. I think they should stay here and try to change the law.

I am worried about the backlash these rallies may have. Several polls indicate that the majority of Americans believe there’s going to be a backlash. Politicians depend on people who vote, especially those ill-informed Americans who often have an emotional reaction to an issue. The President says that he looks into the heart, the eyes, and every other body organ except the brain. He feels the truth, doesn’t necessarily knows the truth. He and his party will undoubtedly seek to take advantage of the immigration issue. Carl Rove had said long time ago that immigration was one to be used as a wedge and a hot-button issue.

Mucho ruido y pocas nueces
Watch and learn how politics is played when appealed to the lowest common denominator and when the target is the...gut not the mind. Did you hear about the Nuestro Himno, our national anthem rendition in Spanish? Bush pompously declared that our national anthem should be sung in English only. I guess he forgot that candidate Bush “when visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, he would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ in Spanish, sometimes partying with a ‘Viva Bush’ mariachi band flown in from Texas.” [From Kevin Phillips’s book, American Dynasty, p. 142]

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced legislation that the national anthem be sung in English. Of course, I understand that Americans feel patriotic and that a common language & national symbols are very important, but making laws to enforce national identity isn’t the smart way to change the hearts and minds of people. But, having failed at everything important, this President and Republican Congress need an emotional issue to try to stay afloat. I wonder if they’ll bring back a special edition for the election the color-coded threat alert system… Or, the need to beat up several straw men, like the homosexual agenda promoted by the godless hedonists, who also happen to be feminists and liberals… Watch out for God’s wrath, as the Evangelical leaders would tell us.

I am in the minority, and the word “liberal” isn’t very popular these days in America, unless it’s used in situations like, “she used her credit card liberally,” and, “he did drink quite liberally!” I also content that this country is rather conservative, more so than many of us in the so-called Blue States realize. If the Republican party could attract over 10% of the blacks and more than 40% of the Hispanics—both groups tend to be socially conservative—then we would see a massive political re-alignment for several generations. But, the Republican party isn’t interested in representing the masses of socially conservative people but rather the economic interests of the elite. Part of its Southern strategy has been to play the race card. Blacks want hand-outs, their demands & rising political aspirations are a threat to the idyllic way of the civilized way of life in the South… Do these arguments sound familiar? A bigot knows no bigotry, as Strum Thurmond used to say. Immigrants can be the newest scapegoats.

Hispanics are about 6% of the voters and although the undocumented workers can’t vote the Hispanic community is turbo-charged about voter registration right now. Naturalizations are increasing as many green-card holders become citizens. According to the DHS, about 8 million of immigrants qualify but haven’t applied for citizenship, half are from Latin America, one third from Mexico. In the last election Bush got some 40% of Latino votes, but anti-immigrant policies (state and federal) may change how the votes will break in the near future.

It’s a curious phenomenon that in a country built by the immigrants’ blood, sweat and tears, we don’t have a rational immigration policy. Except for those who came to America from England & Ireland, all others didn’t speak English. Most of them proud to be from wherever they came from, adopted this country despite being mistreated, segregated, and discriminated. They struggled to survive and fit in. Their children progressed by leaps & bounds. Today we want the immigrants for their labor but there’s a reaction to giving them rights. Practically, we’ve given amnesty to the businesses and Americans who’ve benefited from this hard-working & underpaid labor pool. Those illegals suppress wages, we hear. But, in the same instance we don’t want to raise the minimum wage so, at the very least, there would be competition for work. Hard to find Americans to work in the 130-degree sun, bent over for 10 hours, picking lettuce for $4/hour. [the going rate in some farms in central/southern New Jersey] At least I would want a living wage—something not available in most places around the country—to do hard manual labor.

The question is, who’s an American?. It’s a rather personal choice. Some of the Founding Fathers, many more who fought on the American side during the Revolutionary War, and others who’ve been fighting & dying in Iraq today, were not born in the US. Obviously a person who makes a commitment to this country is an American, more so than the likes of Tim McVeigh and others who were born here but betrayed our country. Not everyone wants to be an American nor everyone who wants can be one, but those who are already here, have a life here, have been part of the American fabric for many years, should not remain in the legal wilderness.

There are many ways to reduce illegal immigration, but the approach has to be rational and comprehensive. When we raise fences along our borders we should raise the minimum wage to reflect a living standard. When we go after the illegal workers we should go after their employers. When there is indeed a need for foreign labor, then we give the appropriate work visas (not in a stupendous & arduous way like today) and afford legal rights and dignity to these workers.

