Absent Real Reform Term Limits Make Sense

A group of Republican members of Congress has proposed a constitutional amendment that would limit the amount of time a person could serve in Congress. If enacted, Senators would be limited to two six-year terms; members of the House could serve three two-year terms.

Personally, I have always opposed term limits. If the public wants to limit the service of people in Congress they have the ability to do so. All they need to do is vote them out. Also, I do not subscribe to the notion that all politicians are corrupt enough to require their forced ouster after a set number of years. But history tells us that incumbency confirms a great number of advantages that allow one to continue serving and accruing power long passed their usefulness.

In a more perfect nation we would seek to limit the influence of those who have the resources to buy the laws they desire by passing laws that take private money out of politics. In our nation, however, that kind of commonsense reform seems to be a near impossibility. So, even though I am worried about the negative impact of continuous Congressional turnover it is something we must consider. If we can not take the bribes out of politics maybe we need to take the people out before they become too use to accepting them.

Mormons Support Some Gay Rights

Yesterday, Sault Lake City, Utah adopted an ordinance making it illegal to discriminate against gay and lesbian people in the areas of employment and housing. The ordinance passed after the Mormon Church surprisingly announced its support. While making it clear that they still oppose gay marriage the Mormon church said it did not agree with discrimination. Since 80 percent of the Utah legislature and the governor are members of the church it is expected that similar legislation will soon be enacted throughout the entire state.

Setting aside the ridiculous notion that a group can claim it does not stand for discrimination while continuing to deny people equal treatment under all of our laws—let’s give the Mormon church some credit. While it is true that their new-found support for anti-discrimination laws may be, in part, an attempt to counteract the negative press they have received for their efforts to outlaw same-sex marriage in California and Maine, on this issue the Mormon church has decided to use its influence to promote social change.

Now that Utah, one of the nation’s most conservative states, seems poised to end discrimination against gays and lesbians in the areas of employment and housing it will be interesting to see how Republicans can continue blocking similar efforts in Congress. If a group as conservative as Mormons can understand the inherit inequality in a society that allows people to be fired because they are gay don’t all Republicans have to come along?

I know the answer to that question is “no,” but hopefully this development will put enough added pressure on Congressional Republicans to at least encourage them to consider being a little more tolerant.

Democrats Should Stand With Lindsey Graham

Since Obama was inaugurated the Republicans only strategy has been to say “no” to anything he has tried to do. Today, we have news that Charleston County Republicans have voted to censure Lindsey Graham—a Republican Senator—because they say he works too closely with Democrats. According to those involved in the censure resolution Senator Graham’s efforts to reach a compromise with Democrats on climate legislation was “the last straw.” The group is planning to introduce a similar censure resolution when the South Carolina Republicans have their next convention.

Given the political differences between us I rarely agree with Lindsey Graham. But his willingness to take on his party and work for solutions is admirable. It has become increasingly clear that the Republican Party is not a place for moderates. But senturing Lindsey Graham shows that not only are moderates being threatened in the Republican Party, but so are those who place country over party. Watching Republicans these days is truly sad. As cynical as I am I never thought the day would come when so many would be so obvious about the reality that they care more about their own political aspirations than the future of our nation. The notion that searching for compromise is akin to political treason is one that is destroying America. I would not vote for Lindsey Graham, but in this case I will be cheering for him. The Senate—and our nation—need more politicians who let principles guide them.

You Idiots! no Children are Going to gay Weddings

In the aftermath of Maine voter’s decision to add their state to a sorrowful list that numbers 31 states where people have decided to legalize discrimination many are asking why. The associated Press gives one very good answer. Opponents of same-sex marriage spent millions in California and Maine erroneously convincing parents that if same-sex marriage was legalized children would be taken on fieldtrips to gay weddings, taught about same-sex relationships in school, and otherwise exposed to what they see as the “homosexual lifestyle.”

