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?

Politics and Religion

I saw something today on Facebook that brought this topic about, so bear with me - its kinda short.  Some politicians and pundits seem to be constantly insinuating that only people who go to church and are Christians are good and only 'good Christians' can be ethical or moral.

As a Jeffersonian Constitutionalist and a member of a sizable subset (albeit still a minority) of voters, I am very interested in this topic.

I fully agree with the idea that our government, state and national both, should be held to high ethical standards and conduct themselves with politeness and observe all good manners.  However, I see no need to bring religion into the discussion of government. Socrates, Aristotle and Aesop - among many others -  were promoting and discussing ethics and morality long before any church or religion became involved.

I found some quotes from my main politician, TJ, helpful :

But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.  -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

I inquire after no man's religion, and trouble none with mine; nor is it given us in this life to know whether yours or mine, our friends' or our foes', is exactly the right. - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Miles King, 1814

And, reluctantly, some books on how damaging religion can be in our politics :
Liars for Jesus
Fighting Words
Idiot America
Over the Cliff
Common Nonsense

Roundup of Articles

Democrats are more favored than Republicans.

Watching Fox "News" makes you Stupid. (or at least very misinformed)

Republicans Oppose their own Earmarks!  Republicans are among the top earmark requesters!  All three Republicans from Mississippi are in the top 10 porkers... hmm.. its mostly the Mississippi Republicans...  figures.  More to be embarrassed about by those idiots.  Yeah, its mostly Democrats asking for earmarks in 2011.  Although, really, its not been a one sided thing in the past, as majority rules apply.  Very interesting to research.

Al Franken's hardest vote evah!

Fox News is a pissed off as everyone else about the 9/11 First Responders getting snubbed by congress - but they won't admit it was Republicans who blocked the aid bill. I suppose there were not enough Millionaires in the group for the Lame A$$ Republicans to support.

And some interesting news on the potential fate of the Filibuster!

Where is the Outrage?

I can't believe that there are not more people, more average, working people, who are totally pissed off right now.

A certain segment of the ultra rich are screwing the rest of us out of our hard earned money, screwing us out of what we deserve for our contributions to their wealth.  Corporations work endlessly to lower our wages, increase their profits and stock dividends and wiggle out of paying their fair share of taxes.  The Rich are enabled and coddled by our government - getting tax breaks and loopholes, tax shelters and give-aways.  Some are paying an effective tax of 17.7% while we pay an effective tax of 30% - they are not paying their fair share!  Some corporations pay Zero taxes.

There is nothing wrong with being rich - or even very, very rich.  Its the American Dream.  What is wrong, is stepping on people to get there and stay there.  What is wrong, is not contributing your fair share to fund our government - instead buying congressmen and law-makers to cut you deals and breaks.  What is wrong, is rewarding your CEO for cutting jobs and worker salaries to increase profits for shareholders. What is wrong, is creating schemes that ensure lower-income families will default on the loans you provide and get you even more profit and tax breaks.

Oh, some will say that we are at fault.  We grasped for the American Dream when it was not really within our reach.  They say we jumped too high - even when those same bankers and financial crooks were the ones dangling the carrot over our heads saying, "Come on, its a great deal."  After all, its their job to entice, to promote, to sell us the idea that we can achieve the Dream.  Its not their fault we fell for it!  After all, its immoral to allow a sucker to keep his money, right?

There has been a class war going on for years - and only the corporations knew about it.  Now, there is no reason for anyone to not know about this.

What can you do?  Change your voter status to Independent - or Green Party or Reform Party - just not Republican nor Democrat.  That will send a huge message : Cooperate for the Greater Good, not your political futures.(for info on How, see http://www.vote411.org/ - specifically the Registrar Info finder)

Send your supposed representatives an email with just one line : "You should listen to Us - vote Our Way.  - a Voter." (see mine - log in, click "Write your lawmakers" and uncheck the President, fill in your info.  You may be asked to choose a topic - I picked "Gov't Operations" - see my Congress.org Soapbox)

Just one source article - there are many more in the previous posts. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/14-6

Wow!! Unbelievable

"Washington is here to serve the banks..." - Spencer Bachus, traitor who betrays We the People to the Banks and Corporations.

The Judge who ruled against the Health Insurance Mandate is a Republican stooge and part owner of a GOP consulting firm - talk about your conflict of interest.  He should be censured for even taking the case.  Not that I disagree with his ruling, but he should not have taken the case.  I still feel that states forcing someone to buy auto insurance is illegal - and it is certainly immoral.  Even more so, any government should never be able to force a citizen to choose which method to risk their life - such as states do when forcing people to buckle up based on a 60/40 chance that it will help or do no harm instead of being the deciding factor that kills you, which it sometimes does.  I would wager that wearing a seat belt saves a life about as often as it kills - the rest of the time it matters very little, either preventing a few bruises or cracking the collar bone.

The Tax Deal will hurt lower income citizens by eliminating the "Making work Pay" tax credit and replacing it with the "Payroll Tax Holiday" - which is a percentage cut, so the more you make, the more it benefits you.  For example, the "Making work Pay" credit gave me $400 extra over the year - the "Tax Holiday" will give me over $850.  MwP would give people making $10,000 the same $400.00, but the "Tax Holiday" will only give them, maybe $200 - you have to make $20,000 to get the $400.

See more REAL news on Democracy Now!

Warren Buffet slams tax disparity!  Last year, Buffett said, he was taxed at 17.7 percent on his taxable income of more than $46 million. His receptionist was taxed at about 30 percent. See!  and for those lucky enough to be able to watch Youtube... 

Adding another interesting item : Neither Plan works!
... and another... Tax Cuts Create Jobs? Prove it!

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." - Thomas Jefferson

Mandates! Health, Auto, Seat belt!!

Interesting developments!  A Judge in Virginia has ruled the Federal Mandate of Health Coverage unconstitutional. I find it bordering on hypocrisy that Virginia - a state that forces people to buy auto insurance or pay a fine - is the state that ruled a mandate to buy health insurance or face a fine unconstitutional.  On a side note, I am eager to see what challenges to auto insurance and seat belt laws can be brought from this.

It has been ruled that truly interstate insurance is a Federal Commerce matter.  Unless it is ruled that an insurance policy in Mississippi could not be honored by a hospital in Maryland - then the Federal government does, in fact, have jurisdiction.  So, would a Maryland hospital honor my Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi health insurance coverage?

Another argument - or something to think about - is that the Health Coverage mandate is on all people who can afford it, while auto insurance mandate is only applicable to those who choose to own and operate a motor vehicle - whether they can afford the premiums or not.  Sure, owning an automobile may be a choice in New York City - but in Jackson, Mississippi, unless you live near a bus route, you must have at least access to a car.  There is no real 'public transportation' in most of the country.

While it may not be a federal mandate, auto insurance and seat belt laws are coerced by the federal government.  If they manage to get this part overturned, then the fed will just use it's old tricks of funding requirements to meet the 'requirement' by tying funding to state mandates.

Still, I think all insurance is just government sponsored protection racket.  You pay for 'protection' for years, then, when you need it the most, well, it doesn't cover THAT or there was this error in your application or whatever - and it doesn't help you at all.