Monday, September 30, 2013

Mariano Rivera


You were expecting a post excoriating the Republican House, weren’t you?  Here’s the thing.  I’m so tired of those people I don’t even want to think about them.  

Instead let me tell you what Mariano Rivera said about his job as relief pitcher for the Yankees.  Mr. Rivera, who is retiring at age 43, has 652 regular-season saves and an amazing 42 saves in postseason.  He described his job thusly:  “I get the ball, I throw the ball, and then I take a shower.”

There’s a man you can admire.  

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Linda Benner


Mahoning Township Supervisor Linda Benner died in an automobile accident late last week.  I met her through politics--she was the Vice President of the Lehighton Area Democratic Club.  I am a co-secretary of that organization. 

She was intelligent, and, I believe, a good supervisor, putting the interests of the people of Mahoning Township before any personal ideology.  She also had an amazing sense of humor and a wit that might be described as “barbed.”

I was going to say she was a good political friend when I realized I could drop the word political.  I will miss her.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Ted Cruz, terrorist


Obama won the 2012 election by about five million votes.  Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives received about a million move votes than their Republican opponents, but because of gerrymanders did not win a majority in the House.  The partisan Supreme Court lifted limits on campaign spending (corporations are people) and said gerrymandering was legal, resulting in a skewed and undemocratic election process.

Now we have a minority party in the House, funded by right-wing PACS, holding America hostage by threatening to shut down the federal government.

In a democracy, the majority rules.  We no longer have a democracy.  Listening to Ted Cruz and his ilk, it is obvious that we have a major political party under the sway of fanatics.  They are destroying our country more efficiently than any Muslim terrorist group could ever hope to.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Mom and pop stores


So little time, so much depressing news.  I’m skipping the stupidity of the Congressional Republicans to focus on a local issue.  

When I was a high school student in Palmerton in the 1950s, I wrote for The Mirror, our  high school newspaper.  One of the local businesses that advertised in The Mirror was Fred’s Haberdashery on Delaware Avenue.  What few clothes I bought, I bought there.

After I moved back here from California, if I needed envelopes, or sympathy cards, or window shades, I went to Spillanes, also on Delaware Avenue.

Both of these stores are going out of business.  People can get items cheaper at Wal-Mart, so they shop there.  Capitalism reigns supreme; price is the only thing that matters to most people, so mom and pop stores go under.  We are left with vast stores selling junk made in China.  Dollar General and Family Dollar and Dunkin’ Donuts replace our local variety stores and bakeries.

People, if you want to our local businesses to succeed, you need to shop there.  Yes, you’ll pay a few bucks more.  Here is something to remember.  Life involves more than money.  Really, it does.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Cancer, diabetes, autism, and heart disease


I sound like a broken record constantly complaining about Republicans, but it does get to me.  Today Thomas Friedman wrote about an interview he had with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, on the effects of the sequester cuts.  

Collins pointed out that largely because of the sequester and the failure of the NIH budget to keep up with inflation, “we will not be able to fund 640 research grants that were scored in the top 17 percent of the proposals we received.  They would have been funded without the sequester, but now they won’t.  They include new ideas on cancer, diabetes, autism and heart disease--all the things that we as a country say are a high priority.”  (You can read the column at <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/opinion/friedman-the-way-we-were.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&_r=0>.

Republicans keep saying how the U.S. Is an exceptional country.  We are, but not in a good way.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Absentee ballots


The Pennsylvania legislature really doesn’t want people to vote.  I was one of four volunteers canvassing in Lehighton to help elderly voters fill out applications for an absentee ballot.  The people we visited were either elderly or had a physical disability.  

At the very top of the application is the following statement:  “A separate absentee ballot application must be submitted to your county board of elections for each primary or election.”

Why?  

Why are people on oxygen, who are blind, or who can’t walk forced to fill out a form for each election?  Why must they list their doctor, his or her address, his or her phone number?  Why doesn’t our state representative Doyle Heffley introduce a bill to change this stupid law?

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Americans for Workplace Opportunity


In 29 states you can be fired from a job because you are gay.  You might be a good worker with no blemishes on your record, but if your employer finds out you are gay, you can be dismissed for no other reason.

Pennsylvania is one of those states.

Tonight I heard an organizer from Americans for Workplace Equality discuss the national campaign to enact the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). The act would stipulate that sexual orientation or gender identity could not be reasons to fire a an employee.  The act has the support of religious leaders, labor unions, and fair-minded people everywhere.  

