Hibernating Hamster Hiatus

Yes, I know that hamsters don't hibernate, but I'm still taking a hiatus. With the holidays approaching, and preparations to travel to Colorado for Christmas and the fact that the lame duck congress is just making me crazy, I've decided to park the blog until the first of the year.

If something really critical comes up, or something that I just can't ignore, you'll be hearing from me. I'm also considering changing things up a bit...ideas still in their infancy. I'll let you know when I know.

Until next time,

Hamster Prez

I Almost Quit

Frustration started to get the best of me last week. I had about reached the point of hopeless. It just seemed to me like there really wasn't any point. I write about what's going on because it's what's going on, and it seems to me like what's going on is pretty important. And scary and stupid. I asked myself why I bothered.

I bother because it is our silence, our distraction by all the shiny objects that have been laid at our feet, that caused this mess in the first place. We have become so absorbed in our technology that it's almost as if the machines have taken over. A young man's father recently said to him, "You're always chasing technology," after he had replaced yet another cell phone to the next greatest thing.

We have cell phones that do everything except provide real human contact (interaction is not the same thing as contact) and a hot cup of coffee. Video games that not only keep our kids occupied and out of our collective hair but will also produce a race of humans with the strongest thumbs mankind has ever seen. Five hundred cable channels of pure crap, and some occasionally decent entertainment. And the Blessed Internet where we can do all of our Christmas shopping (well, those of us who still have jobs, anyway) while simultaneously checking emails (more interaction without contact) or cultivate imaginary broccoli on our Facebook farm. You Tube is an archive of our stupidity for all the world to see.

I almost quit because I didn't think I could compete with that. Maybe I can't. But I refuse to be just another hamster on the wheel. I will not just sit idly by as my government and the wealthy ruling class steal what's left of my life. Not without a fight. To that end, since it's tough to get anyone to read anymore, I'm going live next year.

More details to follow, but in one form or another, this hamster shaking up the cage. Whether its through You Tube or an Internet radio program or an interactive website...or all of them...remains foggy. But as soon as I know, you'll know.

I cannot just sit here and suffer in silence. I cannot go quietly into that long goodnight. I will not share a bowl of food with my cats. I hope you'll come along for the ride, and bring some friends too. The more, the better.

Hamster Prez

Wonder If This Message Would Be Clear Enough...

Want to take back control of the government? Here's an idea:

Petition drives to either recall or impeach every Senator and Representative who voted or is about to vote No on the tax bills.

That No vote is a Yes vote for raising taxes on all of us. That No vote is a Yes vote for politics over policy. That No vote is antithetical to the Republican platform, the Tea Party platform, and all common sense. That No vote, if it comes in the Senate, will ensure that the Bush Tax Cuts expire which raises taxes on everyone.

Glad I'm on this side of the aisle.

Hamster Prez

Cake Eating 101

Democracy or Plutocracy: Which do you prefer?

If the Republicans get their way, your preference won't matter.

Deifinitions:

Democracy:
  1. Government by the people, exercized either directly or through elected representatives.
  2. A poltical unit that has such a government.
  3. Majority rule.
  4. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.

Plutocracy:
  1. Government by the wealthy.
  2. A wealthy class that controls a government.

If WE do not insist on the Democracy, we WILL get the Plutocracy. If you know your history, then you'll recognize that soon you'll be eating cake (which was the word for bread in 18th century France).

Bon apetite!

Hamster Prez

Major Announcement Announcement

Well, Hamsters, there is no major announcement forthcoming. I had planned on doing something different, but a quick internet search turned up exactly what I was planning to do. You may have noticed the new banner on the page from One Nation Working Together and it's there because their message is the same as mine. I will blog more about that later.

So, the Less Than Major Announcement is that the blog posts will continue forthwith! Tell your neighbors, your friends, people you don't like, your parakeet, and Hummer driving dumpster divers to get on board!

Thanks for you patience and continued support.

Hamster Prez

Sign of the Times...

Just saw this a few minutes ago:

Dumpster Diver Driving Hummer! It'll take a lot of cans to fill that puppy up!

Happy Thanksgiving, Hamsters...

There will be new posts next week, and I think the major announcement is about ready. In the meantime, I wish you and yours the most Thanksgiving has to offer to you and yours.

Hamser Prez

Blog Update...

I haven't written this week because I was sending individual emails to all the Senate Democrats and the President. It's a rather time consuming task in that you have to email them using their programs which require that you enter your personal information every time you send and email. So, it took up most of my week.

I indicated in a post a short while back that I have a mission, and the details of that are forthcoming. I am still formulating the format as it will take several posts (I think) to convey the nuts and bolts of it. So, please be patient, loyal Hamsters. Where this is going will be evident soon.

Until then, namastay.

Hamster Prez

The 2010 Midterms: Wars? What Wars? A Deafening Silence.

We are in the midst of two wars, correction, two un-funded wars, and not one candidate ran a campaign on them. No Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Tea Partiers, no one took any position on the wars. In fact, I only heard one candidate even asked about them, Sharron Angle, whose response was, paraphrased, "They are what they are."

All the talk about deficits and spending and budgets and not one mention of the financial cost to this country of these illegal and failing wars. No candidate ran for or against them, or the spending, or responsibility. Not one. No one stood up and said, "Hey! You want to cut the deficit and reduce spending? How about ending two billion dollar-a-day failing wars (or three if you count Pakistan)?"

Not one Democrat, Republican, Independent or Tea Partier.

Until today, and only today, was there any mention and that was in conjunction with Veteran's day in which we honor and remember all who have served, continue to serve, and may want to serve. Even the gay and lesbian ones. (Note to politicians: today would have been a great day to repeal DADT). While it's nice to  honor and be honored for serving one's country, I think it might have been more respectful to our Veterans if we actually offered some policy to go with the platitudes.

I've been aware of the world around me for about 50 years. and I cannot recall any election cycle that failed to include debate when we were engaged in a war. Vietnam was the headline in every newspaper and lead story on every newscast. Politicians ran campaigns with a position on it. America debated it. Some of us who objected it to still served because the country called and we answered. Still others took to the streets to protest it.

Iraq was a big story when the Republicans had control and started it. But they changed the debate in this country and disowned the war. And why not? Obama took ownership when he increased the troop levels and kept fighting. As Nixon inherited Vietnam, Obama inherited the Middle East. The wars overseas have been replaced by in-fighting here at home largely at the direction of the right-wing media machine.

And we just had an election which completely ignored their very existence. I find that reprehensible.

Hamster Prez

Why Prop 19 Failed

There were two reasons why Prop 19 to legalize pot in California failed with the voters.

First, economics. The opposition changed the argument with the keystroke of one letter. They changed could to would. Theoretically, the Federal government could withhold funds from the state if the law passed since marijuana possession is still against Federal law. Somewhere along the line, the argument stated that the government would, and even if they didn't, did we really want to take that risk? Think of our schools, our kids, our parks and roads, yada yada yada. The same old tropes that get the majority on their side most of the time.

Second, the absence of how. There was no how in the bill. No structure on how to implement it, regulate it, tax it, distribute it, control it. No proposed use of the revenue taxation would create. No law enforcement guidelines, and no cooperation from bordering states. I used to drive from Illinois to Wisconsin to buy booze because it was close and the drinking age was lower. The states that share a border with us would be faced with line hoppers buying pot.

The next prop will be on the ballot in 2012. It will need to push the State's Rights argument to keep the Feds out of the picture, and control the message. It will also need to outline the how. People voted against it from fear of loss and lack of information. Fix that, and it will pass.

Hamster Prez

The Real Difference Between the Parties: Part 1

Most would automatically assume that the difference between the Republicans and Democrats is ideology. Once upon a time, it was. Yes, there are still ideological differences, but these have been substantially blurred of late. It's becoming more and more difficult to understand what either party stands for anymore. Yes, there remain some recognizable traits, but the whole picture seems out of focus...or has a lack of same.

But that's not tonight's topic. That will be in part 2 of this series.

Then it must be about Liberal versus Conservative. But no, it's not that either which will be covered in part 3.

It also isn't philosophical as in Capitalist or Socialist. That will be in part 4.

