Frustrated Yet?

Yesterday, the President of the United States met with top Republican leaders in Congress to discuss a way to move forward on some of the top issues we face. They all came out of the meeting optimistic that, after a tough election, the two parties could work together and realize that the problems we face are bigger than political differences.

So, today, Republicans sent a letter to Democrats saying they will block everything they do until tax cuts for the top 2% of income earners are passed.

Let me be clear on what they want to hold hostage for the sake of tax cuts for their friends:

-Unemployment benefits to the millions still out of work.

-Extending tax cuts for 98% of working Americans and small businesses

-The START Treaty with Russia (which would reduce how many strategic warheads the United States and Russia could hold and would set up a system where each nation could inspect and verify what weapons the other has)

-The DREAM Act which would give kids who were brought here illegally the chance to gain citizenship through service in our military or two years in college

-A vote that would repeal the outdated and discriminatory policy that is known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Today, the Republicans just put in writing what their philosophy has been for the last four years - stand in the way of any progress if it doesn't serve their party's interests.

So, if you lost your job and your unemployment benefits ran out last night, you know why. If you're a middle income American and your tax cuts expire after this month, you know why.

These are the folks you voted for. Just wait until January when you get to see more of them take power.

Unbelievable

So, you're a Congressman. You get the unemployment numbers often and you know how many people are still unemployed and looking for work. You look at the calendar and it says November 30th. You realize that when the clock strikes midnight and December begins, unemployment benefits expire for nearly a million people. What do you do?

You would think they would get their act together and hold a vote which would immediately extend those benefits. It makes sense -- not just because millions are still looking for jobs, but because Christmas is a little over three weeks away. If anything, do it because it's the season of generosity.

It came up today in the Senate and the Republicans blocked debate on it.

Their reasoning? Well there's two reasons:

1. They don't want it to add to the deficit.

2. They want to push through tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans before anything else.

The Republicans blocked discussion on this issue because they don't want it to add to the deficit but they won't do anything else until they get tax cuts for the top 2% of income earners which will end up adding $700 billion to the deficit.

Make sense to you?

If it doesn't, you're not alone. If it does, you need to see a doctor.

I know Republicans get off railing against anything resembling a welfare check or an unemployment check.

The President sometimes discusses it as follows (I'm paraphrasing):

They tell you its the ownership society, but basically it's "You're on your own." If you lose your job, you're on your own. If your child doesn't have health care, you're on your own. If you can't afford to send your kids to college, you're on your own. If you lose your home, tough luck, you're on your own. In other words, pull yourself up from your own boot straps -- even if you don't have boots. You are on your own.

This is what it's all about. There are two lines of thoughts here. Look at the two priorities of the respective political parties. Who are the Republicans fighting for when they reject unemployment benefits for the millions out there without jobs but fight tooth and nail for tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires?

According to the Congressional Budget Office, extending these benefits to the unemployed is one of the quickest ways of stimulating the economy. Why? Because unemployed are likely to pump the money back into the economy right away by spending money on groceries and necessities. What are the top 2% of income earners going to do with the money they get back from their tax breaks the Republicans are fighting for? Chances are (and this is according to most economists), they're not going to invest it back into the economy but instead save it.

As the benefits of nearly a million Americans run out tonight, the Republican Party continues to show that it isn't just the party of no but the party of no conscience -- straight from the pages of Ayn Rand.

Good night, and good luck.

Gays in the Military and Senator McCain

Can you tell which of these dead soldiers is the gay one? Neither can I. I wonder if Senator McCain goes to all soldiers' funerals or just the soldiers who are straight.

It's about time we end the policy that says a gay person can't serve his or her country.

And, Senator McCain will go down in history on the same page as those who said African Americans couldn't vote or eat in the same restaurants or go to the same schools as white Americans. In 50 years, after we have broken this barrier, Senator McCain will fall into the scrap heap of American history and be on the page of other old and out-of-touch Conservatives who stood against anyone and anything that wasn't like them.

He's a sell out.

Jobs

Here are some numbers showing the continuing improvement of our employment situation here in the United States. We've had ten months (11 if you count this month) of private sector job creation. In fact more jobs have been created under the Obama administration in 2010 than under all 8 years (2001-2009) of the Bush administration.