While the bill stands a good chance in the Senate and would certainly be signed by the President, the House will be a problem.  Nonetheless, ENDA is a good bill.  The idea that you can fire somebody because he or she is gay is repugnant.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Gynecological exam


Last night I caught the end of a TV ad sponsored by the Republican Party that shows a woman on an examination table and a creepy Uncle Sam peering between her legs.  

I didn’t get the whole ad, but I’m assuming that the Uncle Sam guy is about to tell her she must have a vaginal probe if she wants to have an abortion. 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Hot stuff


I’m in the middle of canning six different hot peppers and a very hot salsa.  Politics will have to wait until tomorrow night.  

Linda did tell me that Maureen Dowd, writing in the Times about an evening with Warren Buffet, reported that Nancy Pelosi apologized for being late for the event, saying, “We were busy taking food out of the mouths of babies.”  She was referring, of course, to Republican efforts to cut food stamps.

I am an atheist, but if there is a god, I am fairly sure that Republican House members will spend eternity burning in hell.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Tom DeLay, John Boehner, and Jesus Christ


Tom DeLay, former House Republican Majority leader convicted of money laundering, had his three-year sentence overturned by a Texas appeals court earlier this week.  He did launder money, but the court said the law didn’t cover the activity in which he was engaged.  He was noted for his ruthlessness, his ability to extract money from lobbyists, and his hard-edged conservatism.

According to reporter Adam Nagourney, when DeLay received the news of the court action, he said:  “I just thank the Lord for carrying me through all of this.  It really drove my detractors crazy because I had the joy of Jesus in me, and they didn’t understand it.”

Another Jesus reference was reported today by Gail Collins.  Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) compared John Boehner to Jesus.  Talking about the attempt to shut down the federal government, Kelly said: “I don’t want this to be like Palm Sunday, where we bring the speaker in on a little donkey and then next Friday, we crucify him.”

So far neither DeLay nor Boehner has been reported to walk on water

Friday, September 20, 2013

Obama, Master of the Universe


Ok, maybe that’s overstating it a bit, but think back to the recent past.  The President was criticized for his threats to take military action against Syria (by me included), seen as indecisive, and hammered by both conservatives and liberals for ineptness in foreign policy.

Now we have Syria admitting it has chemical weapons and expressing a willingness to turn them over to international authorities.  We have Iran stating that it is willing to work with international agencies to insure its nuclear program is used for peaceful purposes.  We have Russia pressuring Assad to cooperate with international inspectors.  

I am fully aware that all of this could go off the tracks, but right now President Obama, with his nuanced approach to foreign policy, is looking rather impressive.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Gun Crazy


One of my alert readers sent along a link to a story about two guys with permits to carry who came to a bad end.  You must read this.  Go to  <http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/09/19/1239955/-Two-concealed-carry-permit-holders-shoot-and-kill-each-other-in-Michigan?detail=email#>.  

It is truly amazing.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Meeting Ed Pawlowski


Allentown mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ed Pawlowski visited the Democratic Information Center in Lehighton this morning, meeting with about a dozen Democratic activists.  

He discussed how Corbett has run this state into the ground (education cuts, social service cuts, low job growth, failure to put a severance tax on natural gas extraction, inability to pass a transportation bill in spite of the fact that Republicans hold a majority in both legislative houses).

He talked about how he rejuvenated Allentown (Pennsylvania’s third largest city), and he mentioned that he had bipartisan support for his initiatives.

He noted that there are seven Democratic candidates for governor right now, and that five of them are from the Philadelphia area, giving him a good shot at the rest of the state.  He also said he was the only Democratic candidate who has had executive experience actually running a government.

I went to the meeting prepared to be underwhelmed, but I was impressed.  I am not ready to endorse Mayor Pawlowski yet, but I’m certainly not writing him off.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Assault rifle raffle


The Lehighton “9/12” group was raffling off an assault rifle at the Weissport Redneck festival.  I’m wondering if the guy who shot up the Naval Yard in Washington and killed 12 people was the lucky winner.  Probably not--I’m sure they did a background check.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Carrying capacity


A few days ago I read one of the strangest op-ed pieces in the New York Times that I’ve ever encountered.  The author, Earle C. Ellis, an associate professor at the University of Maryland, published an essay entitled “Overpopulation Is Not the Problem.”  He pointed out that the carrying capacity of the earth for humans has grown as agricultural production has increased.