In which language did he sing America The Beautiful in the White House? [Here's the answer]

The immigrant workers and their friends made an important point during the recent huge rallies, that is, “we’re part of America.” Perhaps there’s a social movement being born, one that will change the politics in the US though increased active participation—something this free country hasn’t taken all that seriously. Sometimes reality bites hard. Are we up to the task of facing it?

Money's For Nothing & the Chicks are Free

Downhill Cruising. So Far so Good.
I hear that the oil companies are making a pretty penny these days, especially after the current gang took over our White House and the Congress. There's nothing wrong with it--making a profit--not the way the Praetorians are running things. Our President wears cowboy outfits, bought a ranch a few days before the election, and talks like a tough big dude. Impressions sometimes matter more than the facts. And, he isn't fighting for us, but, as Kevin Philips points out, he fights for the oligarchs and how to institutionalize cleptocracy as the order of things in this country. Of course, he makes others do his fighting when blood runs, so he doesn't feel the pain himself. Lately he's been complaining about high petroleum prices but he doesn't want to bring in the oil execs to his office and exercise some leadership, nor, god-forbid, try to even the playing field, or at the very least have some refs in place to enforce the little rules left in this brutal football game. Besides, everybody knows that the rich make money in the vacuum of space so it'd be unfair to be subject to a progressive tax system.


Let's see what he's done since the price per gallon of oil was $1.40 (US average) when he took office. He refused to force the auto industry to raise CAFE standards, he made his buddies in the oil industry so rich that when they retire they get half a billion dollar bonuses, has given upwards of $80 billion in incentives and tax breaks to oil companies, and he relaxed the environmental safeguards on air pollution. His Republican guard wants to give the taxpayers some $100 to offset the high gas prices, which is a crude joke. To be fair, some Dems are trying to be twice as ridiculous by offering a $200 rebate! Anyway, when BushCo started a war in Iraq he told us that, among other good thinwouldn't wouldn't cost us much since Iraqi oil would pay for the war & the reconstruction, and it would ensure ample oil supply & lower gas prices! Of course, we're running up a big tab (more than the Vietnam war), and guess who's saddled with this debt? The statement "Mission Accomplished" [click on the link for a cool video] takes on a new meaning, doesn't it?

The $100, or whatever amount we might get back, doesn't sound like a good deal to me in light of the big money given to the oil companies. What we've been paying at the pump and all the other price hikes because some 60% of all goods delivered in this country go via truck, plus the cost of the war, is a very heavy burden. Yeah, we got an energy policy that was formulated in the same manner as the Iraq war--and you know how careful, competent, and effective this has been.

Again, gouging isn't a good thing and there should be some serious investigation, but Americans have their share of blame. They're responsible for electing BushCo. Second, they're demand for oil hasn't diminished; actually, it has increased. There hasn't been any reduction in the numbers of 8-cylinder, gas guzzling vehicles sold in the US. Assuming that the auto manufacturers have done their marketing research, their ads for new cars emphasize power, size & speed, not fuel efficiency. Heck, Europe and Japan are flooded with smaller & much more fuel-efficient cars that would fit very nicely our city driving needs and for most short trips taking place in suburbia. Why do Americans buy off-road vehicles when some 95% of them never come near a dirt road?

Despite the con games played by the oil industry and our current political leadership, the fact is that all cheap oil has been burnt up. Cheap prices--I guess anything under $2 per gallon--aren't coming back. We are a tiny percentage of the world's population and yet we're consuming more than 25% of the oil produced. China is rapidly developing a bigger thirst putting more pressure on the demand for fossil fuels. Interestingly enough, China has higher fuel efficiency standards than the US! But, like many other things in life, choices must be made and priorities must be set. People who don't like politics should be reminded that leadership does make a difference. The elected representatives act in our name and have the power to re-arrange our national agenda. They may give us $100, our money, while they still possess the national credit card--which is the only way they can spend money today since they managed to waste a huge surplus and turn it to a huge deficit, about $8.4 trillion!

By the way, I wonder if most Americans realize that our debt is financed by the Chinese government and others who have a rather antagonistic relationship to the US. Why do they lend us money? I hear the interest is good and they can play the Repo man if necessary. As for the priorities, I can only dream what hundreds of wasted billions of dollars could have been used for, healthcare, scientific research, education, alternate fuels--something that could have benefited the common good, increased the commonwealth instead of mortgaging our future.

