short notes:
will brady's ruminations
will brady's ruminations
2008-11-13
politics: the know nothings
Now that the US Presidential election is over and the 21st Century version of the Know Nothings have completely overrun the Rethuglican Party leadership we can get back to work at solving our various social, economic and political ills.
There are some notable replacements from the Catholics, Irish and Chinese immigrants with Muslims, Arabs and "the Gays", but I expect the new know nothing leadership [still up for grabs but could include Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Ann Coulter, maybe even Sarah Palin?] will be able to improvise.
Formally named The American Party, the Know Nothings had some basic tenets which included:
• Severe limits on immigration, especially from Catholic countries
• Restricting political office to native-born Americans
• Mandating a wait of 21 years before an immigrant could gain citizenship
• Restricting public school teachers to Protestants
• Mandating daily Bible readings in public schools
• Restricting the sale of liquor
Thanks to the persistent dumbing-down of public education that has taken place since the Reagan Era, the evisceration of the Fairness Doctrine [You know, that FCC policy that mandated broadcast media had an obligation to provide for for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance], the odd promotion of "home schooling" [with precious little oversight as to whether or not the teachers were even prepared], Dubya's so-called "No Child Left Behind", the upsurge of violent thought numbing video games, and the proud braying of opinionated propagandists to blot out any opinion save their own [the Fairness Doctrine's reinstatement could help counter that], the social atmosphere for a new generation of intolerant uninformed know nothings is ripe.
Can't say I'm happy to see this resurgence, but now we know it's there, I do think one of the Obama Adiminstration's goals ought to include re-examining and rebuilding the engine that successfully provided universal education for USA citizens more than half a century.
Now that the US Presidential election is over and the 21st Century version of the Know Nothings have completely overrun the Rethuglican Party leadership we can get back to work at solving our various social, economic and political ills.
There are some notable replacements from the Catholics, Irish and Chinese immigrants with Muslims, Arabs and "the Gays", but I expect the new know nothing leadership [still up for grabs but could include Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs, Ann Coulter, maybe even Sarah Palin?] will be able to improvise.
Formally named The American Party, the Know Nothings had some basic tenets which included:
• Severe limits on immigration, especially from Catholic countries
• Restricting political office to native-born Americans
• Mandating a wait of 21 years before an immigrant could gain citizenship
• Restricting public school teachers to Protestants
• Mandating daily Bible readings in public schools
• Restricting the sale of liquor
Thanks to the persistent dumbing-down of public education that has taken place since the Reagan Era, the evisceration of the Fairness Doctrine [You know, that FCC policy that mandated broadcast media had an obligation to provide for for discussion of contrasting points of view on controversial issues of public importance], the odd promotion of "home schooling" [with precious little oversight as to whether or not the teachers were even prepared], Dubya's so-called "No Child Left Behind", the upsurge of violent thought numbing video games, and the proud braying of opinionated propagandists to blot out any opinion save their own [the Fairness Doctrine's reinstatement could help counter that], the social atmosphere for a new generation of intolerant uninformed know nothings is ripe.
Can't say I'm happy to see this resurgence, but now we know it's there, I do think one of the Obama Adiminstration's goals ought to include re-examining and rebuilding the engine that successfully provided universal education for USA citizens more than half a century.
Labels: education, kow-nothings, noise, politics, propaganda, social change, social control
¶ 07:37 0 comments
2008-01-04
websites of note
Mike LaRosa's Page. "..Once upon a time we were moonshine, rushing down the throat of a giraffe..." A poem about 911 and the times we live in speaks in the background. We need to listen to what happens when we decide to "...perpetuate retribution..."
Not to be overlooked - photos of wood and wind powered energy source, links to stuff on rising oceans and problems arising from contrail pollution... "...let us make a toast with that last glass of oil..."
Does Capitalism cause mental illness?. Rhetorical question on my part but let's look at the numbers anyway. Combine this with Bushco's mandate to force doctors to conduct very basic mental health screenings of children in poor families. I guess only the indigent become mentally ill.
While collar crime prosecutions lowered. Oh, this is a surprise. Good that a lack of conscience is not a psychiatric disorder.
