Apparently big Wall Street bank bonus's have nothing on the supreme court.
Our nations highest court has just screamed, "SHOW ME THE MONEY!" to corporations and campaign finance reform.
Zachary Roth from TPM posts...
In a ruling that has major implications for how elections are funded, the Supreme Court has struck down a key campaign-finance restriction that bars corporations and unions from pouring money into political ads.
The long-awaited 5-4 ruling, in the Citizens United v. FEC case, presents advocates of regulation with a major challenge in limiting the flow of corporate money into campaigns, and potentially opens the door for unrestricted amounts of corporate money to flow into American politics.
Place your bets now for the 2010 mid-term and 2012 presidential election. Maybe we should let Vegas in on the whole politics endeavor.
The reasons our highest court has let us down are simple:
1) In a time of tight budgets, high unemployment, and financial struggle for most Americans...we are sending personal invitations written across Andrew Jackson's forehead to corporations begging them to spend more of their money even more unwisely than they already do. If you thought big bank bonuses on wall street were bad...wait until a mega corp that just cut a few thousand jobs and outsourced a few thousand more spends millions on a campaign add for their favorite goon in a power suit.
2) This is an equal opportunity screw up. Does this benefit the Conservative organizations that typically have the most money? Most likely. But it will make both left and right feel the pressure to throw money in the wrong direction. Think of all the cash the losing candidate will squeeze out of their "supporters." Labor unions haven't a chance to compete. But they will be forced to try and further damage the job security of their employees and the industry they protect.
3) The individual will once again drop to the bottom of the value assessment stack. We would care about our drop in health coverage for our employees..but we've got to win this election first! We might explore more sustainable practices in our product development and look toward a real equitable future for the planet...but we just wrote our last check to Dick Mudraker.
The McCain-Feingold era is over and done. Get ready for corporatocracy at it's worst! Katy bar the door. This will get ugly.
Ivan L
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, October 30, 2009
One Song
There aren't many prayers I would feel comfortable posting on my haphazardly updated blog. However, this one reaches out to many.
One Song
All Religions
all this singing
is one song.
The differences are just
illusion and vanity.
The Sun's light looks a little different
on this wall than it does on that wall,
and a lot different on this other one,
but it's still one light.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time and place personalities
from a light, and when we praise,
we're pouring them back in.
- Rumi
One Song
All Religions
all this singing
is one song.
The differences are just
illusion and vanity.
The Sun's light looks a little different
on this wall than it does on that wall,
and a lot different on this other one,
but it's still one light.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time and place personalities
from a light, and when we praise,
we're pouring them back in.
- Rumi
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Red State Hypocricy
Liars, cheaters, and fornicators = Red State Conservatives.
The so called "faithful" conservative party is apparently sitting in their church pews each week on red cushions with much to confess.
In a recent NY Times article and graph the paper points out each states presidential voting choice in the 2008 election. It color codes them red and blue. They are then ranked from highest to lowest in the following categories: Divorce rates, teenage birth rates, & subscriptions to on-line pornographic sites.
Guess who wins?
8 of the top 10 in EACH CATEGORY are conservative red...or maybe scarlet would be a more appropriate choice.
Who ranks lowest on each of these lists? With enough reciprocity to stick it to the wrong headed? The blue states - those wild bastions of hedonistic ways and socialist preferences. 8 of the lowest 10 in each category are Blue Obama supporters.
Next time you hear a pseudo christian conservative try to play up their parties faithfulness, tell them to read the Times article....if they can. Highest illiteracy rates in the US? Yep - Red States again.
Pathetic,
Ivan L
The so called "faithful" conservative party is apparently sitting in their church pews each week on red cushions with much to confess.
In a recent NY Times article and graph the paper points out each states presidential voting choice in the 2008 election. It color codes them red and blue. They are then ranked from highest to lowest in the following categories: Divorce rates, teenage birth rates, & subscriptions to on-line pornographic sites.
Guess who wins?
8 of the top 10 in EACH CATEGORY are conservative red...or maybe scarlet would be a more appropriate choice.
