Mississippi Embarrassment

Well, its time to get local myself.  Mississippi is the butt of many jokes - and our national representatives not only embody most of it, they encourage it.

Our Senators topped the charts on earmarks in the Republican opposed Omnibus Bill.

Roger Wicker introduced a bill thinly veiled as "states' rights" to allow them to screw constituents out of health care protections granted by the Health Insurance Reform bill.

"At the end of the day, (the other nullification laws) were largely an embarrassment for the state of Mississippi," said Roy Mitchell, executive director of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program.

But to top it all off, Governor Haley Barbour, is an idiot. Oh, and he is re-writing history to fit his agenda, kind of like Fox MisInfotainment. (link to the actual study)

And for more embarrassment, their voting record from my Congress.org page :
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which Passed
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Yea on Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010, which Passed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Cloture Motion; DREAM Act, which Failed (Cloture Motion is a motion to close the debate and actually vote on a bill - so they blocked even a vote on the DREAM Act)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which Passed (Feeding starving kids take a back seat to making sure the top 2% don't pay their fair share of taxes for Mr. Harper.)
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Emergency Unemployment Compensation Continuation Act, which Failed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010, which Passed
Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Rural Energy Savings Program Act, which Passed
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) voted Nay on Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, which Failed


So...  Mississippi representatives hate Small Business, don't think country folk need no 'lectricity, don't care if kids starve in our state because their mommy and daddy are unemployed (but looking), hate educated folk, immigrant or otherwise, and want to keep all gay people at home safe and out of harm's way (ie - out of the military).


We rank LAST (or close to it) in Education, Health, Public Transportation, First in Obesity, People in Poverty, Death Rate and children who attend religious services (probably praying for food - which Gregg Harper doesn't want them to have).


I hope that the 2011 elections can put us onto a better track.  I'd like to see more information about Bill Luckett, but not a whole lot of platform out yet.  Wondering if Reform Party or Green Party will field a candidate.


What is really disheartening is that in Mississippi, we are voting against our own best interest.  We are one of the poorest states in the Union and we vote in the party that promotes, supports and idolizes the richest 2%.  They are going to keep stepping on our faces - on our backs - to make their fiscal offerings to their icons - The Uber Rich - at the cost of our jobs, our money, our education.  I am not saying "Vote Democrat" - I am saying "Vote for your own best Interest" at the very least.  Republicans are like carpetbaggers - coming down, making their fortunes and carrying it back to the top.

Think, Act and Prosper Locally

I am stunned by the thoughts going through my head right now.  Is this an epiphany?  Is this guy, Chris Hedges, a prophet? (1 hour 22 minute video, yeah, get past the Michael Jackson analogy... watch it ALL - even the questions/comments)

I am at a point where I pretty much feel that there are two options.  One option is to purchase a large tract of land, build eco-friendly and self powered, self contained (monolithic dome) homes in an Intentional Community (or Co-housing) style - with a large central common home where all the cooking, dining, laundry and such would be done - and moving there, starting gardens and become a self-contained community.  The other option is to get into politics and try to make a change for the good of the Nation as a whole - or at least my home state.

Currently, I don't see a way to accumulate the fiscal stability necessary to achieve the first option with any alacrity.  Therefore, stepping into political activism is the most accessible solution. It is with that in mind that I am currently directing my thought processes.  What is the solution to the current atmosphere of our Nation's political structure?

The first step is to identify the problem.  My first response is that the two major parties have entrenched themselves into the system, preventing all others from participating, and have become so corrupted and out of touch with "We, The People" that their continued existence is the single biggest threat to our Democratic Republic.  Another, related, issue is the establishment of the Corporate control of our government - the Profit-first law-making lobby.

"The theory behind pumping this kind of liquidity into the market, is that the banks and the corporations will then, when the money runs out next year, put the liquidity into the market. Well, its very clear that they're doing what all good capitalists would do with our money, which is hanging on to it and we're screwed. That is an example of an illusion." - Chris Hedges

The solution to the above problem(s) is a mass exodus from the two-party system.  I suggested some quick and easy ways to put the two-party establishment on notice in "Where is the Outrage?"  Go now, no matter how you are going to vote, and change your party affiliation to Independent - or Reform Party or Green Party - Vote your conscience, but do not affiliate with either of the two major parties who are so entrenched.  Send the email I suggested, use congress.org to communicate with your representatives.  We need to put People before Profit again. (and I just found that book using my wording... awesome!)  So, yes, Buy Local, produce things for your local market, pay a little extra for USA made (not assembled) products from independent store owners.

Books by Chris Hedges :
Empire of Illusion
American Fascists
Death of the Liberal Class

( When he was talking about Socrates an idea he mentioned struck me - when you write something down, it freezes, it becomes a form of Orthodoxy.  Written things loose the fluidity of though and spoken word. )

And what if we don't do something?