Rally for sanity??!! Keep fear alive??!! I'll be there!! How about you?

If you missed it, there are competing rallies being held in Washington DC on October 30th. One is the Rally For Sanity being promoted by Jon Stewart on his comedy channel show, The Daily Show. It has also been spoken of on news shows on CNN and Fox News(?) and he had an appearance on Oprah (wow) talking about the rally. Stephen Colbert is sponsoring the Keep Fear Alive rally on the same date at the same place. Some people think that this is just a spoof (how often do you get to use the word "spoof"?), but these are actual rallies.

Now, some people are thinking "so what?", a couple of comedians are trying to promote themselves and their television shows. But, there is an interesting take on this that makes sense. Jon Stewart for all his wit and comedic talent makes a valid point saying that there are 15-20% of the people being heard because they shout the loudest, say the craziest things, get the media's attention and show up in our living rooms on the news, even if their pronouncements are a bit insane. There is another 80-85% of the public that is sane, but don't do the things to get on the news. They are the people that are trying to get by in a bad economy, provide for their families and themselves, don't really have time for politics, and fighting back against the crazies, and just exist while the chaos as portrayed on the news is portrayed as "most" Americans. And,mostly, they don't have a vehicle for displaying their saneness. This rally is that vehicle. Get on board. If you are tired of the wackos in the front of the news getting all the attention, if you feel that the news media has not displayed your set of opinions, if you dislike the negative, sometimes racist, sometimes xenophobic, sometimes homophobic, sometimes anti-freedom of religion, all the time shouting of the dissident conservative right, your chance to, not shout back, but to protest politely back, is this rally. Let me encourage, no, strongly urge that you make it to this event. This is that important.

Stewart kiddingly said that you should think about this as Woodstock, but without the nudity and drugs and instead rational discourse. This could be the event of your lifetime or your generation. You want to be there. It will be a happening, or just a mild get-together amongst polite, well meaning people that are wondering why in the hell they came. I think it will be an event not to be missed.

I will be there.

At first, I thought what a silly thing to do. Then, upon further review, I thought, I don't like the news media portraying all Americans as angry with all politicians, with being upset with all taxes, as conservatives, and far right conservatives, who speak for all Americans. THEY DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME!!. That being said, who does speak for me? Well, me. I want to lend my support for saneness, for rationalness (possible new word), for not turning this country into one that decides what is to happen by mob rule. Yes, these people may not be a mob and they will turn out and vote, as will I. They may be more impassioned and will vote no matter what, and relatively sane folks may not be that invested in the upcoming election, but they should. The loud minority only wins where the larger, dare I say it, "silent majority" stays silent. Because after this rally, there is an election and if you can't get to the rally, you must get to the polls. You must vote! You must help defeat extremism in political thought. What is extremism? Listen. It is out there. Smaller government. Really? How? How would smaller government handle the oil spill? Leave it to the states? The first thing Republican governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal said following the oil spill and for days afterwards was "Where is the federal government?" Obama isn't doing enough. Would smaller government stop the egg contamination problem? Or was it lack of government that brought about the wide-spread problem with half a billion eggs recalled. Extremism? Lower taxes! At a time when Republicans are screaming about a run-away deficit, we should bring in less money and increase the deficit and the national debt even more? Get government out of my life? Repeal the new health care law? Didn't you know about Obama being born in Kenya? Didn't you know that Obama is a Muslim? Didn't you see the change towards socialism? Don't you see............?

WHOA!

Are we that short-sighted as an electorate? Are we that unknowledgeable (another new word) about what is going on? One in five Americans in a poll believe that Obama is a Muslim. (truth alert--he isn't. He is a Christian) How can 20% of Americans believe something that is totally untrue? It happens all the time and people believe what they want to believe even the untruth. (new word?)

Want an example? The USA went into Iraq because of their involvement in the attack on the USA on 9/11. (circa 2003, pre-invasion of Iraq, 69% of Americans in a poll said the attack was justified because of that) Truth? Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Saddam Hussein had no connection with Osama Bin Laden. Iraq had no WMD's. That takes care of all the initial reasons for invading Iraq. We are now at 4,424 US deaths in Iraq. What do you believe today?

The Mad Hatter had a Tea Party too!

The primary in Wisconsin is over and done. Did you vote? If not, I got to select the candidates that will be available in the general election, November 2nd. I know you will like who I selected, since you left the decision up to me. Thanks.

The big news around the country is the success of the Tea Party. For the uninformed, the Tea Party isn't exactly a new political party, but an offshoot of the Republican party that is even more extreme and conservative that Republicans. (I'll get back to extreme) In fact the regular Republicans have run extensively against Tea Party types and put lots of money up to their candidates to defeat the Tea Party candidates believing that their less conservative, less extreme (later) candidate will have a better chance of defeating the Democrat in November. But the Tea Party has rabid supporters that actually turn out and vote. (What a concept) No better case can be seen than in Delaware. The Republican party supported a long time politician for the US Senate race against a Tea Party backed candidate running for the 1st time who was backed by Sarah Palin. This election was for the Republican nomination to run against a Democrat in November for the seat vacated by Joe Biden. The Tea Party won. The Republican party leaders said initially that they would not endorse the TP winner and would not give money to her campaign. WOW! Less than 24 hours later, the Republicans said they would work for her and would give her money. I guess they felt a TPer was better than a Democrat in holding that seat and the TPer would never vote with the Democrats, so she would be a solid Republican vote. Who cares about her beliefs? The Republicans want a Republican vote no matter what the moral issues, or political issues, and certainly please never mind their flip-flop on their support for her.