If you didn't notice, the red bars represent the job growth (or loss) under the Bush administration and the blue bars represent job numbers under the Obama administration.

Not Your Parent's Republican Party

I have not been around to experience that many election cycles, but I have been around enough to know this one is unique.

In 2008, we experienced a grassroots movement of ordinary people who were inspired by the simple idea that they could change their country. It was fueled by a positive belief that we can move this country forward by lifting its people up and solving problems our leaders have put off for decades.

In 2010, we are witnessing a different kind of movement – the Tea Party movement - filled with candidates who are proudly pursuing an agenda, fueled by anger, which would put a halt to progress, not just made over the past 2 years, but progress made over the past 50 years. Not only is their agenda frightening, as I will later explain, but their personal views are particularly disturbing.

These are the same folks that the pundits and the polls suggest are going to win in this year’s midterm elections, and win big.

In Delaware, the Republican Senate candidate, Christine O’Donnell, thinks our Constitution does not include anything dealing with the separation of church; and she can’t name a single Senator in the Democratic Party.

In Kentucky, Republican Senate candidate, Rand Paul (son of former Congressman and Presidential hopeful, Ron Paul), says he may have not voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed major forms of discrimination and ended segregation.

The Republican Senate candidate from Nevada, Sharon Angle, thinks that autism is a socialist conspiracy that aims to give undeserving children free health care – and this might be the least extreme thing she has said.

In South Carolina, the Republican Senator, Jim DeMint, believes gay people should not only be restricted of the right to marry but also restricted of the right to be a school teacher.

Alaska’s Republican Senate candidate, Joe Miller, thinks the 17^th Amendment that gives American citizens the right to elect Senators should be repealed; not to mention how he believes we should build a 21^st century version of the Berlin Wall on our borders.

I could go on all day describing the troubling views of Tea Party candidates running for office all across this country (and I didn’t even mention some of their opposition to the federal minimum wage or their support of privatizing Social Security). According to the New York Times, there are 138 candidates affiliated with Tea Party movement running in races all across America this year with the letter ‘R’ next to their names.

But make no mistake; this is not your parent’s Republican Party. This is a Republican Party that has been hijacked by the loudest voices with the most extreme views, and this year we need to make sure we don’t let this Republican Party and the intolerance and extremism they promote take over any branch of our government.

If you think some of their extreme views aren’t enough to disqualify them, then take a look at their agenda.

The Republican Party’s line of attack is that the Democrats in Congress and the President in the White House love to recklessly spend money. Unfortunately, for them, the numbers just don’t add up.

Not only has the deficit been reduced by 8% in President Obama’s first fiscal year, but taxes have been cut, the auto industry has been saved, health care has been reformed, the markets have been stabilized, and we have seen nine straight months of private sector job growth. These are facts.

The Republican Party’s 2010 agenda which they titled, “The Pledge to America” is an effort to turn back the clock and erase the progress we have been making over the past two years.

I know numbers and statistics bore the heck out of people and Tea Party candidates do their best to avoid dealing in facts, but I think it is extremely important that we take the time to inform ourselves before we go to the polls on November 2^nd.

This Republican agenda claims it will cut spending, cut taxes, and put the country on a course to balancing the budget by 2020. Sounds good, right?

Well, here are the facts:

Their tax plan is projected to cost about $4 trillion; that’s $700 billion more expensive than the Obama administration’s plan. Keep in mind, that $700 billion extra (which will have to be borrowed) will go to tax cuts for millionaire and billionaires – people who are least likely to put it back into the economy.

Balancing the budget over the next ten years sounds good too, right? Well, the only way we could even come close to balancing the budget under “The Pledge to America” is if we essentially abolish the federal government, Congress included; just not practical. Aside from that, their agenda will result in a drop in the Gross Domestic Product which translates to a net loss of 1.1 million jobs according to the Economic Policy Institute.

I hope you’re still with me here because the next part is extremely important, particularly for college students.

In addition to the forty-eight page Republican proposal, the Republican leader in the house, Congressman John Boehner of Ohio, released a proposal that would cut education funding by about 20% which will lead to approximately 8 million students being slashed from student loan programs (according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities).