It's semantics. One party wants to Govern while the other wants to Rule. One party is about Policy, the other Politics. One believes that it works for the People, the other thinks the people should work for it. For free. And with no benefits. But I digress.

The Governing Party has a legislative agenda, a series of laws and programs that benefit the People that it serves. It is willing to debate these ideas, and respond more effectively to the will of the People by believing polls that ask the People lots of questions while they're trying to eat dinner. But, still, they work from the heart out of concern and compassion.

The Ruling Party has a schematic agenda, a series of technical steps to regain and retain Power. Even when they are not in Power in actual numbers, they control the flow of legislation by creating a system by which they can delay or destroy any legislation the Governing Party presents. They allow some of the Governing Party's legislation through the process, then demonize it to the People. The Ruling Party compromises as long as it is exactly what they want and if it isn't, everyone else is being uncooperative. They work from the brain and the wallet out of greed and avarice.

The Governing Party believes that the People will tell them what collectively it thinks is in their own best interest ,and therefore the interest of others. It was what French writer Alexis de Cocqueville called Enlightened Self-Interest, the idea that what is good for the individual is equally good for the group. It was very popular when you could still trade a chicken for what passed as health care. (Hi Sue Louden!)

The Ruling Party believes that the People will do as they're told. This is accomplished by inspiring mistrust among the People towards each other, a distraction tactic, which allows them the cover they need to destroy what's left of our democracy and position themselves to Rule forever.

The Governing Party is about Policy. The Ruling Party is about Politics. I think we know which one we should all want. I also think that we all know which one we're gonna get... we'll get the one we deserve, to be determined by our determination to get the one we want.

Hamster Prez 

Why I Do This...And What's Next

I asked myself the question again tonight. The last time I asked it, I stopped writing for several months. Something drove me back to it. I could not ignore the noise and I couldn't understand the insanity. What I was hearing from all sides just didn't make sense. And it did that quite loudly. There were voices of reason out there, but they were a relative whisper.


I'm literally dizzy from all the spin. And there was a new pile hitting the fan every week, or so it seemed. I really couldn't keep up. Which was the other reason I stopped. The task was just too daunting. But, I have a new mission, just as daunting perhaps, but one that I am committed to.

In the coming days, more details will be coming your way here and via Facebook.

As to why I do this, what is the truth is a simple as it is corny. I care about where I live my life, which happens to be America. I'm grateful everyday that Random Chance put me here. There really isn't anywhere else I'd rather be.

But life in today's America is harder than I'd like it to be. Not only economically, but psychologically and physically. Yes, I'm fortunate to have a pretty good life. Scott and I live right at our economic ability, with no real means of improving it, like a lot of other people. We live in a decent place, have jobs, food to eat, and all of the necessities with none of the extras.

But there's constant stress which affects us physically. And all of that stress is creating anger and frustration, both products of fear. And, don't get me wrong, there's plenty to be afraid of. And that's what's got to get fixed. There's a lot of fear in the country, and it's fed from different sources. All of those sources prey on each of us. 

And we're starting to turn on one another. When was the last time open armed rebellion and overthrow of the government a plank in a candidate's platform? When did it become okay for a candidate to be openly racist? Where did this us versus them mentality come from?

People, there's only us. There is no them.

Okay, one last election post, then I think I'm done with it. I said in my last post that I would tell you why the Republicans gains in the House are meaningless. It's simple...the House has no power. Everything has to go through the Senate, and it's not going to do anything for the next 2 years. In the last 20 months, the House has passed 240 pieces of legislation, and more than 200 of them were sitting in the Senate on election day.

That's why is doesn't matter.

And finally, election result update final:


Add another win and another loss to  my totals. Bennett in CO declared the "apparent winner" and McAdams in AK concedes. Murkowski ends up winning in AK. Murray in WA will prevail, but it hasn't been called yet.

That's our show for tonight.

Hamster Prez

Guest comment from a follower with my response

Odd you say this. I noted that the RNC had more minorities running for office then the DNC. Hindu is governor of SC. Several hispanic and cubans in Florida and southwest. Not sure where you got this idea.



My opinion, for what it's worth, is what Pelosi said when the Healthcare Act was coming to a vote. "You can read it after we pass it". That got a lot of peoples attention and made them wonder what happened to the transparency that "change" was going to give us. That was just the start of many other under the table things that went on, Americans were questioning.


So don't blame a small group of paranoids on what happened. This was a lot of independent people like myself that questioned the intent of this Congress.


Did you know there is a 3.5% tax on the sale of a home, payable to the Feds in the Healthcare Act? Not too many do. This is just one of many things hidden in the 1000 page+ bill.


I disagree with this my friend. If it were true then the Libertarians should have gained from this. They are not too far off from the Tea Party.


23% of those voting were over 65. Over 70% were white. The Tea Party candidates won only about a third of the races they were in. And they probably caused the Republicans to not gain control of the Senate (Angle/O'Donnell/Buck in particular).

My larger point was that the energy and the noise over the past 20 months has come from the LAWP. Look at any of the footage from the rallies and all you see are the LAWP waving the Nazi signs, depictions of Obama as everthing from an African Tribesman to Hitler.

Let us not forget a few things that preceeded the election: anti-immigrant (specifically Mexican), Islamaphobia (Mosque at Ground Zero), and the "New Black Panthers" (the 2 guys in Pa.) and Shirley Sherrod were decidedly from the Right. Angle lost Nevada because of her blatantly racist advertising at the end.

The largest point of my post was that, had Hillary been elected, I don't think there would be a Tea Party (or 16 Tea Parties, to be more precise)...even if she had done the same things as Obama.I would also posit that had Hillary been POTUS yesterday, there would be larger Democratic majorities in Congress. I make that claim based on two factors: First, the messaging would have been clearer and less incindiary, and second, there would be be no LAWP/Tea Party.

Is the health care bill perfect? Are Progressives happy with it? No and no. However, it can be saved and refined. Much of what is wrong with it stems from the Dems getting what they could from the Reps instead of getting what they wanted.

What changed yesterday? Nothing. I will address that and more in tonight's blog. Hope you'll tune in.

Hamster Prez

The last dying gasp from the next minority...11/2/10

That's what this election cycle was all about. America is changing and in a way that scares the crap out of some white people. The White Male Christian America is fast becoming a thing of the past. This group is scared and angry because they know there's nothing that can be done to stop it.

This election is first and foremost about fear. The left was disappointed and upset. The right was loony tunes pissed off. That's fear. Death Panels. Nazis. Socialism (long a part of our history, by the way) and government evil disguised as policies that would actually benefit us. Facts made no difference to these people. Whatever Fox told them, they believed. I've actually heard them admit it. They would not take reason over anger. That's fear.

And it is, despite what they might say, racial and ethnic. As ugly as that is, it is what I see. I challenge anyone to support the idea that we would be having this same debate if Hillary Clinton had been elected. The Chinese, Hispanics, Blacks and Arabs are tangible threats to this particular subset of white America. Women? Well, they rather like women. Don't understand them, but would have no fear of a petticoat revolution.

No one is winning. Nothing is being accomplished. And until we get used to the idea that all of the 300 million plus of us aren't leaving, and we ought to try to get some stuff done, then we all continue to lose. But it does have an end game. The population is becoming more racially an ethnically diverse every day.

The Loud Angry White Party has had it's last success. Washington is going to eat them alive.


Hamster Prez

Predictions Update 1

Wins:

Reid, Boxer, Brown, 19 (I know, I said Yes, but I also said that it would lose), all the CA props, Tancredo, Republican House, Democrat Senate, Paul, Rubio

Losses:

Kirk wins IL, Toomey wins PA, number of R wins

Unknown

CO, AK (we may not know this one for months!)


Last update and comment tomorrow. Thanks to all who exercised their right to have a voice in the process. I don't care how you voted, I'm just glad you  did.