Now let's get back to a bumper-sticker mentality and hot-button divisive issues. After all, this is an election year when the appeals to the lowest common denominator will again add to the cacophony of our politics.

Earth Day Should Last More than a Day

If You Clean it They'll Will Come
Earth Day is here; I hope you do something to celebrate the day, even if it’s thinking about how to help our beautiful blue planet maintain its health, and what legacy we’ll leave to our children. Another practical action will be to throw out the Republicans from office this coming November. I don’t think there’s been another US administration, including the Congress, more hostile to the environment. The Republican party is controlled by the lunatic fringe which doesn’t really like science. For example, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is led by an anti-environment champion, James Inhofe (R-OK) who prefers the “expert” testimony of fiction writers to that of scientists.

I think this country doesn’t fully appreciate science. I’m not sure that most Americans know what science is, its methodology, its tools, and its impact on the bettering & prolonging of human life. The dumbing down continues, and I don’t think it’s an accident that certain elites don’t want an educated public. Recently, I was told by people active in the ACLU’s fight against Intelligent Design as the case was unfolding in the courtroom in Dover, PA, that the consensus was to avoid painting this as a struggle between religion and science. The reason being that Americans would choose religion over science. The majority of our compatriots actually believe that humans were created in present form and that the Biblical account of Genesis should be taught alongside the theory of evolution! They also believe that Satan is an actual entity trying to destroy us, that Earth is under 10,000 years old, and that 44% believe that Jesus will probably return to Earth in their lifetime! If 59% believe that the prophesies found in the Book of Revelations are going to come true, and that 44% believe that we live in the “end of times,” then why worry about the environment? Especially if they believe that the faithful will be rescued!

For those of you who are free thinkers and are inquisitive, Jared Diamond’s Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed is an interesting book that examines past civilizations and the underlying reasons for their total collapse or extinction. The environment has played a very important role in fostering or dooming a civilization. Science is the best tool we have to understand the world we live in, and although this tool isn’t perfect [none is] it’s strength comes from looking at the facts and revising them after careful consideration. There is a global warming going on. Earth may be going through warm-cold cycles, but we’re the only species (in its history of billions of years) that in the last 100 years we’ve been pouring huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other toxic particles in the atmosphere and the oceans. This is having an effect; we may be tipping the balance beyond return. The worst effects will first be felt by the poorest people on our planet. Earth is our home and therefore it should get our attention and our tender loving care.

As I said in an earlier post, our salvation is only possible from within, that is, we humans have to be the custodians of this lonely planet. We are part of this ecosystem that gave birth to us. It’s insane to pollute and damage our own home. Unfortunately, it takes a collective effort to see results, and as long as intelligence-able people choose to stick their head in the sand, little can be accomplished. Let’s have an open and honest discussion, let’s examine the scientific facts, and set a serious course of action. At the very least, we there’s lots of room for improvement. Even in the absence of long-term ill effects, wouldn’t it be wiser to clean up our living space and the air we breathe? It’s pure common sense.

Rummy & Coke For the Captain of the Titanic

Bush's in Charge of a Ship of Fools
What’s all this talk about the Secy of War resigning? Rummy should stay on. So, what if he’s incompetent? He’s not the only one in the White House since BushCo took office in 2001. It’s a ship of fools, and changing a crew member won’t do much good. For once, I agree with Brush Lintbowl that changing the gunner would reflect bad on the captain, who’s adamant about staying the course. What iceberg ahead? This Titanic of a mess has already torn open its bowels and nothing will prevent it from sinking; a few cosmetic changes here and there won't do any good. As long as we have the same captain—who, by the way, hand-picked the crew—nothing will change for the better. He’s stubbornly wants to “stay the course” and refuses to admit mistakes. His political wife, Condie, tells us that the few mistakes committed were “tactical,” not strategic, meaning that there was a sound policy but those who implemented it on the ground “may have made some mistakes.” Yeah, right, whatever.
<-Napping in all positions

The generals are coming out asking for Rummy’s resignation. Why now? OK, I can buy the argument that they now speak as concerned citizens. Every American has the right, indeed the duty, to speak out on all important matters that affect the nation. Better late than never, I guess, but where’s the bravery, men? Rummy was your boss, but how about his boss, the commander-in-chief? Why don't you talk about him too? He not only strongly advocated the Iraq war, he was the liar-in-chief in trying to sell it to us. Why don’t you explain to all of us how the decisions were made to go to war, and what information was available to those in charge? Why don’t they tell us how open was Bush to the policy analysts & other experts who advised against going into Iraq, and, whether this administration did any serious planning on the occupation/reconstruction of Iraq. What was the role of the commander-in-chief? Huh?
All Loyalists Get Promotions & Medals