This is the choice we all face this year. Anger may lead us to believe that we must vote out the same people we elected two years ago because progress has not come fast enough. But when have you ever made a decision out of anger that you are satisfied with?

Progress is never easy. It takes time – especially when we have just gone through such a devastating recession. But giving up because progress is not always quick is not the right course of action – not now.

The Republican Party is banking on fear and anger to turn these elections in their favor. Prove them wrong and score a victory for sanity.

Vote.

Register to Vote!

The deadline to register to vote in the November 2, 2010 General Election is October 4th, 2010, so any registration form must be returned either in person to your Board of Elections, Secretary of State’s office, office of the registrar or any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, a public high school or vocational school, a public library, the office of a county treasurer, or a state or local office of a designated agency or postmarked no later than October 4, 2010.

If you haven’t registered to vote, do it today! And don’t forget to vote!

Downloadable Registration Form!
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/publications/election/VRform.pdf

More Republican Hypocrisy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I was reading about this the other day and I turned on MSNBC last night to see The Rachel Maddow Show explaining in a pretty straightforward way that it's the Republican Party who is more of a threat to our deficit. Want to cut taxes for the top two percent of income earners AND bring down the debt in this country? Good luck.

Oil Spill Opportunity

We have all seen the coverage of the oil spill over the past three months. The devastation in the gulf and the images coming out of that region have been heart breaking. Not only have the images of wild life covered in oil been the source of disappointment but the notion that so many of those living in that area will have to spend the coming months and years putting their lives back together because of how this spill has impacted them is also unsettling.

This is why I was extremely pleased that the Obama administration secured a $20 billion clean-up fund from BP last month after the President met with top executives from the oil company. They should pay whatever their circus show in the gulf costs.

I don’t claim to be the smartest person in the world and I definitely don’t claim to have all the answers but when the fate of the gulf coast rests in the hands of Kevin Costner (no offense to Mr. Costner, but seriously?), you have to begin to wonder if the best and brightest working down there to “fix” this are really the best and brightest.

But we, as citizens, and those serving us in Washington and across the country cannot let our frustration cloud our view of what is important. This oil spill gives our country a great opportunity to do something about our energy policy.

I have never been a strong supporter of drilling off-shore for oil, no matter how much I enjoyed hearing Sarah Palin and her followers shout “Drill, baby, drill!” (More like Spill, baby, spill!) throughout the 2008 presidential campaign (funny, I don’t hear those same people shouting that once-popular campaign slogan anymore). It’s an outdated, and – as we are seeing in the gulf recently – a sometimes dangerous process.

It is up to all of us to make sure that this oil spill is the last reminder that our energy policy must change and it must change now. There are simple ways we can all take advantage of the great opportunity this tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico has given us.

Call or write to your Congressmen and tell them that now is the time to stop talking about our outdated energy policy and actually start doing something about it. More specifically, call those Republican congressmen and tell them consistently voting ‘no’ in what is clearly a political decision does not count as an energy policy. Election year or not, we cannot wait.

My generation should be concerned about the future of our country and our climate more than anyone. It will be that generation that must deal with the consequences if no action is taken today.

Action in Washington D.C. may be slow but that doesn’t mean we can’t do our part in the mean time to help our environment. Reconsider how you get from place to place (take a bus, ride a bike, car-pool, etc.). Plant trees in your yard or your community. Recycle. Use fluorescent bulbs. And turn out the lights if you don’t need them or aren’t using them (right now I’m sitting in a dark cellar with a candle writing this on recycled paper). These are just some simple, common sense ways we can all help out our environment.

Our country may be divided and those serving us in Washington may be more concerned about what is politically popular than what is the right thing to do. But the images we see coming out of the gulf should give all of us a reminder of what needs to be done.

The time to do something about America’s energy future is now.

It is a challenge that must be faced and it won’t be easy. But, I will ask what many leaders from many generations have asked in the face of difficult challenges and great opportunities: If not us, who? If not now, when?

Should We Have To Pay?

This will be brief but I think it is necessary.