Hamster Prez

Predictions 2:

As previously reported on this blog:

Buck and Tancredo lose CO
McAdams (who?), the cat at the dog fight in AK will win, having watched to 2 dogs kill each other
Kirk loses IL
Toomey loses PA
Murray wins WA
Reid wins NV
Brown & Boxer win CA (Newsom and Bowen, too)
Feingold (darnit) loses WI

Election Night post 1: Predictions

Rand Paul, as expected, wins Ky. Marco Rubio will be the other T Party Senate winner. No other Senate T Party-ers will win. Republicrats will pick up no more than 36 House seats (need 39): 2 Senate.

If  House goes R, Boehner new Speaker. If not, Pelosi keeps Speaker job.

Senate stays D. Reid wins, but gives up Majority Leader to Durbin.

Brown/Newsom win in Cali. Boxer, too. My prop predictions align with prop post last night.

California Proposition Guide

19: Legalizing Marijuana: YES

Not going to pass, but it will be close. Not perfect, but pretty good. Arguments against are pretty lame.

20: Redistricting: YES

Leave the panel in place and don't allow politicians to draw their own lines.

21: Parks Fee: NO

Cut the budget in other places and stop assessing taxes disguised as fees.

22: State Borrowing: YES

Keeps the money where it belongs, and prevents the State from raiding local coffers. It's time for the legislature to act responsibly and spend according to the revenues available.

23: Oil Baron Proposition: EMPHATIC NO

The oil companies want to prevent competition with new and renewable energy technology in the state that is their biggest customer. It will not cause job losses, it will create new jobs.

24: Tax Bill: Undecided, but probably no.

I know, you're counting on me to inform, but I really don't know about this. The arguments on both sides are well thought out and present valid points. Unlike politicians, I like to think beyond next week and the next election cycle. I think a better proposition is within this one: the Legislature cannot authorize any new taxes or tax breaks without a 2/3 majority and/or majority vote of the people. I like the idea of this one, but I think it's just not written right.

25: Budget vote changes: YES

This one kind of speaks for itself. Get the budget done, or don't get paid. Does not raise taxes or make it easier to do. It still requires the 2/3 majority for that. This one makes sense.

26: State and Local Fees: No

I'm basing this vote on 2 factors: Who's paying for it and the credibility of those against it. All of the funding comes from big oil and tobacco companies, and it is opposed by groups who have a great deal more credibility than they.

27: Redistricting (again): NO

One of these two was actually pulled, but I don't remember which one. They both will still appear on the ballot, I believe. This one wants to eliminate the commission on redistricting, whereas the other wants to keep it. That's why 20 is yes and 27 is no.

There you have it. Now, GO VOTE!


Hamster Prez

Stupid Polls: Part 2

Front Page Headline in USA Today, today, says:

POLL: GOP AS LEAD IN FINAL RUN-UP
Margin not seen since Watergate era
by Susan Page

By 55%-40%, those surveyed say they plan to vote for the Republican candidate, the widest margin since Democrats' advantage in the 1974 elections held in the wake of Watergate.

The survey of 1,539 likely voters, taken Thursday through Sunday...

One thousand five hundred and thirty-nine "likely" voters? Out of over 200 MILLION registered voters is supposed to make us belive that it's anywhere near accurate? That's less than .0001 of potential voters, and that's supposed to make us think that the Republicrats are going to sweep Congress?

It's insane. Vote tomorrow, vote against the Tea Party candidates. DO NOT LEAVE THIS TO CHANCE!
For once, your vote DOES matter.


Hamster Prez

Coming Tomorrow...

The Hamster Official California Voter's Guide. All the stupid Propositions. And a couple of good ones, too! I think you're already pretty certain about the candidates, so I'm just going to focus on the props. Monday night, just in time for the elections on Tuesday. Don't go to the polls without it!


Hamster Prez

The 10 for 5 Solution

And now, on to tonight's topic.


It is only in certain situations that the government is required to create jobs. Most of the time, that is the function of the business sector. Jobs are created in the private sector when the public is spending money and supply and demand are in harmony. Jobs are created by the government when corporations are unable to provide the jobs.

It happened under FDR and it brought this country crawling back into power. Then a little thing called Pearl Harbor happened, and our economy boomed. But before the war effort, the government had to create the jobs, which meant they had to spend a boat load of money to do it. But it was the mandatory thing to do. When one part of the process breaks down, the other part has to make up for it. In that particular case, the private sector couldn't do it.

Now, the private sector won't do it. It's not that they can't, they just refuse to. American workers cost too much money. American regulations create delays and cost money. The cost of doing business is greater here, and there is nothing more sacred in American power circles today than the bottom line. Gordon Gecko, what hell hath you wrought?

Now, let me preface this next by saying that I am not an economist but I am someone who listens to that they have to say. What they say has to make sense, and what they've been saying makes sense to me. It makes sense because the mechanics of it are clear. If there are any economists who are reading this that want to correct anything I'm about to say, please feel free to do so.

The 10 for 5 Solution:

The top 100 companies based on pre-tax profits must pay the Federal Job Creation Program ten percent of that pre-tax profit for five years. That money is to be strictly and only used on federal infrastructure projects, like converting every single government building and school to green technology systems, road and bridge repair, etc. Any difference between the corporate contribution and actual costs are made up by the increase in payroll taxes the jobs create. And the excess goes toward the deficit and debt. The federal jobs created eventually move back into the private sector, where they belong, and the country is once again prosperous.

Negative incentives, like a tax, do little good if there's no additional upside. In the five years of the program, corporations can reduce the amount they pay in by increasing the number of jobs they create by way of FJCP tax reductions for hiring workers, and greater tax cuts by bringing jobs back from overseas. I've said here before, Vampire Economics does not work. Once you suck the blood out of everything, then what? In this case, economic extinction.

Obviously, a paradigm alignment will be necessary. And since reason has been tried, failing miserably, then we just have to make them do it. There is only one solution to our economy, and that is jobs. With jobs, people spend more money and pay more taxes. What the corporations have failed to grasp is that their longer term survival depends on us have some of the money to spend. Keeping it all to themselves, or spending billions of dollars on a mid-term election, is counter-productive to their best efforts. They are One Quarter Thinkers. They cannot see beyond the quarter they're in. What's our bottom line look like today, Bob?

How do we get them to see the future? Americanism. Dammit, we want to buy American products made by American workers in American factories. You put that "Built In America" sticker on your stuff and watch it sell. How many Toyotas are built in America? I don't know, but you'll sell a lot more of them if people know they're built here. You are the corporate overlords of the most consumption-happy people in the planet. We don't even care how much money you make as long as we have enough ourselves. Hell, Americans are all about America.

We the People? We'll do our part. We'll spend virtually everything you give us. Sure, it might not come right back to you. It'll be swirling around on the whims of public enthusiasm, but if you offer a product that we want and it works the way we expect it to, we'll buy more of it. Sustainable profit comes from sustained demand. And all of that put together creates stability.

And we all know we could use a lot more of that.

Hamster Prez

Comments welcome. Post to the comment section or send an email.

No More Waxing...

The Tea Party is not a party, it's a movement. They cannot take over the government. There will be no revising the Constitution. They cannot effect any real change due to the simple fact that there is no structure, no cohesion, no single purpose. As I said last night, unless they are somehow able to form a bloc of votes, they are one-term pests and little else.

I shall not wax poetic any further regarding the Tea Movement.


Hamster Prez

Tea Party Republicrats?

I think it could happen. Let's face it, we aren't going to beat them all. I am confident that we will defeat most of them, but some will get through. What they will find when they reach Washington may cause them to reconsider the party they're aligning themselves with, or are being co-opted by.

But let's look at some numbers first. There are about 80 self-declared Tea Party candidates, 35 of whom were called out on Keith Olbermann last night as the most radical among them. Very few of them are going to get elected. The rest, the one's you don't hear much about, might. And there are a few in the major parties that will have no problem retaining their seats. I see one governor, one senator, and the rest Representatives. Hardly enough to swing the tide. And those that do make it are in for some major culture shock.

Be careful what you ask for.

When they get to DC, they will finally have to shut up, no longer on the campaign trail. And when they do that, they're going to find out that the party that is most interested in their goals is not the party that pretends to tolerate them. If the Tea Partiers as a whole stand for anything, it's that while government needs to be smaller it also needs to work. They will see that the Republicans have stolen their energy but have no intention of allowing them control. The best case scenario for the Republicans is that my numbers are correct. There's strength in numbers, and too many of them hurts the Republicans.