"Normalization" an oxymoron? The article in Eurozine starts thusly: ""Normal" is one of those words that seem not to need a definition; its meaning appears self-evident. Besides, because of the enormous flexibility of its usages, the conditions for a definition – conceptual strictness and clear semantic articulation – are hardly achievable: everyday routine is "normal", though what, precisely, is "everyday routine"?'
The naked truth about waging Peace
Slick tongued Swift Boat liars plan for future attacks. This active and creatively deceptive tax-exempt 527 group has plenty of money to play with. Houston home builder Bob Perry, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire drugstore impresario and investor Harold Simmons--gave a combined $9.5 million ($4.45 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively) to keep the group's propaganda machine well oiled and running. We can expect to hear a lot more from them as the election gets closer in NOvember.
Mike LaRosa's Page. "..Once upon a time we were moonshine, rushing down the throat of a giraffe..." A poem about 911 and the times we live in speaks in the background. We need to listen to what happens when we decide to "...perpetuate retribution..."Not to be overlooked - photos of wood and wind powered energy source, links to stuff on rising oceans and problems arising from contrail pollution... "...let us make a toast with that last glass of oil..."
Does Capitalism cause mental illness?. Rhetorical question on my part but let's look at the numbers anyway. Combine this with Bushco's mandate to force doctors to conduct very basic mental health screenings of children in poor families. I guess only the indigent become mentally ill. While collar crime prosecutions lowered. Oh, this is a surprise. Good that a lack of conscience is not a psychiatric disorder. "Normalization" an oxymoron? The article in Eurozine starts thusly: ""Normal" is one of those words that seem not to need a definition; its meaning appears self-evident. Besides, because of the enormous flexibility of its usages, the conditions for a definition – conceptual strictness and clear semantic articulation – are hardly achievable: everyday routine is "normal", though what, precisely, is "everyday routine"?' The naked truth about waging Peace Slick tongued Swift Boat liars plan for future attacks. This active and creatively deceptive tax-exempt 527 group has plenty of money to play with. Houston home builder Bob Perry, Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens and billionaire drugstore impresario and investor Harold Simmons--gave a combined $9.5 million ($4.45 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively) to keep the group's propaganda machine well oiled and running. We can expect to hear a lot more from them as the election gets closer in NOvember.Labels: politics, web surfing, websites
¶ 07:46 0 comments
2007-12-18
2007-12-17
politics | freedom of speech
Senator Chris Dodd speaks about against Buscho and telcom abuse of power
""Today we have scored a victory for American civil liberties and sent a message to President Bush that we will not tolerate his abuse of power and veil of secrecy. The President should not be above the rule of law, nor should the telecom companies who supported his quest to spy on American citizens. I want to thank the thousands of Americans throughout the country that stood with me to get this done for our country."
CNBC airs a news broadcast that actually tells us news! Telecommunications corporations lost their bid in bing immune from prosecution for having released phone records of honest citizens without a warrant or court order. Imagine! Tie this with the ballsiness of FCC Rethuglian Commissioners who also want media conglomerates to own even more of the media in this country than they actually do. The Bushco thugs must really, really envy Vladimir Putin, to so emulate his efforts.
And shame on Hillary Clinton, Obama, and other Dem politicos who stayed on the campaign trail rather than fight with Senator Dodd on this battle. Instead, they stay on the side lines, hawking their images like side show shills rather than doing the tough task of leading.
""Today we have scored a victory for American civil liberties and sent a message to President Bush that we will not tolerate his abuse of power and veil of secrecy. The President should not be above the rule of law, nor should the telecom companies who supported his quest to spy on American citizens. I want to thank the thousands of Americans throughout the country that stood with me to get this done for our country."
CNBC airs a news broadcast that actually tells us news! Telecommunications corporations lost their bid in bing immune from prosecution for having released phone records of honest citizens without a warrant or court order. Imagine! Tie this with the ballsiness of FCC Rethuglian Commissioners who also want media conglomerates to own even more of the media in this country than they actually do. The Bushco thugs must really, really envy Vladimir Putin, to so emulate his efforts.
And shame on Hillary Clinton, Obama, and other Dem politicos who stayed on the campaign trail rather than fight with Senator Dodd on this battle. Instead, they stay on the side lines, hawking their images like side show shills rather than doing the tough task of leading.
Labels: corporate crime, corporate malfesance, economic treason, FISA, freedom of speech, politics, profiles in courage, secret courts
¶ 23:55 1 comments