The federal government is doing their best to figure out how to demand BP to cover the costs of this disastrous oil spill in the Gulf. It is common sense that the American people should not have to pay for a mess that is the fault of BP. Some believe otherwise.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headed by Tom Donahue, the American people should have to pick up part of the costs. And today House Minority Leader and frequent TNT Tanning Patron, John Boehner made a comment at a press conference that suggests he fully or partly agrees with Donahue.

No explanation is needed here. The American people should not have to pay a dime to clean this mess up. Americans are already being adversely affected by this circus in the gult. The idea that Mr. Donahue and Mr. Boehner are even hinting at the fact that perhaps we should have to pick up part of these costs is simply ridiculous.

South Carolina's Sad Legacy

I have been interested in politics and history since the 2000 farce between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor, George W. Bush. At the time, I didn't quite grasp the idea that the Supreme Court of these United States could overrule the voice of the people and I still don't really get it. Either way, it was that day which made me want to understand our history and our politics.

In getting to know that history, one thing has become very clear: If there is one state that takes pride in looking at progress and shouting "stop (or 'You Lie!)," it has been South Carolina. It is an unsettling history that should shame those responsible for it.

All that knowledge makes the news in the South Carolina gubernatorial race seem like a normal day in politics for those living in the Palmetto State. South Carolina State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate, Jake Knotts made the following statement about his Tea Party-backed Republican primary opponent, Nikki Haley, who is a Christian of Indian Sikh descent:

"We already got one raghead in Washington; we don't need another raghead in the governor's mansion."

Knotts also says he believed Haley has been set up by a network of Sikhs and was programmed to run for governor of South Carolina by outside influences in foreign countries. He claims she is hiding her religion and he wants the voters to know about it.

It would be extremely shameful if it weren't so disturbingly common for South Carolina politicians to say things of this nature and to constantly incite this kind of hatred like Mr. Knotts has just decided to do. And no matter what party Mrs. Haley is part of or how far out of mainstream her views may be, someone like State Senator Knotts doesn't deserve to even hold the door for her, much less the President of the United States who he verbally slurred as well with this comment.

Alone, this comment is uncalled for. But when thrown into the history this state has, it is simply shameful; not just because it is often racially charged, but because in every instance, it involves a politician who cares more about politics than about working to get things done. This all, of course, is true without even having to mention the infidelity of the man these two candidates are running to replace, Governor Mark Sanford.

It can all be dated back to George H. W. Bush's 1988 campaign for the Presidency when South Carolina native Lee Atwater masterminded the famous "Willie Horton" television ad which led to the collapse of the Michael Dukakis campaign for President. It was not until Atwater was on his deathbed that he regretted the brutality of his career. But it is doubtful that even a deathbed conversion would lead him to believe that South Carolina would live up to his legacy in unimaginable ways.

In 1990, a Republican political consultant Rod Shealy decided to pander to the 'anti-black' white voters which surely exist in a state like South Carolina by recruiting a black candidate to run against his candidate in the primary. This, as Shealy had anticipated, paid off and benefited his own candidate.

During the 2000 Presidential Republican Primary in South Carolina between John McCain and George W. Bush, rumors trying to bring down the McCain campaign circulated that John McCain fathered an illegitimate black child. It was one of the dirtiest primary contests in our history.

Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina decided to shout at the President during his State of the Union address this year. Obviously Southern manners weren't being implemented that night.

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina proves almost on a weekly basis that his job isn't to serve his country, but instead it is to serve his political interests and his Republican Party; the party that has been taken over by extremists with no regard for reality or problem-solving. His fight to destroy Obama in the healthcare debate because it would've been "Obama's Waterloo" shows that he had no intention of solving what was our broken healthcare system, but instead his goal was to take down the man in the White House for political purposes.

And so with Jake Knotts, the sad legacy of South Carolina continues. If you want to know what is wrong with our politics just take a look at the 'leaders' from the Palmetto state and you should have a pretty good understanding of what is wrong with it. It is sad that in 2010 in the United States of America, a country that has come so far, South Carolina continues to produce leaders that talk and conduct themselves as if it were still the 1960's.

It is with that legacy that we can come to a single conclusion: South Carolina is quickly becoming the stain of American politics.

(Sources: Yahoo! News, wltx.com)

Obama's Katrina?

