January 15, 2012 in Cutting Costs, Real Change
Living Without Money – trailer from Without Money on Vimeo.
Is it possible to feel rich without possessions? Can you live happily without money? In the documentary Living Without Money, we meet the German woman Heidemarie Schwermer who made a deliberate choice to live without money 14 years ago.
January 26, 2011 in Corporate Greed, Inspiration, Real Change
I was heartened to read an article in today’s Huffington Post titled “Shared Norms for the New Reality”
To quote from that article:
“. . . Leaders from all sectors of society are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate this new reality. Our old tools and models to address these problems don’t work anymore.. . .We can’t keep doing the same old thing in a new era that requires new responses.”
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Thank you. I’ve been preaching this story for the past three years. The first thing that these bewildered jackals can do is to revamp the broken economic neo-liberal ideology that is at the heart of all their decisions. Here are its cornerstones–all crumbling if they care to notice:
Economic neo-liberalism:
Around the world, neo-liberalism has been imposed by powerful financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. It is raging all over Latin America. The first clear example of neo-liberalism at work came in Chile (with thanks to University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman), after the CIA-supported coup against the popularly elected Allende regime in 1973. Other countries followed, with some of the worst effects in Mexico where wages declined 40 to 50% in the first year of NAFTA while the cost of living rose by 80%.
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And there are many more.
Oct 7, 2009
We must stop following the failed models of the 20th Century!
Feb 28, 2009
Another old Model Appears to be Biting the Dust–Broadcast TV [Main Stream media]
Feb 23, 2009
We can keep the baby but we really must throw out the dirty bath water
Feb 23, 2009
More examples of failed models–police brutality against their own
Feb 18, 2009
2009 will be the year for creating and trying out new models
(Looks like I was 2 years into the future on this prediction–if we are lucky. I hope it will start happening in 2011.)
January 27, 2009
Let’s talk about new financial models that serve people.
January 18, 2009
Nothing will change if the Obama Administration Continue to Support Broken Models
January 11, 2009
Redoing Globalization
January 22, 2011
More on why American Competitiveness is not a good model
January 9, 2011 in Justice, Real Change, Real Leaders
Take it as an opportunity to learn about at least one form of propaganda: Dog Whistle Politics–what it looks like, who uses it, and what you can do. Don’t let the injury of Gabrielle Giffords and the deaths of others be in vain.
Dog Whistle Politics, while perhaps the nastiest type of propaganda, is by no means the only type of propaganda that is deployed against the citizens of our nation. Here is a list for you:
Ad hominem - attack the person instead of their arguments – Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is one example of this tactic.
Ad nauseam- endless repetition to create the impression that the topic is relevant when in fact it is not. repetition of Reverend Wright 15 sec. sound bites and endless flag pin discussions are two examples
Appeal to Authority – most of the folks in white coats that we see on TV promoting pharmaceutical products are not doctors at all, but rather actors. Junk scientists who debunk environmental stances are another example.
Appeal to fear- These appeals always stress the importance of acting immediately–without thinking about it. No better example than George Bush’s Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson and chicken little act to sell TARP to our elected officials. Why it even brought John Boehner to tears as he admonished his fellow representatives to vote for TARP.
Bandwagon- Everyone’s doing it and you better too! This was a tactic that was used to sell Congress on the notion of the Patriot Act–a piece of legislation that sold many of our constitutional rights such as habeas corpus up the river.
THERE ARE MANY MORE EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF PROPAGANDA.
January 1, 2010 in 2011 Blue Dog Pasture, 2011 Republican Pasture, Heros, Jobs, Real Change, Real Leaders
Go online and get the “Intent to run as an independent” form. It is only one page. Fill it out. Get it notarized. and fax it to the Secretary of State (if you are running for US Senator or Representative) on Monday, January 4 before 5 pm.
1. go to: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/form/a2-5.pdf
2. Complete the one-page Declaration of Intent (As an Independent Candidate)
3. Go to your bank and they should notarize it for free.
4. Then fax it to the Elections office, Attention Kim Thule, FAX Number: 512-475-2811
If you want to talk to Kim Thule, her phone number is 512-463-9859
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BE A HERO! STAND UP FOR ORDINARY AMERICANS. HELP REMOVE INCUMBENT MULTIMILLIONAIRES IN CONGRESS. THE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR REAL LEADERS TO REPRESENT THE MAJORITY. People who are intelligent and who are not afraid to speak the truth–people who would not even spit on Wall Street lobbyists, much less let them into their office.
SUPPORT ME! I’M RUNNING FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
November 26, 2009 in Labor Struggles, Real Change, Terrorism
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Today is United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Around the globe, workers are saying “No” to violence against women.
Although we often limit discussions on violence against women to domestic violence, it also is a human rights issue and a workplace issue, experts say.
Millions of women work in insecure, temporary, unsafe, underpaid and unpaid jobs. They are subjected to sexual harassment, abuse and rape. According to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), certain types of work situations increase these threats, such as when women travel for their work or migrate to find work or are employed as domestic workers.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler says in a statement:
Violence against women is a global problem that affects women of all ages, ethnicities, races, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is also a workplace issue. Power imbalances in workplaces and the precarious employment conditions of many women increase their risk of being victims of sexual harassment, abuse and rape.