The second most important thing to Tea Partiers is that they are supposed to be a party for the people. Okay, so for now it's a party for the white people, but with more focus they could well become a viable alternative party. If there is such a thing as a moderate Tea Partier, let's hope he or she has a lot of charisma. If they can silence the radical ones, they have a chance. If not, they're doomed. But, back to the point.

There's one very clear and vocal speaker in Washington that was elected because he was for the people. His entire agenda is about people, not politics. This is the person to whom they should be seeking counsel. He is, as has been said before, the smartest man in the room. I disagree with a lot of what he has done, and how he has done some of his job. I think he's starting to take off the rose colored glasses a little more often. I hope so. In any case, if they are truly for the people, then perhaps they ought to cease being so concerned about the color of his skin and listen to what he is saying.

I think they'd actually agree with him. Maybe it's me with the rose colored glasses, but what little hope I have left rests with this possibility.

Okay, glasses off. They're doomed. When the dust of next Tuesday settles, they will then see, once and for all and crystal clear, that they were manipulated and coerced by their enemies. Big business bought and paid for their movement and their souls. They will see that it was just a hoax, an insidious power grab to keep the money where it does the least good. Out of their hands. Think about this: How many billions of dollars have been spent on this election? Scary thought. Wonder if that money could have been used in a more productive manner?

There is no central Tea Party to build from. There is no platform. There is no structure. There are essentially 80 candidates with 80 different ideas of what they are supposed to stand for. The problem is, they don't know. They're playing follow the leader. Out on the edges especially, where the Olbermann 35 reside, one of them stumbles across a line, and they're like flies to a pile of feces. But only a couple to a few will actually land on it. All they're doing is inventing the next most outrageous position and see who lands.

Those people will not be elected.

The ones that do have an opportunity that is every politician's wet dream. They really can effect major change if they decide to. If, and I realize it's a big if, there are a number of sane electees from the Tea Party and they can agree on what it is they really stand for, they can support the legislation that ends up promoting that platform by voting with whichever party presents it. The Republicans may have allowed them to use the (R) on the ballot, but they are not Republicans. The are the enders of partisanship, if they choose to be.

I wish them luck, I truly do. I hope that they see and seize the opportunity.

Hamster Prez

My Special Comment Comment for Mr. Olbermann

What he said.

And this: It's not that they're loony since that would imply humorous. These people are dangerous and the people financing them even more so. They are Evil personified. The five Justices of the Supreme Court that voted for the Citizen's United decision should be fired. Our greatest fears as to that decision's deeper and more sinister implications are already being demonstrated.

I don't care who you vote for next Tuesday. I care about who you vote against. Toss your vote to the Green Party or whatever name strikes your fancy. Just please don't vote for any of the extremist right wing candidates. And that includes Meg "Gonna Buy Me A Mansion in Sacramento" Whitman, Carly "Evil Sheep Eye" Fiorini, and the rest of their ilk.

Please.

Olbermann: If the Tea Party wins, America loses - msnbc tv - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - msnbc.com

Olbermann: If the Tea Party wins, America loses - msnbc tv - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - msnbc.com

Polls Are Stupid, People Aren't... I Hope!

Pre-ramble: Apologies to those folks who take polls literally, but really, get a clue.
I'm certain that everyone reading this has a clear understanding of how political polling transpires. However, for the sake of clarity and to put a human element to it, here's my explanation. Paul Schlub and Paulette Schlubette arrive at the phone bank office, a gray windowless cinder block building in the low-rent area of a decaying downtown metropolitan area. They each meander through the open room to their respective desks, strap on their headsets, and commence dialing from a list of registered voters, or just a list of phone numbers. The next eight hours are spent asking questions, receiving too long answers, and generally wishing that college degree meant something. If it weren't for the student loans, they could actually live instead of exist. But, hey, they got jobs!

Paul gets his first hit. Heinous T. Partay and his lovely wife Teena (his second and much younger wife) have just sat down to supper when the phone rings. Heinous loves to be asked his opinions, and when told that a simple yes or no answer is sufficient, he launches into how he hates the government and the high taxes and the gays and the abortionist murderers until he gets all red in the face and has to get his nitro pills from Teena, who is otherwise engaged in painting her toenails hot pink while she watches her dinner grow cold...again. Paul closes his eyes, leans back in his chair, and really really really wants to just go outside, smoke a joint, and bang Paulette.

Paulette, on the other hand, just got her third, "I'm eating dinner, dammit! Stop calling here!" call, which was the topper to three successive ignored rings. She looks at the picture on her desk of her four year old son and two year old daughter and dreams of winning the lotto and moving them all to a country that was less angry and stupid. She never thought of Paul.

Once all of the calls have been made, the data is collected and the extrapolations begin! The computers whirr along, crunching and counting and analyzing until the last byte of information has been processed. There is virtually no human element to this part of the story, so we'll move on. Always hated math, anyway.

The numbers indicate that there are virtual dead heats in many Congressional and Senatorial races that were just recently blow outs. One blowout remains a blowout (I am not a witch), bucking the new conventional wisdom that this country has completely lost it's mind. Only about half of it has, if the polls are to be believed. And, why shouldn't they? A couple thousand patriotic Americans let their dinners grow cold in order for the rest of us to have a snippet of the electorate's mood.

And therein lies the problem. The numbers are based on a relative handful of voters, and it's only those voters who are motivated enough to answer the phone and the questions. The tightening of the races has more to do with the new majority, the Independents, declaring their intentions. See, Independents don't carry signs for either side, so are a tad slower to get involved, preferring to watch the sides go at each other. They also don't answer the phone during dinner. Ever.

The other motivator driving the changing poll numbers is, of course, fear. But it's not the fear on the Right, it's the fear OF the Right that is pushing the reluctant to act. If the Tea Party candidates don't scare you, you're just not paying attention. If the Republicans don't make you want to send them to timeout until they can act more like adults, then you're watching too much reality TV.

I may be proven wrong next Tuesday, and if I am then I will apologize to all I offended and move to Canada. But I just cannot believe that nearly half the voters of Nevada are stupid enough to think that Sharron Angle would make a good Senator. I've lived in Nevada, went to school there, and my in-laws live there. I'm no fan of Harry Reid, either. But, Sharron Angle? What, are you afraid she'll invoke her Second Amendment remedies on you and your family if you don't vote for her? They traded in chickens for the poster child of Guns and Ammo magazine?

But that's what the polls tell us.

Colorado, my home state away from home, where my son and his wife live and a part of me will always reside, where my beloved Denver Broncos look like crap this year, the home of the only man I've ever wanted an autograph from and who could be Emperor of Colorado if he'd just ask. I love the State and it's people, and I cannot believe that two of the scariest and most dangerous men in American politics have almost half the voters ready to elect them in their respective races. Tom Tancredo and Ken Buck are misogynistic racist hypocrites, and that's me being nice. There is no way that half of the good people of the great state of Colorado actually support these two idiots.

But that's what the polls tell us.

Never been to Alaska, don't have any family or friends their. I don't really know that much about it other than what I saw on Ice Road Truckers. Sure looks pretty. Lots of oil. Bridge to Nowhere. Government checks to every citizen. Poor Scott McAdams, the Democratic nominee for Senate, who is a cat at a dog fight. He seems like a really nice guy who really cares about the people around him and his home. And he is said to have zero chance of winning. Are the hearty folks of Alaska really going to send either one of the Spawn of Evil candidates to Washington and leave the sane one at home? Well, it kinda makes sense in a way.

At least, that's what the polls tell us. (Mr. McAdams should probably be grateful. Nice guys get eaten for breakfast in DC).



The Loud White Minority is exactly and only that. Let's make sure they stay the minority.

Go vote next Tuesday.

Hamster Prez

My New Favorite Saying...

Morality is doing what is right regardless of what you're told.

Religion is doing what you're told regardless of what's right.

Being gay IS a choice.