Who ranks lowest on each of these lists? With enough reciprocity to stick it to the wrong headed? The blue states - those wild bastions of hedonistic ways and socialist preferences. 8 of the lowest 10 in each category are Blue Obama supporters.
Next time you hear a pseudo christian conservative try to play up their parties faithfulness, tell them to read the Times article....if they can. Highest illiteracy rates in the US? Yep - Red States again.
Pathetic,
Ivan L
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Duggars: The Family that Destroyed the Planet
When history writes its final chapter and the book on our beautiful big blue rock is closed, there will be one reality based finger that can be pointed at the culprit of our demise: The Duggars.
In a "surprising" recent development the Duggars have once again proven they are the most selfish, reckless, and dim-witted family in the nation....and that's saying a lot.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of TLC's "18 Kids and Counting" are expecting their 19th child.
Scoot over America. Get ready for 19 times the pollution, 19 times the wait at the grocery store, and 19 times the shortage of patterns for homemade ankle length denim skirts and consignment sale bargained matching polo shirts! Yippee!
Sustainably speaking, this family is a nightmare. The cute routine of, "look how we all live in the same house and take care of each other and then take trips all across the nation supporting our TV reality show habit (and paycheck)" has worn as thin as the ozone layer they contribute mightily to deplete.
Let's do the math, shall we.
By 2025 our planets population is expected to reach 8 Billion. By 2050 - almost 9 Billion. Now most of this growth is expected to occur in the developing world. Many countries that have unstable economies, leadership, and a high infant mortality rate will build on our own poor environmental track record and push us to the edge of extinction. But the U.S. is not to be outdone, especially when it comes to waste and excess. Thank God the Duggars are holding up their end of the bargain and over procreating for us.
Michelle Duggar is only 42 years old and with that water-slide uterus in play she could easily crowd another 2 or 3 bad haircuts into the Winnebago. That would take us to 22. Then, we have these children who have grown up in this freakishly fertile habitat. You've got to expect the majority of these offspring will unload more than their fair share of oxygen sucking, waste producing, conservative voting, environment destroying younglings into the global nest. Lets pray those kids don't turn out to be competitive breeders like their parents.
So if Mom reaches #22 and each little Duggar only has 5 kids (doubtful), that's 110 grandkids at the family barbecue in a few years. Raising the grand total to 134! Multiply that times food and water and trash and thick-headedness and you see where we are headed. I hope the population clock in Times Square gets a tune up soon.
But the Duggars are a bit of an anomaly on the planets propagation circuit. They have jobs, cash, and apparently the ability to feed and shelter the bunch (Thank you TLC). Since they aren't starving and asking for donations or on welfare people seem to think this is acceptable behavior. Since they can "support" this many kids - then they can do whatever they want. Free country and all that. However, the narrow vision of Jim Bob and Michelle can't be supported by Mother Nature. Sooner or later she is going to get so pissed off about the way we have treated this Garden of Eden that the milk and honey will cease to flow.
All you would-be Duggars pay attention here: You see, there is only so much of this place and God isn't making any more - especially after the way we have behaved. When you have too many children...lets say...19! You are literally taking a future away from someone else. Across the globe in a village you'll never see or have to care about there is someone without because of your gluttony and self-serving lifestyle.
The fact that we live in a global society can't be ignored anymore. Lets all aim for a little more personal reproductive responsibility.
I've got 2 words for you Jim Bob....Pull Out!
Ivan L
In a "surprising" recent development the Duggars have once again proven they are the most selfish, reckless, and dim-witted family in the nation....and that's saying a lot.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of TLC's "18 Kids and Counting" are expecting their 19th child.
Scoot over America. Get ready for 19 times the pollution, 19 times the wait at the grocery store, and 19 times the shortage of patterns for homemade ankle length denim skirts and consignment sale bargained matching polo shirts! Yippee!
Sustainably speaking, this family is a nightmare. The cute routine of, "look how we all live in the same house and take care of each other and then take trips all across the nation supporting our TV reality show habit (and paycheck)" has worn as thin as the ozone layer they contribute mightily to deplete.
Let's do the math, shall we.