The fact that these kinds of lies manage to scare so many is yet more proof of the general ignorance of the American public. How can so many be persuaded to deny others equal access to what are at there core nothing more than governmental benefits simply by being told outrageous things might happen? Have you ever heard of a school taking a fieldtrip to a wedding? And do you think children should not be taught about different racial and/or ethnic backgrounds? How deep does your hatred run?

When I saw those ads I laughed at their misleading, ignorant content. Unfortunately, my anger with those who produced them was tempered by my understanding that so many of you are actually stupid enough to be convinced of their legitimacy.

Whether the lynch mob that continues using religion to justify hatred and discrimination likes it or not—gay people have been, are now, and always will be a part of American society. As much as they hate gay people and try and legislate homosexuality out of existence children will come into contact with gay people and be forced to confront the morality of homosexuality and efforts to discriminate against those who are homosexual.

Lastly, does anyone else find it strange that the same nuts who constantly argue that their religious preference should be a part of our nation’s curriculum—whether we like it or not—feel they have the right to deny equality to Americans they do not like to protect their children from learning about the differences between people? As usual, I find myself desperately wondering where the intellectual consistency is? Or does hiding behind religious works protect the stupidity of their arguments from proper scrutiny?

A Man Stoned to Death for Adultery: Pregnant Girlfriend Next

A group of Muslims that control Southern Somalia have stoned to death a 33-year-old man for, reportedly, committing adultery. The man’s pregnant girlfriend will be stoned to death as soon as she gives birth. This is the third confirmed murder of a person by stoning in Southern Somalia for reportedly committing adultery in the last few months. One of the prior victims was a 13-year-old girl that human rights organizations claim was raped.

Many of you have written to ask why I have so much against Islam. After reading about things like this—and all the other stories like it I have written about—it is simply hard to come to any other conclusion other than deciding that Islam is a barbaric religion. In my efforts to better allow us to discuss this difficult topic and to give some of you the chance to convince me otherwise I will write a longer more detailed post about my feelings towards Islam in the next week.

Goldman Sachs Gets Swine Flu Shots Before Hospitals

For months many of us have been angry about the large amount of money Wall Street firms have been getting from the government while lavishing huge bonuses on their employees. But if that were not enough to make you hate Wall Street and the way it owns our government we are now finding out that giant Wall Street banks are getting access to the limited number of swine flu shots before the general public.

The government of New York City has begun making vaccines available to companies with in-house medical departments as a way of getting the public immunized against swine flu. So far, 50 companies—including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup—have received doses of the vaccine.

I understand why public officials might want to use businesses to help get people vaccinated, but giving doses to Wall Street firms when hospitals are still looking for it is outrageous. If the public is going to be vaccinated all members of the public should have the same opportunity of doing so. Working for a major company should not give people access to limited vaccines while so many Americans wait in line. Even if companies responsibly hand out their doses to only those employees in high-risk groups the reality is that wealthy people are getting vaccinated first. That is a standard we simply can not tolerate.

Republicans are Getting More Childish by the day

We are all use to Washington politics being totally dysfunctional and one party or another putting politics over our national interest. But today the typical ridiculous nature of Congressional politics hit an all-time low.

For days Democrats in the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee had been holding off a vote on climate-change legislation because the Republicans on the committee were refusing to participate in debate. Several days of hearings took place without a single Republican asking a question or listening to an answer. The Republicans decided that, for them, the right move was to do whatever they could to stall the bill’s passage. So, they tried to insist on another round of studies designed to quantify much that had already been quantified. And when Democrats, who won the right to make these kinds of decisions, overruled the Republicans—Republicans took the childish step of refusing to participate.

So, the 12 Democrats were forced to pass the bill as it was originally drafted; thus, it was not amended in any way. During today’s vote 11 of the twelve Democrats voted in favor of sending the bill out of committee. The only Democrat to vote “no” was our friend from the health care debate Max Baucus. And why did Mr. Baucus object? Of course, Mr. Baucus believes the bill goes too far. Currently, the bill calls for a reduction of greenhouse gases of 20 percent by 2020. Mr. Baucus, who has made a livelihood out of protecting corporations, believes the reduction should be 17 percent. And, in case you are not tired of this word already, Baucus said that he would support a “trigger” that would allow the 20 percent standard if other nations adopted similar targets.