If Bush were to fire Rummy he would have to tell us why. Rummy, Dickey, Condie, Wolfie, et al, wouldn't utter a word if Shrubie didn't approve. OK, we've often heard that the phrase, “to spend more time with his family,” has been used frequently to mask the real reasons behind a firing/resignation. There are ways of sending Rummie back to the military-industrial complex to make more money. The problem is that Bush is so incapable of admitting a mistake and changing policy, so clearly it doesn’t really matter who’s the Secretary of War. It’s not likely that Bush would hire anyone who’d give good & honest advice. We’ve seen that this president doesn’t like people who disagree with him, doesn’t read the papers or any serious books, or anything that would broaden his horizons. This is in line with his theocratic, apocalyptic vision. Stay the course, don’t let Satan distract you, he probably mumbles to himself. Actually, I do appreciate his lunacy, because it makes it easier for Americans to pin the disastrous policies on the person who's ultimately responsible. So, let Dickey, Rummy, Condie, Rover, Nuts&Bolts, Molten, Gonzo, and the other incompetent cohorts of his imperial court stay on. Let them think that by re-arranging the chairs on their Titanic will help them from drowning.

A Personal Jesus, Chocolate Eggs & the Easter Bunny

Transforming an Icon
Easter was big in my family and for just about everyone around us. Holy week was a god-sent reprieve from school so no complaints there either. The food, well, we had to wait until Easter Sunday to stuff ourselves with all the goodies that were taboo to eat just a few days earlier, but I didn’t really care. Not as if I couldn’t get anything I wanted outside the “normal channels” [my mom’s kitchen] as long as I was careful not to be spotted eating the forbidden food. At that age, I was more interested in goofing off, scoring some cool music in vinyl, playing sports, and ..girls. I think in that order too! Religion was just a thing adults tried to pound through my head, that I had to behave in a certain way because “someone up there” was keeping track of my every move and thought. I reasoned, heck, with all the billions of people and all the important things happening in the world, my activities would either be missed or appear very ordinary, not worth the Almighty’s bother.

Easter was about family time but without the endless hours of football to distract us from family dysfunction. We always found ourselves in bigger groups of extended families, a way to share the joys and the miseries. It was like comparing notes, that no family was breaking the norm by having sensible communication between its members, and that no ..cheating was going on regarding the ascribed rituals. Much like the society at-large, where everybody plays the role of keeping the façade up and acting as if they knew what they were doing! Everybody had to go to church and go through the prescribed cultural rituals. Before I went to college and learned about the division of labor, I had already observed it in our family gatherings. As soon as we got together, the women would gravitate toward the kitchen and the men toward the couch! After being interrogated by all the relatives and friends present about my performance in school, I’d be off to do whatever.

Easter was about the cultural norm, a sense of identity. I realized that all those adults around me didn’t know much about the customs and the religion they happily followed since they were kids. They seemed relieved that there was order in the universe and a moral code to govern human relations. I was amazed that no one was asking questions nor willing to entertain alternative theories. They were utterly convinced that God had written a book and had given it to the “chosen ones”. End of story.

I thought about Jesus during Easter. How could I have not? All those movies about the Ten Commandments, Moses, Crucifixion, A Thousand and One Arabian Nights (well, maybe not this one), live broadcasts from some big church where some unknown language was spoken, and the religious spell everyone seemingly was under during Holy week. I thought, poor Jesus, no person should suffer so much because of his religious or political beliefs. I guess this lesson hasn’t impress upon many of his followers since.

I love chocolate, and Easter brought me lots of it, along with eggs—that I didn’t care much for—and the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny?!! What the hell was this about? I mean, I could understand if this was the ..food of choice, but no! That bunny was for some other special purpose! It’s still a mystery to me. I like rabbit. It’s gamy and my mother could do a rabbit stew out of this world. So, yeah, I began to make up stories, that Jesus had a pet bunny that laid chocolate eggs during Easter—which hadn’t been invented yet, but it was in the works. I gather that Jesus was a very calculating guy. He didn’t do things by accident. He had a plan! A divine plan. I think he still does. That’s why I don’t pray to Jesus. I don’t want to impose. I mean, who am I to show up one day and pray for something that may not be part of the divine plan? If things are to happen, they will, regardless of my begging or the bargaining I offer. That’s simple logic to me. [George Carlin thinks along these lines]