He said that seven billion people is not that big a deal “as long as necessary investments in infrastructure and conducive trade, anti-poverty and food security polices are in place.”

First of all, they aren’t in place.  Agribusiness is not about to grow food for starving people who can’t pay for it.  The U.S. Congress has even cut the food stamp program for hungry Americans.  We might be able to grow the food, but it won’t be distributed, and billions of people are going to bed hungry every night--provided they have beds.

Life involves more than surviving.  The earth already has too many people.  Non-human species are dying off at an incredible rate.  The global climate is changing.  People are crowded together in slums in almost every large city on the globe. 

Millions of people live their entire lives without ever breathing fresh air.  Millions live without clean water.  Millions live without ever seeing a star because of light pollution.  

I sometimes link articles so you can read the original.  In this case, I’m not about to waste your time on such drivel.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Shark Fin Soup


Every now and then a small piece of good news appears.  On Friday Hong Kong announced it would no longer permit shark fins to be served at official functions.  Hong Kong is a trade hub for shark fins. 

Every now and then an individual can take an action, however small, that may have an effect in the aggregate.  Never order anything that includes shark meat.  If you are in a restaurant that serves shark meat, walk out after you explain to the manager why you won’t eat there until the policy is changed.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Standing up to the N.R.A.


Two Colorado legislators who voted for background checks for people who buy firearms and supported limiting magazine clips to 15 rounds were voted out of office in a recall this week.  The N.R.A., which poured money into the race, is now using the recall as a warning to other legislators who might support limits on weaponry.

Note that I didn’t have to explain “magazine clip.”  If I had been posting this in Canada or Belgium, I would have defined that term.  In gun-crazy United States everybody understands.

Note that the Colorado law was not an onerous burden on gun owners.  Why shouldn’t people who purchase guns undergo a check?  Why does anyone need more than 15 rounds?  In fact, 15 rounds is way more than necessary.

Finally, how refreshing it is to find legislators who are willing to risk their seats to vote their principles.  Wouldn’t it be sweet if some Republican legislators in Pennsylvania were willing to buck the party leadership, even if it meant they wouldn’t get campaign funding?  Won’t happen.  

Years ago I read John Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage.  The subject was legislators who were willing to vote their principles, even if the votes led to certain defeat.  Legislative courage seems in short supply, but at least two legislators in Colorado had it.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Campaign investments


If you wonder why American politics is so skewed to the Right, here’s a factoid from an article by Eduardo Porter in the September 4th Times:  

In 2012, the top 0.1 percent of donors contributed more than 44% of all campaign contributions.  In 1980 their share of contributions was less than 10%.

One-tenth of one percent is giving 44% of the money.  The Supreme Court says money equals free speech.  Maybe so, but it is rather obvious that the speech of the rich is drowning out the rest of us.

We should also be clear that a campaign contribution is an investment.  The investor expects a return.  If you look at the votes in the House, you will see the investments are paying off.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Fishkill and the Konkrete Kids


Last week Linda and I spent a night in Fishkill, New York. I went to Wikipedia to find out if there was anything to do in Fishkill, and I discovered that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had demanded that the town change its name. 

PETA had obviously no idea that the word “kill” was Dutch for stream or creek.  (Hence Catskill and Schuylkill).  My reaction was, Wow!  PETA is really stupid.  

I thought about that this morning when I read in the Morning Call that some guy has started an on-line petition to get the Northampton Konkrete KIds to change their name because “KonKrete Kids” (his spelling) means KKK.

This got me to thinking.  I am a graduate of Palmerton High, Class of “60.  We were the “Blue Bombers.”  Is that a reference to some unhappy Mid-East terrorist group?  If only I knew how to start an on-line petition.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The President's Speech


In American foreign policy, to oversimplify, there have two major streams of thought--the idealists and the realists.  The idealists ask, “How can the United States make the world a better place?”  The realists ask, “How will this policy affect the interests of the United States?”  

Saying that doesn’t tell you much about how a realist or idealist will respond to a specific situation.  A realist might say of the Vietnam War, “We must act to keep Communism from spreading, and it is in the U.S. interest to fight North Vietnamese aggression.”  An idealist might say, “We must protect innocent South Vietnamese from the kind of oppression we see in North Vietnam.”  Both would support U.S. involvement.