I haven't talked too much about the oil spill because I don't really know why there should be two sides to something like this. It's obvious BP should be responsible for being irresponsible and they should finance the clean-up effort. This is the result of a situation where proper precautions weren't taken and emergencies weren't prepared for.

The reason I am now bringing this up after almost two months of this being an issue is because recently some on the right have called this "Obama's Katrina." That comparison is obviously far off and isn't true. But there are some things the President needs to start doing to ensure he doesn't come close to holding the same title the former President rightly earned.

We know that an oil spill really can't be fixed by the President of the United States. But we do know who is responsible and I think the American people would like to see their President articulate that anger that Americans are feeling right now and also start taking a tougher stance against BP.

The 'No Drama Obama' title he has rightfully earned can go both ways. Sure it makes him look as though he has a steady hand through shaky times. But sometimes it makes him seem a little disconnected when Americans feel he should be knocking skulls together. This is a good moment for our President to show us that he is ticked off as well.

When it comes to policy, him and his administration should, in a way, hit the 'pause' button on drilling and make sure that this cannot happen anywhere else. Aside from that, they should make sure oil companies like BP have a plan in place so that when something like this does happen, we are prepared.

Finally, this damage and devastation down in the Gulf of Mexico should be cleaned up using the wallet of BP, no one else. And a law should be passed making sure that, no matter how high it is, the clean up cost should be left with the oil companies - period.

So we don't expect our President to fix this himself; he can't. But we do like to see a little emotion when a company like BP screws up this badly.

A Memorial Day Wish

In my mind, the upcoming holiday not only celebrates how fortunate we are to have men and women on the battlefield fighting for our freedoms as Americans, but it also marks the beginning of the summer season. In 2010, however, it marks another day in a country where politics makes people forget how lucky we are as Americans.

Let us all take a day - or even just a moment - to remember the folks who fought for us generations ago and those who do so today; for you, for me, for America. They don't fight with the vision of a political ideology or political party on their mind. They fight for all of us, and they don't flinch while doing it.

Tonight, the parents of an American soldier will find out their child won't be coming home. Other parents will learn that a son or daughter will be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan - many on a third of fourth or fifth tour of duty - and they will lie in bed praying that they will return safely. These soldiers and their families sacrifice more in a day than most of us do throughout our lives and it is our responsibility to take a day to remember them for it.

We may be torn as to political ideology; we may disagree about the direction our country should take. We may be members of different political parties, or we may agree with no political party. But on days like Memorial Day, it is our responsibility to come together as Americans and recognize those heroes and remember that we are Americans first; always Americans first.

Paul Against Civil Rights Act?

In a recent interview with the Courier Journal, Senate Candidate Rand Paul spoke of how he thought business owners should have the right to discriminate against African Americans or gays or any other minority and that The Civil Rights Act of 1964 should not have contained a provision making sure private businesses did not discriminate. For example, he believes a restaurant should be allowed to prohibit blacks or gays to eat there. He said it may be hateful or abhorrent, but it still should be allowed.

In this interview on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, he dodges the question again and again as to whether he meant what he said in the original interview. His views are, indeed, extreme so I don't find it any bit surprising that the Tea Party group was so enthusiastic about his candidacy and about his victory on Tuesday.

Take a look at the end of their interview and decide for yourself.

Apathy

Just a quick thought before I turn in for the night:

I was just having a talk with some of my friends about how apathetic this generation seems to be when it comes to being involved in the important issues that shape our future. And I think it is safe to say that we have a lot of work to do in order to make sure we give the next generation the same chances the generation before gave us. And it's time for us to start giving back.

It's easy for all of us to say we should volunteer, help out and give back but how many of us really do it? I can admit that I probably should do more to give back to my community and to important causes that affect our country and our world. Moving forward, I will do my best to take some time out of my schedule and help those who weren't dealt as good a hand in life as I was. It is up to all of us to follow in the foot steps of generations before and regain that sense of urgency to do something about the issues this world faces.

So I encourage everyone to volunteer. Give to good charities where you know your money will be well-spent. Take some time out of your schedule to help out at a homeless shelter or a nursing home. Make phone calls and knock on doors to make people aware of the issues that we all need to be united in dealing with. Call or write to your Senators or Congressmen and women and make sure they are serving us and not some company or lobbyist or special interest that's filling their pockets with thousands of dollars.