Anyway, speaking of planning to invent Easter. Did you hear about the discovery of the Gospel of Judas? Fascinating stuff, I tell you. It seems (just as I had suspected 30 years ago) that Jesus had a plan, so, he told Judas to betray him to the authorities. I mean we couldn't have much of a Christian faith without the resurection of Jesus, would we? Judas complied and the rest is history as they say. The powers that be don’t take kindly to people who aren’t ready to sacrifice to the “official gods” and are challenging the socio-economic order. Nothing new here. We’ve seen this ever since Jesus passed away. Sadly, many people in our country hold this view of intolerance.

I liked long hair back when I was in high school, but this didn’t sit well with my teachers and my mother. Jesus to the rescue! If he could have it why not me? We reached a compromise: not as long, but not a crew cut either. Don’t be too quick to judge me. People have been using the Bible to justify worse things than the length of hair. We pick and choose (not we but the Church leaders over the centuries) what suits the greater purpose of maintaining a certain socio-political order in our society. Thankfully, we don’t stone to death the non-virgin women, kill blasphemous children, homosexuals and those who work on the Sabbath, to name a few “condemned” to death as the Bible commands. Unless you believe that the Bible is the literal word of God…

One day, I got smacked by my mother because I dared to compare Jesus to the Helen of Troy! I said, both appeared to be mythical persons, up to interpretation since neither bothered to write anything about anything. Homer was smart never to describe the beauty of Helen, so, go ahead, make your day… Those who wrote about Jesus did so many decades after his death, not exactly eyewitness reporters. And, nobody had any video or pictures of him. The scholarly study of Jesus leaves too many doors open and asks too many questions for most Xtians to bear.

I don’t see why I can’t have a personal Jesus like the faithful do. Mine is definitely a liberal. Oh, yeah! A few others agree with the Jesus as a Liberal idea. He was for uplifting the poor & the underprivileged, against social injustice, against violence, for generosity & sharing, compassion, and had no problem with prostitutes. I don’t think he’d agree with the fundies in America who told us that his father brought death & destruction to New York City and New Orleans because we had too many people like his friend Mary Magdalene practicing hedonism and non-sanctioned love!

I believe what I want like anybody else. My process of believing may be different than that of the faithful, at least when it comes to accepting "divine revelation." I like to ponder and I have many, many questions still un-answered. I'm easily elated by ideas and new discoveries. What's exciting to me is that we humans have an amazing brain power (which we often don't take full advantage of) to make sense of the world around us and peer into the depths of the universe. Moreover, we have the ability to shape the world we live in, to be the change we want to see! In a recent conversation someone said, "I don't have hope in humanity though I have hope for humanity." But, what hope there is, it will not appear in the vacuum of space nor will it be brought by a returning Jesus or any other deity. It is humanity that must choose, like the choices we make for good over evil. We are capable of both good & evil, of greatness and of utter obliteration. Like most things in life, what we do is a choice, much like a pesonal Jesus!

Immigration: We Wanted a Labor Force, But Human Beings Came

When the Law Doesn't Reflect Reality

Many arguments aren’t always being debated on their merits; people try to rationalize a position they've taken already often regardless of the fact.

Diversion, trickery, and intellectual dishonesty are tools for those who don't care to have an open discussion. Their mind is religiously set on a position, (however they frame the issue), and what evidence falls outside this frame is discarded.

I think this is the case with the immigration discussion—if you call it that—we’re having today. No one would admit to being xenophobic, not outright anyway, but, if you carefully dissect their arguments and further examine their political affiliations then their xenophobia becomes more obvious.

Most of the arguments today aren’t new at all. They’ve been re-circulated every so often since the 1800s. Terrorism, is the new factor, but, heck, preventing terrorists from entering our country has little to do with a sane immigration policy. All the terrorists involved in the 9-11 attacks, (and a couple others arrested), came into this country legally; they didn’t risk the arduous trek most illegal immigrants take. Like the broken immigration system, our intelligence agencies couldn't put all the available evidence together to prevent the 9-11 terrorist attacks. [The would-be highjackers had been spotted, several times, but no action was taken because nobody connected the dots].

Plainly put, it's a matter of being smart and efficient with our laws & tools at our disposal; and when those laws or methods don't work, we should revise them rationally not out of fear. Fear is not a good adviser in making prudent decisions. But, as the 9-11 tragedy and the failed Iraq war have proven, people who aren't honest with the facts are doomed to failure!