I have a Ph.D. in International Relations, and I still don’t know into which category I fit.  I do think any country that uses poison gas or chemical weapons should be punished.  I am also aware that the U.S. used Agent Orange on millions of acres in Vietnam, and if Agent Orange is not a chemical weapon, what is?

If you are waiting for my pronouncement on what the U.S. should do, or whether or not I approved the President’s speech tonight, wait a little longer.  President Obama made a compelling case for why the U.S. should be the one to punish the Assad regime, but he was wise to postpone the vote. 

If the U.S. can get Russia and the Syrian government to turn over chemical weapons to an international body without the use of military force, that would be a major step forward.  I would also like to hear the U.N. report on the chemical weapons attack which is due out in a few days.

I’m sorry.  I just don’t have any answers.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Michele Bachmann's Excellent Adventure


A delegation of House Republicans visited Egypt this past weekend.  They were not impressive.  Rep. Bachmann implied that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the 9/11 attacks.  She called the Brotherhood “terrorists” and stood with the Egyptian generals, saying “We don’t have a choice.  They [the Brotherhood] must be defeated”

Her companion, Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas, compared General el-Sisi to George Washington.  He also said el-Sisi reminded him of Thomas Jefferson.  “Stand strong, Egypt, stand firm,” Gohmert said.

An expert on the Muslim Brotherhood at the University of Oklahoma compared the news conference in Egypt to “a Saturday Night Live skit--unbelievable, ludicrous, almost comic if it wasn’t so painful.”

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Typewriter repairman


When is the last time you used a typewriter?  If you are under 40, you probably never used one.  

Today the Times featured an obituary entitled “Manson Whitlock, 96, Repaired Typewriters.”  He was still repairing typewriters for people who bought them on eBay but had no idea how they worked.

I have two typewriters stored in the shed.  I would love to use them.  You don’t get carpel tunnel syndrome if you use a typewriter.  The big problem is that I have no idea where to buy ribbons. Staples doesn’t carry them.  

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Syria again


I feel bad for President Obama.  He received little support at the G-20 Conference, his support in the House for attacking Syria is minimal, and his presidency will be seriously weakened if Congress does not approve military action against Syria.

Nonetheless, feeling bad for the President doesn’t outweigh my opposition for military action.  

First, I’m not completely convinced the Assad government used poison gas.  I’m sure poison gas was used, but it could have been a rogue commander, or even the rebels.  Rep. Grey from Florida discussed the lack of clear evidence in today’s Times.

Second, many of the forces who oppose Assad are themselves fanatics.  If they came to power, they might be worse than Assad.

Third, I doubt if our missiles would make life better for the average Syrian.  

Fourth, suppose we use missiles and then Assad uses even more poison gas?  When does that end?

Fifth, we already know you can’t win a war with bombs alone. When do we know we won?  What exactly is our objective?

Finally, suppose we move unilaterally, and Iran reacts, and we have a regional war that spreads across the Middle East?  I can’t help thinking about how World War I began.

So, although I feel badly for the President, I would vote no on punishing Syria.  I am dubious about the whole administration policy.  What is wrong with “wait and see.”

Friday, September 6, 2013

No on Lawrence Summers


Yesterday in a post critical of President Obama’s policy on Syria, I noted that I supported the President on almost every one of his initiatives, proposals, and appointees.  There is one potential appointment I oppose.

It is rumored that Lawrence Summers is the front-runner to chair the Federal Reserve.  Summers is a guy who pushed for repeal of the Glass-Steagall law regulating banks.  His past is one of continuous support for big banks and opposition to helping homeowners who were “underwater.”  He pushed for the inadequate stimulus.  He does not work well with others.

The last thing the Fed needs is a lackey of the banks.  Janet Yellen, the current Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair, would be a great choice.  Mr. Summers would not.  I hope the President realizes this.

P.S.:  Today I read that many people oppose Obama’s proposed military action on Syria because it is Obama’s proposed action.  There are many good reasons to oppose military action against Syria, but that is not one of them.  Oince again it illustrates the irrational hatred people have for our president. 

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Standing with Ron Paul


The Syrian issue makes for some strange coalitions.  When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted yesterday,  Democratic Committee Chair Robert Menendez stood with John McCain to support a U.S. attack.  Sen. Udall voted with Sen. Rubio to oppose it.

As every regular reader of this blog knows, I worked very hard in 2008 and 2012 to elect Obama.  I’ve supported almost every administration initiative, proposal, and appointee.  On Syria, however, I sincerely believe his proposed military action will fail to accomplish any meaningful result and may lead to terrible consequences for the U.S. and the Middle East.

