Saturday, May 22, 2010

And the Losers Are..........

We, The American people!

Bob Herbert of the NY Times said today:

"Already the oil from the nightmare brought to us by BP is making its way into the wondrous wetlands of the gulf coast, into this natural paradise that belongs not just to the people of Louisiana but to all Americans. Oil is showing up along dozens of miles of the Louisiana coast, including the beaches of Grand Isle, which were ordered closed to the public.

The response of the Obama administration and the general public to this latest outrage at the hands of a giant, politically connected corporation has been embarrassingly tepid. We take our whippings in stride in this country. We behave as though there is nothing we can do about it.

The fact that 11 human beings were killed in the Deepwater Horizon explosion (their bodies never found) has become, at best, an afterthought. BP counts its profits in the billions, and, therefore, it’s important. The 11 men working on the rig were no more important in the current American scheme of things than the oystermen losing their livelihoods along the gulf, or the wildlife doomed to die in an environment fouled by BP’s oil, or the waters that will be left unfit for ordinary families to swim and boat in".

Analysis
This is the bitter reality of the American present, a period in which big business has cemented an unholy alliance with big government against the interests of ordinary Americans, who, of course, are the great majority of Americans. The great majority of Americans no longer matter.

No one knows how much of BP’s runaway oil will contaminate the gulf coast’s marshes and lakes and bayous and canals, destroying wildlife and fauna — and ruining the hopes and dreams of countless human families. What is known is that whatever oil gets in will be next to impossible to get out. It gets into the soil and the water and the plant life and can’t be scraped off the way you might be able to scrape the oil off of a beach.

It permeates and undermines the ecosystem in much the same way that big corporations have permeated and undermined our political system, with similarly devastating results.

We Americans have done marvelous things for our fellow citizens in the last two hundred years.

The Obama administration continues this tradition and has made several culture altering changes starting with health care. They are poised to reign in the banks and Wall street and next will take on immigration. All the while, we work on the economy that is showing signs of recovery. After that will come climate change. What an agenda! What courage!

Th hidden agenda that has existed for two hundred years is the sordid connection between big business and government. I need not detail it here since you all know it and it is well documented. It is time for government to take an aggressive stand concerning off shore drilling, dependence on oil, climate pollution and privileges and free passes afforded big business.

As the President's chief of staff says" never let a good crises go to waste" Now is the moment to reign in big business and corporate greed. The economic crises was brought to us by corporate greed and the gulf coast crises is another expression of that greed.

Let us get behind the president as he attempts to take advantage of the gulf crises to further his energy strategy. He will meet a whirlwind of lobbyists greater than he did over health care and financial reform. He will not get unswerving support even inside his party because so many legislators are dependent on corporate contributions for themselves and jobs for the communities they represent.

I think the president has the courage to do this and hope you will all send him enrgy, courage and good will.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

So Here we Go Again: The tail Wagging the Dog

Who ever said that America had it right? What we have said,however, is that we knew right from WRONG. That, my dear friends, is a very different proposition than what we are faced with today.

Have you looked at and listened, for example, to the Tea Party? Have you Looked at what they represent? Try this on: they are a lunatic fringe well beyond the beleaguered republican, inept democratic, disappearing conservative and out of business independent parties. They are ready to fill in the void of "the leadership vacuum" that has plagued out nation since the year 2000.

If you think I exaggerate look at the way the nation and world is handling the current economic and international political crises. The West is held hostage by Iran and its allies Turkey and Venezuela, The greed of US companies such as Goldman Sachs has plunged Europe into an economic wasteland.

We watch as the gold coasts of Louisiana, Florida and the Eastern-Atlantic run the risks of being destroyed by corporate greed and no planning. We fight two wars without purpose, and we are playing" I win, You lose" on every major issue facing the nation and world. " Drill, baby drill, seems to have no cache these days, as SP is silent as she builds her fortune and has no intent of running for anything(thank the Goddess). BTW, she is a darling of the Tea Party advocates.