By 2025 our planets population is expected to reach 8 Billion. By 2050 - almost 9 Billion. Now most of this growth is expected to occur in the developing world. Many countries that have unstable economies, leadership, and a high infant mortality rate will build on our own poor environmental track record and push us to the edge of extinction. But the U.S. is not to be outdone, especially when it comes to waste and excess. Thank God the Duggars are holding up their end of the bargain and over procreating for us.
Michelle Duggar is only 42 years old and with that water-slide uterus in play she could easily crowd another 2 or 3 bad haircuts into the Winnebago. That would take us to 22. Then, we have these children who have grown up in this freakishly fertile habitat. You've got to expect the majority of these offspring will unload more than their fair share of oxygen sucking, waste producing, conservative voting, environment destroying younglings into the global nest. Lets pray those kids don't turn out to be competitive breeders like their parents.
So if Mom reaches #22 and each little Duggar only has 5 kids (doubtful), that's 110 grandkids at the family barbecue in a few years. Raising the grand total to 134! Multiply that times food and water and trash and thick-headedness and you see where we are headed. I hope the population clock in Times Square gets a tune up soon.
But the Duggars are a bit of an anomaly on the planets propagation circuit. They have jobs, cash, and apparently the ability to feed and shelter the bunch (Thank you TLC). Since they aren't starving and asking for donations or on welfare people seem to think this is acceptable behavior. Since they can "support" this many kids - then they can do whatever they want. Free country and all that. However, the narrow vision of Jim Bob and Michelle can't be supported by Mother Nature. Sooner or later she is going to get so pissed off about the way we have treated this Garden of Eden that the milk and honey will cease to flow.
All you would-be Duggars pay attention here: You see, there is only so much of this place and God isn't making any more - especially after the way we have behaved. When you have too many children...lets say...19! You are literally taking a future away from someone else. Across the globe in a village you'll never see or have to care about there is someone without because of your gluttony and self-serving lifestyle.
The fact that we live in a global society can't be ignored anymore. Lets all aim for a little more personal reproductive responsibility.
I've got 2 words for you Jim Bob....Pull Out!
Ivan L
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Why getting involved in the political process is NOT worth it
The obvious follow up to my previous construct has a very simple and direct answer:
It doesn't matter.
Whatever you do or say or support from a political standpoint really makes no difference at all. We live in quite the fantasy if we think who we vote or campaign or cheer for from the couch really has any kind of impact. Truly, we have no power and are simply game pieces be to moved and sacrificed when the time is right. We promote with bumper stickers and read the cue cards they give us.
Think for a moment about how much effort it takes to impact a community, much less a nation, in any capacity. Jesus Christ! Have you ever been to a city council or a school board meeting?!?! Monotonous dribble until there is some crisis and then they "allow" the general public to come and complain...everyone gets their 3 minute tirade. It can take months of concerted effort to get a stop sign moved or a gutter repaired - imagine some type of real policy change that has the peoples best interest in mind and not the politicians? Hard to do, isn't it. See if you can get your congressperson or senator on the phone?
Once on a bathroom wall I read this philosophical insight:
"If voting really made a difference - do you think it would be legal?"
Why is getting involved in the political system NOT worth it? Simple: You will be let down. You'll work yourself into a frenzy and then quietly slip to the back of the crowd when held accountable for a platform you never endorsed or actions you can't stomach.
Give up on this fraudulent system and find another way outside the lines.
Ivan L
It doesn't matter.
Whatever you do or say or support from a political standpoint really makes no difference at all. We live in quite the fantasy if we think who we vote or campaign or cheer for from the couch really has any kind of impact. Truly, we have no power and are simply game pieces be to moved and sacrificed when the time is right. We promote with bumper stickers and read the cue cards they give us.
Think for a moment about how much effort it takes to impact a community, much less a nation, in any capacity. Jesus Christ! Have you ever been to a city council or a school board meeting?!?! Monotonous dribble until there is some crisis and then they "allow" the general public to come and complain...everyone gets their 3 minute tirade. It can take months of concerted effort to get a stop sign moved or a gutter repaired - imagine some type of real policy change that has the peoples best interest in mind and not the politicians? Hard to do, isn't it. See if you can get your congressperson or senator on the phone?