We’re not having an honest debate, and, from what I’ve seen thus far, I don’t like the proposed legislation. Therefore, I’m in favor of failure! This Congress can’t pass meaningful and appropriate legislation to tackle the immigration issue, so it’s better that we wait a bit longer. Perhaps the Democrats will re-gain control of the House and may come up with a more sensible proposal next year. This kind of legislation isn’t revisited often, so if we get something bad now, it will stay on the books for a very long time. It's a tough pill to swallow for those who are caught in the insanity of the present system, but half measures aren't prudent right now.

The xenophobes point to the non-English ancestry immigrants as groups that resist integration, politically and culturally. I don't buy this, but even if this were so, what’s the harm? Having enclaves with different-looking and speaking people? So what? It has always been the case in our history; when adult immigrants make a transition from one country to another. It’s hard to master a language when you’re older, work very hard to make a living, and have little time for leisure.

And yet, immigrants do make the effort to learn English and fit it. There are long waiting lists for second-language programs. We know that by the third (if not the second) generation, there's a rapid change and integration in the greater society . It’s a fact that the children of the immigrants throughout (our American experience) have assimilated well and have had a faster socio-economic mobility than the older groups!

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Immigration, Arlen Specter (R-PA), is the son of two immigrants! [his mother came from Russia and his father from eastern Europe]. I'm sure his parents weren't fluent (if at all) English speakers. Within one generation, this household produced a US Senator!

All immigrants realize the benefits from being fully integrated in the society at-large. It just takes some time for it to happen. While they're trying to achieve their American Dream, they contribute in many ways, and as a group are much less likely to be a "public charge" than other "native" groups.

Patriotism? The vast majority of people who come to this country are no less patriotic than the rest. Have you seen how many non-citizens have served and died in our wars? They’re “green card” holders fighting for a country where they cannot vote in. Do you pay attention to the names of those killed in Iraq every day? Do you recognize how many have Latino and Asian surnames? They are the sons & daughters of relatively recent immigrants if not immigrants themselves. We know immigrants pick our produce, serve us food, and clean our bathrooms, but they also risk their lives for America.

The Cons and Faux News have been saying, “gut welfare” to eliminate the “freeloading illegals”! Whatever. Sometimes their arguments are so ridiculous that don't merit a response. Welfare and abuse isn't a trait of the immigrants. As for wasting money, sure, let's try to do this. Where's the abuse and by whom?

The problem is how we spend our money. It's a matter of priorities and of ..impressions. It also depends where you look or where you don't. People can easily see the drunkard who loiters around the neighborhood while he receives food stamps, health care benefits, and whatever else from society. Ah, that’s why we need to pull the safety net, they say. Let's get real here. Abuse occurs, and the system is far from perfect. We have to compare the cost to the benefits and not destroy social programs but reform them.

What's hard to see, and harder to make an immediate connection with, is how the system gives a lot more to those who have lots already. Tax heavens, no-bid huge contracts, favorable laws & regulations, and so forth, are all part of a skewed economic system that favors the wealthy and whereas the gap between the elites and the rest has taken obscene proportions.

Yeah, but if we were to eliminate the essential education and health care for the immigrants and their children we'd help balance the budget, some argue. Education is the key to a better society. Those who stick around, legally or illegally, do better themselves and the whole country benefits too. Not to mention that an educated person is less likely to contribute to crime--and we pay for it dearly.

Surely, it's a matter of priorities. Hey, look over there: we’ve committed to spending almost a trillion dollars (and countless human lives) because it seemed like a good idea to be a “war president” and “bring freedom & democracy to the world.” Besides, they knew that there would be a transfer of wealth during the war [guess which way?] while the costs of this ill-thought exercise wouldn’t be proportionally shared by all. Some even spoke of patriotism while their fat corporations had a fax machine as "headquarters" off-shore to avoid paying taxes! [bonus question: What's an "American" company based in the Bahamas that recently got a multi-billion dollar no-bid contract from the Dept of Homeland Security? Clue: For the answer, contact the Repub. leaders in Congress who didn't allow discussion on the subject, despite objections from members of both parties.]

I remember, not so long ago we were being bombarded with the slogan “a culture of life”! I remember, I didn’t like their definition, nor did I trust the people who were promoting it. They never explained if this culture of life would be ..funded. You’re on your own, more or less, because they don’t believe in a state that can play a positive role in truly enhancing the quality of life when it matters. Again, it's a matter of priorities, and the responsibility is a two-way street.