Obama was one of the few Senators who voted against George W. Bush’s attack on Iraq.  At the time it was argued that this country’s prestige and credibility demanded that we carry out military action.  We had good intelligence that Iraq presented a threat.  Yet as Senator, Obama felt military action was not justified and voted accordingly.

To me the whole credibility argument sounds like “saving face.”  I have never thought much of that concept.  If we do launch a missile strike and the Assad regime fires off more shells with poison gas, then what?  We lose even more credibility.

Air superiority is wonderful, but we can’t win a war, or even inflict sufficient “punishment” with it.  If we could, the drones used against Taliban leaders would have already won us that war.  

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Science and math


If Massachusetts were a country, its 8th graders would rank second in science, right behind Singapore.  Massachusetts 8th graders would rank 6th in math, behind Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.  According to an article by Kenneth Chang in yesterday’s Time’s Science section, the improvement in Massachusetts student scores has occurred across the whole state, including in poor districts.

The upward trend in scores began with the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993, passed by a Democratic legislature and signed by a Republican governor.  

The reform had three key components:  (1) more money, especially for urban schools; (2) high academic standards; and (3) a test that all students had to pass before they received a high school diploma.  The students are permitted to retake the test if they fail the first time.

Here’s what the reform did not include:  (1) elimination of tenure; (2) closing poorly performing schools; (3) merit pay; (4) a big increase in charter schools; or (5) vouchers for private schools.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

An event that changed history


We just completed our 36-lecture course entitled “The World Was Never the Same:  Events Than Changed History,” taught by Dr. J. Rufus Fears of the University of Oklahoma.  Included in his “events” were the American Declaration of Independence, the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the first flight of the Wright Brothers, and the dropping of the atomic bomb.

The last lecture was entitled “September 11, 2001.”  Professor Fears is absolutely correct to include that event.  Prior to that date Americans believed they were safe from harm and lived in freedom.  Since that event Americans live in fear.  It is manifested in small ways (I am no longer permitted to drive up to the intake tower of the Wild Creek Reservoir) and large ways (we keep people locked up in Guantanamo indefinitely).

Our entanglement in the mideast has also grown since that date and continues to grow.  Our troops have been in Afghanistan for more than a decade.  We just about wrecked Iraq.  Now we may go to war against Syria.

Almost every restriction, N.S.A. intrusion, military action, and even torture is met with a shrug and the statement, “Well, I guess if it protects us....”  We are not the same people we were on September 10, 2001.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Sunday hunting


There are few things in life that I can control.  I can’t stop the N.S.A. from recording my calls, or the Koch Brothers from giving millions to right-wing causes, or Sen. Ted Cruz from being stupid.  However, if the lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Game Commission succeeds in overturning the ban on Sunday hunting, there are 23 acres on which hunting is now permitted that will be posted “no trespassing, no hunting” for all seven days of the week.

I know it isn’t much, but it is something I can control.  I also know other farmers that will be doing the same thing.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Redneck Festival


Linda and I have decided not to have a booth at the Redneck Festival in Weissport next year.  We’ve put up a booth ever since the first Redneck Festival in 2008 when we were “Rednecks for Obama.”  That was an exciting year; people wanted their pictures taken next to our sign, and we also provided cover for the organizers, who were under attack from the Bethlehem NAACP for holding a racist event.

We have had fun at the festivals.  We took pictures of people in funny or cute or gross tee shirts and put them up on a Redneck Tee-Shirt Hall of Fame.  We gave away hot peppers.  We registered voters.  

This year was a chore.  First of all, the organizers decided to expand to Friday, which meant that we had to be there three days.  We were also stuck in a rather obscure area, while the Republicans and the Tea Party booths were in a prime location.  Finally, I did not do a good job with our booth.  The Republicans had a huge sign that said “Register to Vote Here.”  We had a small sign.  They had a table where people could sit to register.  We didn’t.  They had a guy in the walkway confronting people; Linda and I are not comfortable doing that.  They probably registered 25 people, we registered one.

The Tea Party booth had a weapons give-away.  If you paid ten dollars, you had a chance to win all kinds of guns, including an assault rifle.  Just for signing up, you received to mugs with Rush Limbaugh’s picture on them.  How do we compete with that?

Next year we will be at the Earth Day Festival in Jim Thorpe.  They are our people.  The Republicans can have the Redneck Festival all to themselves.