There's been a lot of talk in the recent weeks leading to the election next Tuesday about how gay people have a choice about being gay. I'm here to set the record, pardon the pun, straight about that. As a gay man, I believe I am qualified to comment on this particular subject. This may sound as if I am giving credence to those who make the "gay is a choice" argument, but rest assured loyal Hamsters, I am not.

Being gay is a choice. Being homosexual is not. The only choice I have is in deciding whether or not to live my life as who I am. To live a free and open life or one that is constrained and closeted. To accept that part of me that is undeniable and intuitive or to continue a life of self-recrimination and loathing. To realize that being a gay homosexual is not who I am, but one of the many parts that comprise my public and personal selves.

In most people's paradigm, that last sentence contains a redundancy. Gay homosexual? You can be one without the other; as in a homosexual who doesn't identify as being gay, or denies his or her sexuality. There is no comparative phrase for heterosexuals that I can come up with. Straight is heterosexual, hetrerosexual is straight. Some in the gay community might call them "Breeders", but that isn't always the case. Not all heterosexuals procreate, and not all prcocreation comes from  heterosexuals. And, simple biology here, if it weren't for all that procreating, there wouldn't be any homos, either. Both of my parents were, oddly enough, heterosexual. And science has shown that gay/lesbian parents do not necessarily pop out drag queen babies. It's a matter of random chance. My parents, when first confronted with the news of my impending birth, had no idea what they would end up with. It's not like they went shopping at Sears to pick out the baby of choice. I might be a rocket scientist, a rock musician, a rock breaker, or a rock around their necks.

I could also have been a rocket scientist with a rock band that rocked the world, like Tom Scholz of the band Boston. Sadly, that was not the case. (Scholz was actually a mechanical engineering graduate at MIT, but I think the point is still valid).

In concurrance with the social agenda vendors on the right, there is a cure for being gay. It's called a closet. To their chagrin and angst, however, there is no cure for homosexuality. No amount of prayer, denial, or drug abuse can alter that fact, a fact that I can attest to having tried all of those and more. The (un)-Christians like to refer to their older text when arguing against us, which only proves that we've been around for just as long as they have, and are as much a part of the human race as they.

The Right loves homosexuals. It's gay people they hate.

I Don't Own Any Chickens

So, according to Sue Lowden, Republican Senatorial candidate in Nevada, I guess it's a good thing I live in California. She is advocating the barter system as a way to bring down health care costs. Her analogy is that "in the olden days" our grandparents used chickens to pay for doctor visits. Ms. Lowden, this is not the "olden days" and you are assuming that we have the materials to barter medications, treatments, and tests. That's gonna take a lot of chickens.

I wonder how many chickens Ms. Lowden owns. I just hope she's not planning on bartering votes for services. I think that's illegal. Perhaps Senator Ensign could advise her on that one.

Hamster Prez

Guest Columnist tonight:Re An Open Letter

Oddly enough, a great deal of my studies this week revolved around the subject of ethics. The one thing that everyone seemed to agree on although no one would admit it was that ethics are anything but universal.




Can we as a species coexist in such a way that there is enough for everyone? Of course we can. Will we ever get to that point? I believe that some day we will. Will you and I live to see it manifest on a national let alone a global scale? Probably not.



Human Beings are hard wired for self preservation. Preservation of the species however.....Let's face it our collective sense of species survival stops shortly after our virtually uncontrollable need to breed like germs. Oh, we may be programed to protect our young (while they are young) but, God help the youngster who is not the fruit of our loins. We will think nothing of letting them die in the streets.....don't believe me? Go outside and look at what's roaming the streets. The miracle here is that we are able some how to breed more rapidly than we are able to kill one another off. Were it not for taught social structure and the need for collective effort to achieve a great many of our needs we might indeed have gone the way of the DoDo long ago.



You speak of the haves and the have nots but, I think that there are two much more prominant groups. These would be those who serve others and those who serve self. Further it occurs to me that the reason that we're in such a mess; the reason for the disparity lies in the fact that while those who serve others are busy doing just that, those who serve self are equally busy with their agenda. Unfortunately all too often this agenda puts these people in postions of power and control where they continue to....you guessed it...serve themselves.



My fear is that it will take a global collapse of ... well... global proportion before the playing field will truly be leveled.



Thunder Rodent

Today's Question

Hamster Prez wants to know...

While I applaud President Obama's focus on obtaining all the nuclear material in the world to put into one safe place, I wonder why we're not going the extra step to destroying it so that it can never be used, period? I mean, if it's all in one place, and we don't really need it, then what's the point in keeping it safe?

Just asking.

An Open Letter To Congress from your Boss: Wrapup

Being a pragmatist, I know that you all stopped reading after the second paragraph of the first post, so I thought maybe I could save us all some time and encapsulate the primary thesis. The simple solutions that I speak of all share a common genetic structure so the solution to each is the same for the rest.

But before we delve into that, one of the most fascinating events of the past year has been word usage vis a vis the mood of the country. The pundits like to call it rhetoric, whereas I prefer misrepresentation. Some of it has been quite nuanced, some quite blatant, and some violent. As an example, if health care had been separated into the two separate issues that it was, with one called reform and the other Medicare for All, I really don't think there would have been so much anger about it. The Dems missed the train and allowed the Reps and the T's to take over the message. It was doomed from then on.

Having said that, the first solution is to redefine our relationship to what it is supposed to be rather than what it has become. From this point forward, we are no longer your constituents, you are our representatives. See how changing just a couple of words simplifies and corrects the meaning? Now, go to your dictionary and look up the word representative and come back.

What's Right Simply...

We can complicate the heck out of trying to define what's right but the whole point of this series is simplification. There are those that would argue that Right is a matter of perception and opinion. They would not be wrong in arguing that point, but it rather misses the larger picture. For the purposes of our discussion, Right is not The Right, nor is it having a right, nor is it even right vs wrong. It is the communal, human, internal sense shared by the majority of people that what's right essentially...


...Is What's Simply Right

The bowing and scraping at the Temple of Greed has got to stop. It started at the top and with Trickle Down Economics it has seeped into the rest of us. Every aspect of our lives has been consumed by money. You can't even go to church without being hounded to give more. Airlines want to now charge you to use the bathroom (uh, the floor is free) and overhead bins and we actually have to have legislation drafted to prevent this?

There is so much misplaced anger, undefined hatred of the government, imaginary enemies at the gate, vociferous talking heads spouting half-truths and vitriol, placards and banners that are both evil and generic simutaneously, and politicians who fan the flames instead of extinguishing them.

We've lost our collective minds.

The ultimate in fairness is that everyone gets an equal share of everything, but even I know that won't work. The Grand Design requires the division known as The Haves and The Havenots. That system is part of the human condition and as such is incurable. However, one of the major lessons in history is that when the haves have too much and the havenots not enough, trouble ensues. We are fast approaching that history repeating itself lesson, I fear.

As we have also learned, you can't just throw more money into the problem since the haves end up getting all of that, too. The hundreds of billions of dollars given to the very same people who took all of it to start with did not result in a sudden largesse. Nope, they just said thanks and headed off to the Cayman's for some retirement banking and fun in the sun.

Simple Solutions at their Genetic Root

The common genetic root of simple solutions is common sense. I have stated before that I believe this particular aspect of the human condition may have been bred out of our genetic material. As I look around, it seems to be the one commodity most lacking in our culture. Let's break it down: Common can be used to describe a general acceptance and Sense in this case means applicable practicality benefitting the majority.

Despite the obvious divisions within the Parties and the People, there is one common thread which has the unfortunate distinction of being the least recognized component: Enough is enough and we've had enough of not having enough. Anger, like nearly every other emotion, has at its core fear, and the fear that you are hearing is not political or ideological it is simply that we have no more to give and are afraid of having even less.

Job creation is first a function of the private sector and secondarily of the government. The Capitalists must first create the jobs to expand the tax base to allow the government to provide the public jobs. Build windmills throughout the open spaces. Build and install solar panels in every coporate building in America. Put the drill bits away and forget nuclear. Get the oil companies moving faster on alternative fuels while pushing the auto industry into making nothing but alternative fuel vehicles. Jobs, jobs, and more jobs.