The immigration reality presents us with a challenge, but if we have to make tough choices, we must be honest and discuss the facts, not peddle superstition, or allow to be deceived by illusions and false premises. Columnist Paul Krugman of the NY Times brought up some “uncomfortable facts about immigration” [3/27/06] He argues that the low-skill immigrants threaten to unravel the safety net of our social net—which, he acknowledges, is full of holes. He says, “basic decency requires that we provide immigrants, once they’re here,” with all sorts of benefits. Yet, several sources reveal that illegal immigrants pay about $8-9 billion every year for Medicare and Social Security taxes. Where's this money, year after year?

But they broke the law! Well, yes, but the punishment should fit the crime. The vast majority of them have lived responsible & productive lives within the law since their original trespass. Any illegal can’t afford to be apprehended for any serious legal violation because this would result in deportation. Most, some 70%, have been in the country more than 5 years! These immigrants come here because they need a job, want to improve their lot, and reunite with family members. Most have been exploited by American employers.

We have already given amnesty to all those American businesses that have benefited from this hard-working & underpaid labor pool. The plain truth is that a great number of the immigrants are essentially citizens already. We have to recognize this fact. The test of citizenship is, in my estimate, more than a formal exam in civics--an exam that most "bona-fide" Americans would fail. It's a rational and an emotional decision to be an American. Once the decision is made, then you measure the commitment and the contributions the individual makes to his adoptive country.

The law itself is not very rational in my estimate. It’s a failed law. It’s not a good law. Let me give you another example: Millions of Americans buy drugs from Canada because they can’t afford to buy them here. The health care/Medicare system is a mess. Yes, there are laws, some passed in the last 2-3 years. Well, be honest, if you needed a prescription drug for your health and couldn't get it here (for whatever reason), you’d buy it from abroad even if this meant that you’d be breaking the law!

As a country that needs immigrants, for their labor and for their varied contributions, we have to treat them as human beings and bring them from the underground into the light of respect and legal status.

We've been chasing the exploited but not the exploiters. If there are jobs not being filled by Americans then we should welcome those who can do them, and we do it in such a way as not to create a labor underclass. The employers have benefited by keeping wages low, because the illegals can't ask for more. Of course, there are some Americans who don't want to discuss the facts because they prefer the present situation to a sensible reform. Giving rights and being fair to a whole new class of people will also impact our way of life. I think for the better, but not everybody agrees with me.

The price for reform maybe too high for some Americans if they have to pay higher prices for produce, to have their lawns mowed, and go without the maid one day of the week. But then if we start on the reform path, we may have to deal with human trafficking & sexual trade/exploitation going on in our country today--another facet of our broken immigration law that deters these people from coming forward if they're illegally here.

Keeping people in the shadow of the law and in the underground may seem like a good idea to those who aren't willing to face reality or put some effort in dealing with a serious problem.

The New World May Move out of America

Immigration, legal or illegal, presents America with a problem and a challenge. Are we having an honest, rational discussion about it? Not really. When did Congress under Republican leadership—since 1994—pass any legislation that actually solved a problem? I can’t think of anything of importance, unless we’re talking about tax breaks and other benefits for the rich individuals and fat corporations.

In a familiar (careless) manner, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) set a March 27th deadline to pass a comprehensive immigration bill. This deadline is not practical, unless the Republicans don’t want a solution to this problem, especially this election year. Realistically speaking—and reality seems to escape the current leadership—there isn’t enough time to have a discussion and examine a multi-faceted issue like immigration within this time framework. Perhaps failing to produce legislation may be more preferable to having an ugly concoction that will do nothing to deal with the problem today and establish a sane policy for the future. I will return to the topic of immigration as soon as we see what comes out of the Senate committee in the next few days. There are good and bad signs for reform, and I hope Congress can do something after talking about reform for more than 20 years.


Who's number one? Depends how you count

We often hear, “we’re number one”, and I sense that many Americans believe that being “number one” is almost a god-given right. Not so, I’m afraid, because the world is evolving around us, and what used to be good yesterday, may not be as good tomorrow. Other countries are more open to modernity, science, and progress than our conservative nation is. What does conservatism have to do with holding a country back?