Republicans have a right to get a complete study of the bill before it is voted up or down by the entire Senate. But I have never before heard of a party refusing to work on a bill in committee until all other work is done. The obstructionist tactics being employed by Republicans are absolutely beyond the pail. The minority has a right to use procedural measures to keep itself from being trampled, but it does not have a right to keep those who won the majority from getting anything done. Even though Senator Boxer is not one of my favorites I stand with her today. If Democrats allow Republicans to hijack their agenda, for some crazy reason, voters will reward Republicans for doing so.

Clunkers did not Always Result in Better Trade-ins

The Associated Press has given us our first look at the impact the “Cash for Clunkers” program had on getting more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. According to government data, the most common transactions made were owners of trucks trading in their vehicles for newer trucks with only slightly better fuel efficiency standards. More than 82 hundred F150s were exchanged for newer models whose MPG are only between one and three miles per gallon better than the clunkers they were traded for.

Additionally, the government reports that it spent 562,500 dollars on rebates that were given to people who bought cars whose miles per gallon were equal to or less than the vehicle they traded in. The government says it is investigating the transactions where people were given rebates even though their new vehicle was not more fuel efficient and that dealers would be instructed to pay back rebates.

More than one of seven vehicles purchased under the “Clunkers” program got less than 20 miles to the gallon. The average vehicle traded in got 15.8 miles per gallon. The average new vehicle got 24.9 miles per gallon.

It seems as if the environmental impact of the “Clunkers” program will not wind up being what some of us were hoping it would have been. As usual, there were some Americans who cared more about scheming the system rather than following the spirit of the program and doing what was best for our nation. On balance, however, the program must be seen as a success. Not only did it get many high-mileage vehicles off the road, but it really stimulated our economy.

Republican Health Care” What’s in it for you?

I know you’ve been waiting for it—and here it is. That’s right House Republicans have finally produced their version of health care reform. If you thought the Democrats bill was a give away to business interests just wait until you read this baby. The bill’s primary feature is that it caps non-economic damages that result from medical malpractice. Next this landmark piece of legislation allows insurance companies to continue denying people coverage based on pre-existing conditions, dropping people for any reason, and capping benefits. The bill “encourages” the creation of insurance pools for people with high-risk conditions. In other words, the bill encourages states to subsidize people with pre-existing conditions to pay the higher premiums Republicans believe insurance companies should be able to charge sick Americans. All of you who care more about the size of the bill than its impact on your life will be glad to know the Republican bill is only 230 pages. So, I’m guessing most of you will have read it within the next few days.

So, the party of “no” has told us what it would take to get them to say yes. All Democrats have to do is draft legislation that allows insurance companies to keep raising our premiums, throwing us off their rolls when we need coverage, denying us coverage if we are sick, continue the practice of letting them divide up the nation so they do not have to compete with each other, and “encourage” states to use taxpayer money to line the pockets of insurance companies even further. Oh, and if a doctor’s negligence injures you Republicans will fully compensate you for the days of work you miss. But if you suffer or require life-long medical care—Republicans do not really care if you are compensated.

This bill needs to be reported by everyone. It is no surprise that its details surfaced on an election day—when the public’s attention would be elsewhere, but that age-old political trick can not be allowed to work. If the public really could be helped to understand what the Republican version of health care reform is many people would be drawn to the weak Democratic proposal.

We are Forgeting the Lessons Taught by our Pets

This article has nothing to do with current events or news, but it is really worth a read. As a person who loves animals I completely agree with the conclusions the author has come to. As a friend of mine put it when talking about Ivor, my now deceased guide dog, all of us should try to be the kind of person Ivor was. With our expanded intelligence and ability to create things we have allowed ourselves to forget the qualities of community and partnership that animals develop in their non-judgmental groupings.