The government begins hiring to repair infrastructure and installing solar panels in every government building and school. Return the stimulus money and bailout funds to the people by hiring for infrastructure development and repair. This reduces the welfare rolls and puts the money to better use than simply giving it to the crooks.

Corporate America needs a lesson from the Republicans that self-regulation and restraint is a far better solution than legislation. Creating more agencies and commissions and bureaus is not the first or best use of our resources. Enacting laws to force you to do what you should be doing on your own is counterproductive and senseless.

Corporate America is about to get a real lesson from its customer base too, and that lesson is simple: Continue to try to gouge us for every nickle and we will cease using your product or service and end your business entirely. Simple and to the point. And to the stockholders of these corporations I say this, we are your neighbors and friends and your greed is a part of the problem. Because, despite the Supreme Court's ignorant decision, a Corporation is a sum of its people and is not a living entity on its own. All we ask is that you become more reasonable and remember that you are part of a community from which you are draining the lives of others.

I already pointed out to you that jobs in energy and the development of alternative resources has many benefits. It improves and stabalizes the economy, it's good for the environment, and it ends wars. A little something for everyone.

Immigration sounds difficult, but it really isn't. The solution is neither amnesty nor deportation. It is legalization and assimilation. It isn't feasible to try to send them all back to where they came from any more than it is to allow this situation to continue as it is. The drain on our resources cannot be sustained and the only way out of it is to get their contribution. Legalization, unlike naturalization, does not grant citizenship, just a legal right to be here. It requires the payment of taxes and affords legal rights and responsibilities. It can be revoked and the person deported
for violations of our laws.

For this to work we have to be serious about enforcement and realistic at the same time. There can be no incentives to come here illegally. No jobs or government programs, no reason to risk. It will mean the deportation of those who do not register which means restoring power to INS. It will also include the deportation of every illegal immigrant in our prisons and jails to whatever fate awaits them in their country of origin. The Common Sense in this approach is that it allows us to be charitable and it ultimately improves the quality of life for all. When we are all part of a community, we tend to behave with more civility which reduces stress and leads to a better quality of life.

All41-14All

Look, I think we can all agree on one thing, and that is that the status quo is not working. What is going on in this country is shameful and disgusting and pointless. We have completely gone off the rails, and it is time to get back on track. It is time to put aside all of the differences and focus on the similarities. By virtue of birth, we all have a right to be here and a right to be treated fairly. We need to restore our self-respect both individually and as a country. Simply put, we need a paradigm shift.

I rather favor Alexander Dumas' All For One, One For All ideal. It encompasses all that is right about being a human and sharing a planet. It was that ideal that led to this country being what it was: the place to want to live. And I happen to believe that it can take us back to there. In order for Common Sense to have a chance, a Common Purpose has to be identified. That Common Purpose, I believe, ought to be in making this country what we all want it to be. Prosperous, Strong, United, Committed to the general welfare of its people and a Positive example to the rest of the world. You know, like we used to be.



 I would be happy to entertain anyone's opinions to the contrary. Show me that it won't work. Prove to me that we are incapable of change. Convince me that we no longer have humanity in humans. It will be a sad day for us all if you do.

Thank you for your attention.

Hamster Prez

An Open Letter to Congress from Your Boss

Dear Senators and Congress(wo)men,

You should not think by my lack of posts the past few days as an indication that I am through offering you more advice. I work 12 hour shifts on the weekends and we've been a little busy and so I have not had time to compose the rest of the solutions. But fear not, I will be back possibly as early as tomorrow, but probably Wednesday.

Take a breath and I'll be talking to you very soon.

Hamster Prez

An Open Letter to Congress from Your Boss

Part Three A
Simple Solutions: The Economy

As I have already stated, my life experience has taught me that if I seek out the simplest solution I will solve more problems faster. I do not feel unique in this understanding and I am sure that there are those of you who share a similar experience. I do not suffer from Terminal Uniquenss. And while I've never actually witnessed it I suspect that one looks rather foolish pole vaulting over mouse turds.

You continually tell us that the issues are too complex to be done simply which means you assume that we are all rather stupid and uninformed. The majority of us, although not particularly vocal about it, have a fairly substantial grasp of the concept behind Common Sense as well as the Obvious. What's obvious to us is that you folks don't possess much of either.

This can no longer be about who's right. It has to become about what's right. These are not political issues, they are human issues. Jobs, health care, immigration, financial reform, the economy, climate change, energy, and justice. Each of these issues affect humans, and we are no longer interested in being your ping pong balls. So, allow me the opportunity to offer some simple solutions. This will be easy, I promise.

Remember, these solutions are dependent on your having read part 2 and agreeing to stick to your Party principles and a willingness to listen.

Republicans, you are responsible for the economy and it will be up to you to repair this fiasco. The private sector must create the jobs that feed the kitty that allows the Democrats to take care of their responsibility to provide for health, education, and welfare. This is not an antagonistic relationship, it is a symbiotic one. When each side does its job, unlike now, everything hums right along. I've already told you where the jobs are going to have to come from and it's up to you and your corporated colleagues to get busy devloping the necessary funding to get it going.

Cooperation between you and Wall Street and the banks has to center on fixing what's broken, not finding ways to work around reform. Reforming things is what Democrats do. The best way to game them is to convince the Capitalists to just do the right thing and stop bleeding us for every damn nickel. The goal of corporate America seems to be acquiring every last dime. My question is, then what? Do you have a plan B? Look, if you don't reign in the greed and the voracious appetite for more there will be nothing left. You'll have it all, and it will be worth nothing. Forget reform, tell them to start doing the right thing. They will be rewarded by the single most consumer driven market on earth. Think about it, if you let us have some, we'll give it right back.

Those that were bailed out must give back every dime we gave them, and they must do it now. They have it, they know right where it is, including the first $350 million that is still unaccounted for. The banks have to be separated again into regular banks and investment banks. No more risk taking with our money. They can do what they want with theirs.

We don't need another agency designed to protect us from unscrupulous business practices if businesses would stop being unscroupulous. Again, the simplest way to get around reform is to not continually do things that make it look like you need it. As an example, I have a credit card that started with a balance of $2000 that was for a medical procedure. After two years of minimum payments, with one inadvertent late payment (one day, no less), I still owe them almost $2000. Another card disclosed that if I continued to make minimum monthly payments, it would take me 14 years and cost me an extra $8000 on a balance of just over $7000. Now you know why I don't have a new car or flat screen TV.

If you made $20 million dollars last year, how much of that $20 million dollar salary did you actually spend on living? Do you know how much of my $32 thousand dollar salary I had to spend last year to live? All of it. Neither of us needs $20 million dollars a year to live but I sure could use more than $32 thousand.

Stop throwing people out of their homes then writing off the loss which (as always) ultimately comes out of our pockets. Negotiate deals that people can afford based on their current situation, which is what you're doing with the folks that are actually able to buy a house right now, arent' you? Why not extend the same courtesy to the people who trusted you to not screw them in the first place? If the house they were tossed out of is still available, sell it back to them. If not, let them buy something else. Not everyone is going to be able to take advantage because some people actualy have almost nothing to work with anymore.

You could offer some as lease-to-own so that people who were forced out have another way back in. They're essentisally renting it from you when you give them a loan on it anyway. No one with a mortgage owns a home, they aren't homeowners, they are tenants of the bank. Might as well make full use of the position.

We just want to live, not merely survive. We really aren't asking for much, and we certainly aren't asking for anything that you don't have and can't afford to share. Unlike you, we don't want it all, we just want enough. The right thing is the simple thing and the simple thing is respect for your fellow humans. 

The simple solution is to get the money moved to the right places, invest in alternative energy development and other technologies, stop stealing from us, give some back so that we can play, too, create the jobs that will allow the Democrats to help the other part of the country that won't be able to get in on the private sector jobs.

Republicans, you have the power to make this happen. If the Capitalists resist, give them exactly what they don't want...reform. If they won't do it on their own, make them do it. You will get Democratic support for it is in their best interests, too.


So, Democrats what do you do? Support the Republicans as they deal with their friends on Wall Street and start preparing the way for your responsibilites. Creating public sector jobs ala the WPA and getting this country's infrastructure up to par is your first order. I don't know if you've noticed, but it's really starting to fall apart out here. You can also start crafting the immigration legislation that will be addressed and that I will speak to in an upcoming post. And keep your financial reform package and public option handy just in case.