Once on a bathroom wall I read this philosophical insight:
"If voting really made a difference - do you think it would be legal?"
Why is getting involved in the political system NOT worth it? Simple: You will be let down. You'll work yourself into a frenzy and then quietly slip to the back of the crowd when held accountable for a platform you never endorsed or actions you can't stomach.
Give up on this fraudulent system and find another way outside the lines.
Ivan L
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Why getting involved in the political system is worth it
It is no real confession on my part to say that I am not/was not a fan of the Bush administration. Those who live in my community, walk the same halls I haunt, or have ever seen my reading list could easily peg me as a non-appreciator of the slightly, moderately, or extremely right. Hate is too strong a word. I like to reserve that for the most dastardly villains and sins. However, confused or embarrassed or disgusted might be applicable terms I have uttered in the past.
But the political process is a funny thing. Just like history, it takes a big picture vision to grasp a more balanced and valued understanding of just what has happened before and what might happen next.
No - I am not about to turn Red on you.
Why getting involved in the political process is worth it comes down to the fact that now our current president is my choice, my guy, on my side, and representing my views. I won! And believe you me, I am certainly grateful this man is our leader. But I must say (as wifey and I have discussed) He isn't doing every single thing the way I hoped he would. He has been slow on a few points and maybe moved too quickly on others. The honeymoon isn't over, but I am beginning to understand the type of committed relationship it takes to make vows to a president and deal with the implications that they still may leave the cap off the toothpaste or dirty socks on the floor.
I have some sympathy for W. He didn't have an easy world or time to govern and I do not despise him as a human being (anymore). Do I think he misled our country? Drove us to unnecessary war? Is responsible for much of the financial crisis we are presently treading water in? Yes. Do I hope Dick Cheney gets appropriately tared an feathered for his wicked ways that side-stepped justice. Absolutely.
But to be fair, I am quite worried about our involvement in Afghanistan. We are spending a ridiculous amount of money to fix the economy. I hope for health care and education reform. I would like to see marriage available for all people and a much more sustainable society all around. I hope MY president does what I want. But I know that history and the big picture will tell the story more honestly than the present media ever will. So, I wait patiently. It hasn't even been 6 months yet?! Right?
Why is it worth it to get involved in the political system? It makes you slightly more understanding of the other side and gives you the perspective that leading, on any level, in any capacity, is not an easy thing to do. Something I am sure 44 is figuring out like the previous 43.
Go O!
Ivan L
But the political process is a funny thing. Just like history, it takes a big picture vision to grasp a more balanced and valued understanding of just what has happened before and what might happen next.
No - I am not about to turn Red on you.
Why getting involved in the political process is worth it comes down to the fact that now our current president is my choice, my guy, on my side, and representing my views. I won! And believe you me, I am certainly grateful this man is our leader. But I must say (as wifey and I have discussed) He isn't doing every single thing the way I hoped he would. He has been slow on a few points and maybe moved too quickly on others. The honeymoon isn't over, but I am beginning to understand the type of committed relationship it takes to make vows to a president and deal with the implications that they still may leave the cap off the toothpaste or dirty socks on the floor.
I have some sympathy for W. He didn't have an easy world or time to govern and I do not despise him as a human being (anymore). Do I think he misled our country? Drove us to unnecessary war? Is responsible for much of the financial crisis we are presently treading water in? Yes. Do I hope Dick Cheney gets appropriately tared an feathered for his wicked ways that side-stepped justice. Absolutely.
But to be fair, I am quite worried about our involvement in Afghanistan. We are spending a ridiculous amount of money to fix the economy. I hope for health care and education reform. I would like to see marriage available for all people and a much more sustainable society all around. I hope MY president does what I want. But I know that history and the big picture will tell the story more honestly than the present media ever will. So, I wait patiently. It hasn't even been 6 months yet?! Right?
Why is it worth it to get involved in the political system? It makes you slightly more understanding of the other side and gives you the perspective that leading, on any level, in any capacity, is not an easy thing to do. Something I am sure 44 is figuring out like the previous 43.
Go O!
Ivan L
Thursday, June 4, 2009
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