November 15, 2009 in Is Poverty a Forgotten Issue?, Justice, Real Change, Real Leaders
The anti-poverty group ACORN has filed a lawsuit against the US government that accuses Congress of punitively targeting the organization. In September, the Senate and the House voted on legislation to strip ACORN of federal funding following the release of a video in which employees of ACORN were secretly recorded giving tax advice to two conservative activists dressed up as a pimp and a prostitute. ACORN has long been a target of right-wing scorn for its work helping poor people fight foreclosures, fix tax problems, and register to vote. We speak with Bill Quigley, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who filed the lawsuit on ACORN’s behalf. [includes rush transcript]
October 27, 2009 in Democrats in Action, Real Change, Real Leaders
For those who may not know it, Alan has a website that has nothing but you tubes of his speeches and efforts to help the people of his district as well as to help ordinary Americans.
He is out there fighting for the people and standing up to the Corporate bullies.
GO HERE TO SEE THEM ALL. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW.
Be sure to pass this news along.
We need all the progressives we can get. IT IS ONLY WITH THE PROGRESSIVE AND LIBERALS WHO HAVE THE GUTS TO FIGHT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TURN THIS COUNTRY BACK FROM ITS BRINK.
WEAK HALF MEASURES ARE NOT THE ANSWER. TOO MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
October 12, 2009 in Health, Healthcare, Obama, Obama Administration, Real Change, Wall Street
“Deficit Neutral” Health Care Reform
Absurdity upon Absurdity
The health care debate and general political climate compound absurdity upon absurdity.
First we’re told that our health care is only worth the time and effort if the remedy has no negative impact on the budget. No deficits allowed. The deficit risk defines your chances for health and longevity.
At the same time, we see that Wall Street failures and the overseas war effort are not held to the same standard on deficits spending. MORE . . .
October 8, 2009 in Democrats in Action, Liberal Activists, Real Change, Real Leaders
What do these real leaders look like? Who are they? Well a few are emerging. Here are the ones that the Queen considers to be the most outstanding of them all:
FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
At the top of the list–the creme de la creme, we have Dennis Kucinich--a tried and true blue American. Dennis may very well be the ONLY person in Congress who has NEVER lied to his constituents. My guess is that any other politician running for the President of the USA would have lied when asked if he had seen a UFO (even if they had seen one as have thousands of NORMAL Americans from such sources as airplane pilots). Dennis stood up for the city of Cleveland and refused to sell their utility company to a bank–not because it was the politically expedient thing to do, but because it was the right thing to do. As a result, he was politically exiled for 10 years from 1988 to 1998 when the City of Cleveland finally realized that Kucinich was right and apologized to him.
Anthony Weiner – Representative from New York. Mr. Weiner is another truth teller who does not mince words. He knows like all the other elected officials that single payer is the only real solution to health care in the USA, but Weiner is among the very few who is willing to go on record and speak the truth.
Alan Grayson–another truth teller from the House of Representatives. Even though he is a freshmen from Florida, Grayson has already provided an example of what it looks like to stand up and call out the Republican liars in the House of Representatives. Good for him for his presentation on the Republican healthcare plan–don’t get sick and if you do, die quickly. Grayson spoke the truth and this is why his message is so powerful. NOTHING BEATS THE TRUTH FOR STRENGTH AND POWER. NOTHING! and the people know when another is speaking the truth and when they are mealy mouthing.
Maxine Waters--Representative from California–another tried and true representative of the people. You can count on Maxine to NEVER back away from the truth–whether it is on the issue of health care, FISA or Wall Street bailouts.
Yes, there are others in the House that are good people too, but these are the best in my opinion.
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FROM THE SENATE
Al Franken–I knew Al was going to be great and that is why I sent him about $200 over the course of his struggles with Norm Coleman to rightfully be allowed to represent the people of Minnesota. During the tea party days of August I watch Al talking to people in Minnesota about health care. Al listens and gives intelligent feedback. He calms the waters without, at the same time selling the farm (a talent that some in leadership positions in the Democratic party need to learn). His greatest triumph so far is his amendment that was just passed on Oct 6 that will allow rape victims their day in court–no more corporate arbitration in rape cases for corporations like Halliburton, thanks to Al’s amendment. Al did something else that no other Democrat has done–he single handedly turned over 13 Senate seats to the Democrats in 2010. That’s right 30 male Republicans actually had the lack of sense to vote against this amendment. They may as well have signed a contract to end their careers. 13 of the 30 are up for re-election in 2010.
Patrick Leahy- Patrick is another great Senator from Vermont who always does the right thing. I have contributed several hundred dollars to his campaigns over the years as well. He had the guts to stand up and protest to the Senate who debated for less than two hours to remove habeas corpus. He is one of the few Senators to have voted against the Patriot Act. Just recently Senator Leahy had the courage to go against the herd think of the Senate and do the right thing for ACORN. Senator Leahy was among the seven who said no to defunding ACORN. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT! Only 7 Democrats in the Senate had the guts to stand up to the Republican Joe McCarthy act on ACORN–an organization that has done more for the poor of this nation than perhaps any other organization on the books.
HERE ARE THE OTHER SIX–also all leaders, all brave souls who you can count on to do the right thing for the majority of Americans. Go HERE to see their photos.
Dick Durbin
Ronald Burris
Robert Casey
Kirsten Gillibrand
Bernie Sanders
Sheldon Whitehouse
October 7, 2009 in Democrats in Action, Real Change
Al Franken has only been in the Senate a few months and already he has made a huge difference in the lives of many Americans. THANK YOU AL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP! I don’t regret a dime that I have given to support your efforts to become Senator.
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On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Democrat got his first piece of legislation passed by the United States Senate via roll call vote. The amendment stopped federal funding for those defense contractors who used mandatory arbitration clauses to deny victims of assault the right to bring their case to court. It passed by a 68-30 margin with nine Republicans joining each voting Democrat. And in the immediate aftermath, Franken was granted the chance to revel, ever so slightly, in his victory.