Simply put, do this or we will replace you with people who will.

An Open Letter to Congress from Your Boss

Part Two: The Job Descriptions


Dear Senators and Representatives,

It has come to my attention that production has declined and there is an inordinate amount of dissention within your ranks. It is time that we cleared the air on both our continuing employment arrangement and your job descriptions. I will address the latter issue first. For ease of understanding, I am going to present this in a party by party manner. That said, do not misconstrue that you should only read the part that pertains to you. Know thine enemy, know thyself.

The Emerging Third Party with the Terrible Name:

First, mount an ad campaign to change your name. Good God, Tea Baggers? Really? I think you can do better.

Second, distance yourselves from the other two. Neither will ever adopt your ideology. They are not built that way. As far as I can see, you appear to be Libertarian Conservatives and the new party of the religious right evangelical crowd. Nothing wrong with that since they were very influential once and directly influenced quite a bit of legislation. It could be argued that there is still some pull there given that issues like gay marriage continue to be defeated at the polls.

Go your own way. The Republicans are trying to use your fear and energy even as they continue to protect your greatest enemies. The Democrats are scaring the hell out of you and you’re not really sure why. It all sounds so complicated and confusing. But you really need to broaden your views, be more inclusive, shed the radical fringe, and become a solid third party contender. You could continue to scream and wave scary signs, or you could become part of the solution by rationally presenting your case to the American people. We will always ignore the ignorant and unfortunately, that’s how you are behaving. Simply put, stop it.

The Republicans

The most glaring and obvious mistake that you have made so far is in not realizing that the Project Manager, Mr. Obama, is not a Democrat but is actually a Social Republican. (By the way, it’s the same mistake the Democrats made). The health care bill is an absolutely perfect example of social republicanism. Your client, the health insurance industry (although I cannot figure out why they’re called an industry since they make nothing unless you consider misery a product), was a dying entity and it knew it. It had a completely unsustainable business model and, left alone, would have imploded and given us the public option whether we wanted it or not. In a fit of pure genius, he saved a completely useless corporate money whore and provided it with a sustainable business model. At the same time, he solved the Democrats need for social justice.

(Health care and access to it should never have become a profit center, but it has and we now have new life for this completely vile business. But I digress).

The reforms that are built into this legislation are what create the sustainable future of the industry. The reforms make it impossible for the insurance companies to destroy themselves. It saves tens of thousands of jobs and potentially creates millions more both in the private and public sectors. This bill is the most bipartisan piece of legislation to come out of your houses in probably forever. Recognize the good parts of it for all sides and realize that what Mr. Obama did was bring you back to your roots as a party. Simply put, work with him instead of against him and you’ll get a lot more of what you want. Just make sure that what you want is what we want as well.

Stop railing against the parts of it that were your idea in the first place. There is nothing wrong with the mandate that can’t be fixed and please tell your people that end of life counseling was also your idea and is not a death panel. And when you vote against something that contains many of your own ideas, you look foolish. When your tirade centers around a procedure that you have used more often than anyone else, you look foolish. When you endorse crowds of people who wave placards and banners that depict your Project Manager as the most despicable characters in history, you become despicable. Simply put, stop it.

You need to remember that the “C” you are supposed to represent is Capitalism, not Christianity. I would like to suggest that you all get a copy of the original doctrine that outlined your responsibilities. Your number one priority is the consistent flow of the economy by managing the ebbs and flows. Employment, credit, the stock market, the banks, manufacturing, and trade are under your direct purview. And you’re doing a lousy job. Capital is the engine that keeps everything else running. Social policy is not your problem. Your job is to make sure that the economy functions successfully.

You have rules that you must adhere to within your respective houses. Some of them are certainly arcane, still others ridiculous, and some downright stupid. The majority have a sound logical reason for being. And as you must operate under rules, so must the corporations and entities that cause our economy to work properly. We have all witnessed what happens when we leave these greed-based gluttons to their own devices. It is the private sector that fuels the public one, not the other way around.

Energy is where you must concentrate your efforts. Alternative fuels development, obvious natural resource technologies. These are where the new money and jobs will come from. Jobs create tax revenues and the greater the revenues, the quicker we start eliminating the debt and deficit. Having a job and an income that allows people to live instead of survive eliminates their desire to throw bricks through your windows and scaring your kids. People who are content are much easier to get along with.

The economic impact of this is great for America and terrible for our enemies. A strong, patriotic, and energy independent America bankrupts and scares the bejeesus out of our enemies. They have only one commodity to offer, and it is becoming obsolete. They know this; they may live on a fence between the 15th and 21st centuries but they know that most of the rest of the world is moving away from fossil fuels. They have nothing to fall back on and without money, they pose no threat to anyone. You cannot throw a rock across the ocean and you can’t buy bombs with sand.

But you like war, you say? Well, for a little while longer it will be necessary to maintain the upward mobility of the economy. When you can pull money out of the defense budget to help create more jobs, higher wages, debt and deficit reduction you will reap the rewards. You will also have coming out of the service a whole new group of young, highly trained and capable people to help create new technologies and strategies. Spending less for something bad and more for something good will benefit you both professionally and personally. Killing, like illness, should not be profitable.

Trust me, the Democrats will help you with this for it is in their best interest to do so. I’ll explain why in their section. They are going to need your help as well. Don’t be afraid, what I will be asking of you will not hurt, will not damage your credibility, nor will it stray from your original manifesto…assuming you return to it. Simply put, do it.

Democrats

The yelling across the aisle that your counterparts are nothing more than obstructionists may be factually correct, but it is also ignores your own brand of the same thing. While I have stated that the Project Manager is a Social Republican, he identifies as a Democrat and, as such, is your guide. The efforts of some to contradict the “Smartest Man in the Room” proved futile and a complete waste of time. All he did was give everyone what they wanted whether they knew they wanted it or supported wanting it. He took you all to school, so learn from his lessons.

Your group is divided too many times. Blue Dog Democrats are not Democrats and should either move into the party or out of it. Anti-abortion Democrats are not Democrats and should either move into the party of out of it. Liberal and Progressive Democrats are Democrats but there cannot be degrees of Democrat-ness. It’s time to declare your Party. Everyone pull out that dog-eared credo of the Party and follow it.

There are a couple of major issues coming to your side of the room between now and midterms. I will go into more detail on those in the next letter. The one thing you have to hand to the Republicans is that they stood by their strategy, come hell, high water, or defeat. And they almost beat you. Organize and decide what you want your priorities to be and act according to the principals or your party on the issues that are your responsibility and in a positive manner to those that are not.

You are the Socialist side of the founding fathers’ equation, and before you get all puckered about being called a Socialist, look it up. Your responsibility is the health, education, and welfare of the people. If you assist the Republicans with the Capitalist issues, they in turn are more likely to allow you the social programs that follow the flow of money. It is mutually beneficial to do so. There are those that worry about a single party system, and I am not advocating that. What I am saying is that while it is true that both parties have specific ideological paths, they are not mutually exclusive.

Two quick fixes that will eliminate them as distractions: Repeal DADT and DoMA now. There is no need to wait and you really don’t need them hanging over your heads. They are offensive and unnecessary and wrong. Just do it.





Summary

Pull yourselves together and get on the same page. Concentrate on the issues that are yours to focus on and assist with those that aren’t. The two party system works best when it works together. The Republicans will not go far enough with reform and you will go too far with social programming. The system is designed so that both sides can achieve their own ideals while at the same time ensuring that the country is fiscally sound and our people are secure in all aspects of life.

And try to remember that, for now at least, you work for us, not the other way around.

An Open Letter to Congress from Your Boss

Part One: The Problem


Dear Senators and Representatives,

I know that you are busy standing still, but I hope that you will take the time to read this and that you thank the staffer who passed it along to you for me. As evidenced in the title, this is the first of several letters you are going to be receiving in the coming days.