Extreme?
Understand there is not a national platform of beliefs that govern all Tea Party members. As a result, they have a wide range of beliefs. This candidate from Delaware believes in abstinence only education. She has in the past labeled masturbation as lustful and therefore sinful. Other TPers have talked about stopping the "Gay agenda". I don't think I've seen a copy of that agenda. TPers most usually talk about cutting taxes and less government. Really? Less government means less regulation of businesses, less services provided by the government, which might include less money for social programs like social security and medicare/medicaid. This usually means cutting taxes, especially for those that have the money. Hmmm. Tax cuts for the wealthy? Good thing that isn't a hot topic right now. Oh, wait. It is. Look at TP crowds. Glen Beck drew several thousands to Washington DC. It turned out to be more about the USA finding its way back to God through lower taxes, less government and "taking our country back". (I'm not sure where our country has been that it needs to come back). The crowd was nearly all white. People interviewed all talked about their taxes. Maybe the Tea Party should have a slogan that represents them--"poor folks need not apply."
What is extreme? What is far off from the mainstream citizenry? TPers have held signs that say "Taxation without representation". Our government is based on representative government. Their problem is that they think they are not represented by those elected. To their credit, they are doing something about it....getting their candidates on the ballot and in some cases, winning.
Democrats are cheering on TPers as they think this will divide the Republican party. Be careful what you wish for. TPers have shown they will turn out in numbers on election day. The Republicans, once they have lost primary nominations, will support the TPer as opposed to sitting out the election or voting for a Democrat. Democrats are in trouble this November, according to most political experts, and thinking that the American voter is smart enough to get past the sloganeering that catches the eye and ear of the mindless is folly (a great word not used enough).
Democrats are in trouble. Some are disenchanted with Obama claiming he hasn't done enough and the economy keeps dragging down the news of improvement. The Republicans are poised for a big win. A win that could put them back in charge of the House and the Senate. TPers that may have been disillusioned by the Republicans, are charged up. Democrats seem to be charged down.
It is not too important. The future of the USA is at stake. Where will you be November 2?
"

LIARS, LIARS, AND DAMN LIARS!

"I am going to CUT your taxes!" As soon as you hear a politician, any politician say that, first, think "They are a dirty, stinking, rotten liar!" (DSRL's) This is the season where many politicians running for a wide variety of offices are saying that and each one is DSRL. No matter what party or office (excepting US President) they are a DSRL. Why can't politicians cut your taxes? Because of what taxes are used for, things you want!
This was an exercise I used in my classes. Students listed all the things that government (any) does FOR you. The list filled the board--providing roads, education, police protection, fire departments, snow plowing, libraries, museums, clean water, garbage pick-up, sewerage, courts, a system of laws, prisons, military protection, and on and on. Then, the questions, first, "Which of these things do you want done away with?" and a consensus had to be reached to eliminate anything. So, some wanted museums or libraries scrapped as they did not use them, and just as quickly, others protested that they did use them and wanted them kept. Eventually we decided that we (collectively) WANTED these things to be kept. Then, the next question, "How do we pay for these services?" Easy answer--taxes. Then the big conclusion, if these are good things that we want and taxes pay for them, then by the old mathematical reasoning, if A = B, and B = C, then mustn't A = C?, we can conclude that if services are good and services are paid by taxes, then taxes are good!
WAIT! I've always heard that taxes are bad, especially high taxes. Which of the services that government provides do you want to take care of yourself? Sewerage? Garbage? Fire protection? I've never had to use the fire department, but I am more than willing to pay taxes to have them there if I ever do need them. I'm glad that the government has a system of laws and courts and prisons. I like clean water and safe foods and traffic laws and police and ....... These are not free. Our taxes pay for everything that government provides to us and they provide a lot.

Now Mr./Ms Politician comes along to promise lower taxes. Your question back to them should be "What are you going to cut from the services I receive to lower taxes?" Usually you will get a response that indicates that they will get rid of wasteful programs. Which ones? They will eliminate waste in government. Good, no one is in favor of waste. But, your waste may be my favorite service. Is there significant waste ending to significantly reduce your taxes or does your tax money make your community, state, nation the type of place you want to live?

Many communities have boulevards or gardens or park areas where landscaping and flower planting takes place. Your tax dollars pay the parks department to do that. Is that a waste? Would you be happy if your local government decide to end that and pave over those areas so as not to have to cut grass or care for those areas at all? I choose to live where that flower planting is done. It was beautiful this summer. Spend my tax dollars on some of that. I like it.

Taxes are good.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?

I've decided to start this over. A do-over if you will. Today is September 6, 2010. In Wisconsin there is a primary election on September 14. We will be selecting (not electing) candidates for the main election on November 2 for both the Republican and the Democratic parties. If you are in another state (of mind), your state may also be having a primary election or already had one (you snooze, you lose). Most people, the primaries usually only attract less than half the voters, don't bother with this election as it doesn't elect anyone. Then, when the main election comes around, they wonder what happened to their favorite candidate. They sit around and wonder what the big deal is when their candidate that actually makes it is criticized for not garnering more votes.
DON'T MISS THIS ELECTION!! If you don't know what is going on, find out! It isn't that hard especially with the Internet. Read a newspaper! Or, if you are totally uninformed, totally uninterested, totally naive, totally spacey, ask a real person for their recommendations! You have a week to do so.
The dissatisfied, semi-involved, semi-knowledgeable, people, who you don't want making decisions for you, will be out in force. People you don't want making decisions for you, will. Don't miss this or any election. (you will regret it)