There are the economic conservatives who have a certain view of human nature, how to organize society, and the role of the government. Many of them realize that our economy needs laborers, and educated people. The social conservatives are another story; for the most part they’re xenophobes. For a nation built on immigration, there is a strong element of “nativism” in much of the country. The fear of diversity (to put it mildly) breeds hostility to new ideas and un-traditional way of life. The social conservatives, and their leaders—who have invented the time-travel machine back to the old ages via Bush’s White House—see the rest of the advanced countries as moving way too fast forward. For example, if Catholic Spain [never mind the other much-more-secular European states] moves to legalize same-sex marriage, then the outside-the-US world can be seen as a threat to traditional conservative values.

We are running huge economic deficits [did I mention that BushCo not only erased a huge surplus left by Clinton by raised the national deficit to record numbers?] but what is not very obvious yet is that our country is running a talent deficit. We are not attracting world talent like we used to; and by this I mean, scientists, engineers, artists, writers, etc. In the last couple decades, some 50% of post-grad students in computer science, biology, and many other disciplines have been foreign-born. But, fewer and fewer talented students choose to come to the United States from abroad today. Europe, Australia, Canada are more attractive because of the policies implemented here and the image we project to the world.

The conservative turn the US has taken is hurting the country. Richard Florida, in his book Flight From America-The Flight of the Creative Class, points to the three “T”s: Talent, Technology, Tolerance. He points out that the US is not producing enough students with interest in science, technology, engineering, culture. We are not being smart about funding and giving people access to education. As for tolerance, well, this isn’t getting any better, not in much of the mainland. The author places emphasis on the cultural aspects of the country, because America has conquered the world primarily via a “cultural export.” This is good for extending influence, making money—all this with much less military force. He provides a breakdown of our economy: 45% service, 30% creative, 25% manufacture. The creative sector (arts & sciences) is very important, especially if you consider that innovation in this sector helps other sectors too.
The "true and tried" ways of the past
In the “good ol’ days”, might produced right, and the big-stick approach was more successful. Increasingly, this is not the case anymore. Therefore, we better re-think our approach and what has made America number One! Unfortunately, not much thinking is taking place but rather lots of shouting. It’s easier to garner votes this way. The conservatives have been exploiting the fear and anxiety, and, while blaming the liberals, they point to a more traditional values-oriented society as the solution. The fundamental Islam has the same approach by the way. Modernity brings so much fear and anxiety and change is a threat to the identity of people who are unwilling or unable to deal with the change. The reaction is to go back to the castle of the “good ol’ days” and raise the gates.

Conservatism in the US has gained because of the post 9-11 reality. Too many Americans were willing to believe anything. Promptly, the Bush administration was happy to oblige in the politics of fear. But, fear breeds oppression. And, oppression is what we’re getting. Our civil liberties are being attacked, our government says it reserves the right to torture and detain people without charge and for an indefinite length of time. Almost half of Americans say that they’re willing to give the President any authority to keep us safe. Any? Who in their right mind would say this? I don’t know, would babies on skewers placed at close intervals along our borders help deter terrorists from entering the country? Anything?!!! Actually, why the surprise? The President argues, ala-Nixon, that “if the President does it, it’s not illegal”, then the public shrugs its shoulders and Congress considers legislation to retro-actively “legalize” such action!

America was attractive because it offered great opportunities and freedoms others didn’t in the past few centuries. Times have changed. It is no accident that cosmopolitan centers and tolerant societies produce technical innovation and culture. It’s no accident that some of the most successful American companies—Google, Yahoo, E-Bay, to name a few—were founded by foreign-born individuals. We still have the northeast and the Pacific west states that attract lots of talent because of their openness to diversity and modernity. Creativity in the arts & sciences needs this air of freedom, and dare I say, a strong liberal democracy!

Just as capital needs mobility so does talent and skilled labor. The US has become a country with concentrated wealth within a tiny segment of the population, but the rich are not patriotic when it comes to money; theywill invest their capital where they can get the maximum returns. Heck, they even place a fax machine in the Bahamas and claim it as their "headquarters" in order to avoid paying taxes here. Talent will move elsewhere as well. Economic growth depends on how much technology you’ve got, and, someone has to drive this technology forward! In the post-911 era, the US has moved to the conservative side: more isolationist, suspicious, less tolerant, increased militarism, anti-immigrant, and to the Big Brother realm. That’s not very attractive. Since this is a big country, there will be ways to be “number one” in something, I mean, if tiny Cuba can be “number one” in producing Cuban cigars, then we can find something to excel at. We used to beat anyone in basketball and baseball and in so many other sports, but now the competition has gotten better than us. Perhaps we should take the hint.

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