I would like to point out that the building that houses the office you are in, the chair that you occupy, the computer that you are reading this on, all belong to me. Your salary, which is already six times greater than mine, and the benefits that are provided to you that you did not want to share with me in the way of health care, and the manicured lawn upon which sits your residence are all courtesy of my largesse. And that of the 300 million stock holders who share that ownership with me.

While there are a number of large issues facing this country at the moment and you having been hired to see to these issues, I would like to point out that you are not dealing at all well with the problem. You see, the issues are not the problem. All of the issues have a solution. The question is, is there one for the problem? I know there is and I believe you do as well.

The problem is, quite frankly, you. None of the issues can be solved as long as you remain the problem. There are, as usual, several factors that define this problem, and I will be addressing those with you in the coming letters. For now, suffice to say that the solutions to both the issues and the problem are quite simple. That is not to say easy as they are not the same things. I have found in my years of experience that it is usually the simplest answer that solves the most problems.

The second step to solving the problem involves campaign finance reform. Due to the misguidance of the Supreme Court and your own rules, the company has been taken over by special interests inside and outside of Washington. The first change to be enacted is self-financed candidates. When a gubernatorial candidate can force others out of the race simply because they have $39 million of their own dollars to open with, it makes the system inherently unfair and corrupted. A candidate cannot donate any more than any other contributor to their own campaign.

Second, cap “war chests” and require all donations be spent on the campaign. Professional sports have salary caps for a reason, and so should you when it comes to campaign dollars. How can you tell an executive at a bailed out company that he must regulate his pay while simultaneously lining your coffers with millions of his company’s dollars? And you cannot create a “foundation” or other vehicle to funnel campaign contributions to or from. No one should need more than $10 million per year, and probably less.

So, we start here at step one: Sit down and talk, shut up and listen, and show us and yourselves a little respect. In short, stop running for re-election and earn the right to keep your jobs. See, if you just do your jobs, you’ll get to keep them. Wasn’t that simple?

Corporatism, the New America.

The ruling by the Supremes allowing unfettered financial access to politicians and, therefore, legislation, will be the ruin of this country. Congrats to the conservatives for this final victory. See you on the bread lines.

The revolution begins shortly.

The Predicatble Court

Yesterday afternoon the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-conservative 4-liberal voted to ban cameras at the Proposition 8 trial currently underway in the 9th Circuit Court is San Francisco. This was a decision that may have a much greater impact on the lower court's finding. That ruling will undoubtedly end up in the hands of this Supreme Court, regardless of how the lower court rules. It is not a stretch to consider that if they are going to vote along politically ideological lines on a matter as silly as this one, then it's seems unlikely that a different outcome will occur when this case gets to them.

There's just one problem, and it's the same issue I brought up back when this was still on the ballot. There's one pesky phrase in both California's and the United States constitutions that cannot be ignored: Equal protection under the law for all citizens. You cannot legally bar one citizen or group of citizens from enjoying the same rights as any other citizen or group. No where in either document offers and exclusions to the equal protection guarantee. Prop 8 was illegal from its inception and cannot legally be enforced.

Of course, that minor detail was lost on the voters of California and apparently means nothing to the Supreme Court as well. There is another problem facing this court; the Supreme Court has already ruled that marriage is a constitutionally protected right. I don't really see how they can worm around those two issues, but I suspect they'll try to find a way.

Then again, they can avoid the whole thing by simply refusing to hear the case and let stand the federal court's decision...which is exactly the stand they will take if the anti-gay marriage people prevail.

I wish I had more faith in our judicial system, and I sincerely hope that both the judge in San Francisco and those nine people in Washington read the document that they are charged with upholding, regardless of their personal beliefs.

California Is Going Green

The next session of our legislature will be dealing with a proposal to legalize and regulate pot, ostensibly making your neighborhood convenience store truly a one-stop shop. Get your pot and munchies and slushie at the same time! Grab a case of beer, some chips, maybe a 1/4 pound hot dog, two packs of cigarettes and a liter of Mountain Dew then drive 10 miles an hour back to your apartment. There may be more accidents in motor vehicles because of this, but no one dies in a 20 mph crash, so the real winners are the insurance companies (as usual) who will continually raise your rates.

This is a measure devised for purely economic reasons, make no mistake. There's a bale-load of tax money just waiting to be collected on the sale of pot, something that the government has been missing out on for years. The amount of tax revenue to be collected is an unknown, and I don't suspect they will be taxing the medical marijuana stores that now outnumber Starbucks in LA. In fact, it may well put those places out of business entirely since they will become pretty much unnecessary. Whatever the number of dollars is, it far exceeds what they can collect on income tax, especially with unemployment at record highs, losses of jobs, no new industries coming in, and the crash of the real estate market. It's really a no-brainer.

There is one minor issue involving the fact that pot is still illegal under federal law, but what's the DEA going to do, arrest everyone in California? Raid every 7-11 and liquor store? Sheer numbers will prevent them from enforcing the law. Besides, this is a state's rights issue and we should be left alone on this one.

So, I say go for it. If it doesn't work, change it back. There's gold in the hills of Humboldt County, and it's about time we cashed it in.

HP

I Hate Underpants.

Calling the idiot who likely destroyed the only part of a man's body that he reeeally cares about the "Underpants Bomber" really annoys the hell out of me. I mean, the guy is a total loser, fortunately, and the media is creating this image of him as just a dumb and misguided kid. Aside from the fact that he tried to kill a few hundred people whom he had never met, he's actually a pretty sympathetic figure. Of course, the largest part of sympathetic is, after all, pathetic. Angry, confused, pampered kid who got caught up with the wrong crowd after school.

But back to the underpants. Not only is my hatred for the garment but for the very word underpants. It's so third grade. It's childish and evokes the kid's taunt, " I see London..." and you all know the rest of it. The spin on this story is startling. The pictures they show of him on all the pundit's shows portray a boy. Even his mug shot looks something like what you'd see in your kid's high school yearbook. He looks damn near virginal, which he likely is. If he was like most guys and following the lead from the brain in his little head, there's no way in any god's earth that it's gonna let him use it as a bomb.

The argument could also be made that he, like every nutbag before him, is just wired wrong. Did they really need to have a sanity trial for Jeffery Dahmer? Anyone who decides or just feels like killing people is an okay thing to do are just wired differently than those of us who don't. If you really look around, the overwhelming majority of the people who reside on this orb would rather not be terrified all the time. Really, we would. Unfortunately, it seems like the only way to get that message across to the underwhelming minority is to beat them to death, which sort of negates the whole idea.

Credit the excellent blog Fire Dog Lake with the best name for this moron: The Fruit of the Boom Bomber". Now that makes him sound every bit as dangerous as he is. It doesn't matter about where he came from or how he got to here. What matters is that he's a freaking terrorist and tried to murder a plane full of people. Let's call him what he is, shall we?

For the record, I am all for trying his ass in a federal court and parking his fried genitals in Colorado for the rest of his life, which likely wouldn't be long. There's still a lot more of us than them in prison. Okay, that's probably not a great thing to admit, but that doesn't make it any less true.

The practice of creating cute or meaningful monikers to our criminals was once a tool to invoke fear and to an extent awareness to be more vigilant for your own safety. The Boston Strangler. The Zodiac Killer. The Frankford Slasher. The Underpants Bomber. Which of these things is not like the others?

He's a terrorist, not a folk hero. Besides, it's not like his name is easy, like Dillinger.

That's my screed for today.

New Marketing Paradigm

We live in Southern California, or SoCal, and I have discovered the new marketing plan for the future. The backstory: My brother works in Indianapolis were it gets a bit cooler than here. He wanted a flannel shirt and so our Mom has been out searching for this shirt. She was actually told at one store that they were bringing in their spring line so they aren't replacing the winter stock. Mom quietly pointed out that it was still winter and was, in fact, the coldest day we had had so far (which is no comparison to the cold in Indy, as you can imagine). He then pointed out to her that he just worked there, and that's the way it was. Unable to argue his logic, she gave up. So the new marketing paradigm is this: If you don't have it by the time you need it, then you really didn't need it.

Makes perfect sense.

8.5 Minutes

That's how long it took into the new year before the first fire truck rolled out of the station up the street.

Just thought you ought to know.