Oh me, are there simple answers? No. Are there people of good will willing to compromise and include solutions that care for most concerns? No.

Who rules the world dialog? The demagogues on the air waves in all languages in the world's major countries, the world governments' self interested staffs, and finally WE THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION AND EVERY OTHER CIVILIZED NATION OF THE WORLD WHO SIMPLY DO NOT CARE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN!

If you think this is depressing, try waking up tomorrow and alter the direction.

Guess what? I do! Each and every day. I think, I write, I take part, I influence and here comes the real punch: I LOVE.

Yes, that is the answer. Love, reach out, make unselfish decisions about little and big things in your life. Be sure your family, friends, village, city, country and world is making it.

Heroine: Jane Wells does!!! Check out her website and work on Darfur. She is a lady who can afford,frankly, to sit at home, make tea and not bother herself with issues.

Instead she, her husband Jon and children have traveled to Dafur many times to call attention to the genocide and systematic destruction of a whole race of people! Look at Jane's website, 3 Generations, a 501c3 Not-for-Profit-organization, to find out how to get out side your self and change the world.

Well, here is the good news: we count, we make a difference, we must speak and act up and we LOVE AND ARE LOVED.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Welcome Back,Ted

I have missed me! Have you? Just kidding. There is so much to talk about; but today is about special people. Yes, heroes and heroines. I will define the terms for you as I see them and will introduce you to some over the next few blogs.

Definition of Heroine/Hero: a person who makes a difference in other people's lives in a positive way even when it is not convenient.

Candace Sue
Wife, friend executive, daughter, healer, shaman, victim, yes I said victim. Candace has survived sarcoma and this year lived to tell about it at the Sarcoma Foundation of America's annual Gala. She was awarded a "courage" award and trust me , that word does not tell the story. If you ever want to meet courage, love, faith, an angel, allow me to introduce you to Candace. On my best day, I don't measure up. Not that she puts up any measurements. It is just the way she lives her life. Trust me, she doesn't get who she is which is the magic!

Deb Phillips You may not know her; but I recommend you visit her web site debphillips@groupmv.com This perfectly human woman has not only been through all the human stuff(illness, family deaths,etc) but always knows where she is, who needs her, and how to give love. If you are in trouble, or think you are about to be, call Deb.

Jenifer March-Joly. Mother, wife, daughter and Executive Director of the Citizens'Children Committee of New York. As if Jenifer did not have enough to do in her personal life; she heads one of the finest children's advocacy groups in the country. Focused on New York City, Jenifer(through the C.C.C.) ensures that children are not victimized by Washington, Albany or NY City government as they attempt to balance budgets and legislate on their behalf.

Rhea Wong. Hang on to your seats when around this woman. She is the Executive Director of Breakthrough New York. This organization takes promising middle school children from the NYC inner city public schools and helps them get to the next level. Next level? How about scholarships to the the best private schools in the country and then on to the Ivies. That do it for you? Does for me.

Elise Platt. You would not say "who" if you knew her. Smart, dedicated, professional, direct, honest, and one of the creative people in our midst. Yes, she paints, sculpts and designs homes for real people to live in and thinks like a Rabbi. By the way, if you develop a life threating illness you must live with, contact Elise. Been there, done that.

One more for today and then I am done. The Pope, yeah, the Pope. Everyone is having fun pissing on him and the church(which they richly deserve),but I must point out that he has taken the heat, and, after realizing that the Vatican bull shit would not fly about the liberal press beating on them or jihad against the church, he finally got down on his knees and said today "we are wrong, the enemies are inside the church. We must purify the church, do penance, administer justice and seek forgiveness"

Who would think that the church and the pope had that in him. Usually it is "off with their heads, don't challenge our authority, go back to your slimy lives and oh, send us money"

Great world? yes, one way or the other.

Love you and have lots to share over the next few writings.