We can't just kick the can further down the road and hope that the next generation can face these challenges and solve some of the problems we have. It is up to all of us to start giving back to our communities and our country in any way we can today.

So what are you waiting for? Go change the world.

Returns

Tonight, there were some pretty important elections across the country testing whether or not the incumbent candidates could make it through a tough political environment.

In the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, Arlen Specter, Republican turned Democratic Senator who has been in office since 1981, lost his primary bid to Congressman Joe Sestak. At this hour the results have Sestak winning about 54% of the vote and Specter receiving 46%.

In another Democratic Primary in Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln who failed to obtain at least 50% of the vote has been forced into a run-off election with Washington outsider, Bill Halter. Right now the results are extremely close. Lincoln is at 43.0%. Halter is at 42.9%. It doesn't get any closer than that.

Across the aisle, in the Kentucky Republican primary, Rand Paul, the son of former Congressman and one-time Republican Presidential candidate, Ron Paul, beat his Republican opponent, Trey Grayson in what is an apparent victory for the Tea Party people (although Democrats surprisingly turned out over 150,000 more votes than Republicans).

However, Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional district - a conservative district that went for McCain in 2008 - fell for the Democrats tonight by a pretty good margin. Mark Critz had a decisive win over Republican opponent, Jim Burns - 53% to 45% as of now - even with Burns spending over $1 million in his campaign.

So that's the big political news for tonight. I think one thing we can say is that Democrats should be a little bit more optimistic about the upcoming elections this fall.

(Election results were from politico.com)

Tax And Spend, What?

I was just surfing the web reading about what the Tea Party's biggest legitimate concern is with the Obama administration. I assume most of the folks marching in these anti-tax and anti-government rallies are part of the middle class.

I did some research and I found that when the President says he gave 95% of working Americans a tax cut, he's telling the truth. It's fact. If you'd like to see further on that, then visit this link:http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jan/28/barack-obama/tax-cut-95-percent-stimulus-made-it-so/

I also did some more research when it comes to all these taxes that the Tax Day protesters say have been burdening them because of Barack Obama. Experts say that no one, particularly middle-class Americans, has gotten a tax increase under this administration. In fact, the only tax that experts say has been put in place so far is an increase in the federal cigarette tax.

The only reason I bring this up is because this seems to be among the talking points of the opposition. "He's taxing us to death!"

It's just not true. In the first year of the Obama administration the total average tax load of the American people came to 9.2% of a person's income. This is the lowest - yes lowest - fraction of American income the government has taken from us since the 1950s.

As far as the chart I provided at the top of this post. It reflects how middle-income earners have been taxed under the Obama Administration. It shows that middle-income earners are now paying federal taxes at/near historically low levels. In fact, the average family of four right now is paying 4.6% of its income in federal income taxes - the second lowest percentage in, say, 50 years! What?!

Isn't Obama that guy on those Tea Party signs that is "taxing me to death?" Unfortunately, it isn't him.

You've got the wrong guy, and you've got the wrong facts.

(Sources: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/15/tax-day-2010-protesters-i_n_538556.html, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/05/12/matthews_under_obama_america_is_taxed_less.html

http://20somethingfinance.com/obama-tax-cuts/, and of course http://politifact.com/)

Happy Mother's Day

This isn't a political issue or anything like that but I thought I would take a minute to acknowledge today's holiday.

It's Mother's Day and we should thank our mothers for all of the things they do for us. They go all year not getting much credit for what they do so we should at least spend today appreciating them for it. I know I'm lucky to have a mom who has selflessly been there for me and has helped make me the person I am today. I love her for it.

So Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!

Now back to politics...

Our Political Discourse

I spoke in an earlier blog about the toxicity of the political discourse in the country and our collective inability to have a civil discussion with our neighbors (and even our own family members) just because we disagree with one another. As I have posted and have seen some of the responses, there is no question that the political discourse in this country has turned extremely and even dangerously sour - on all fronts.

I spoke of the Tea Party movement and its followers in an earlier blog. Their tone is negative, loud, and just doesn't contribute to a healthy dialog about the issues this country faces. I have seen even further evidence that their arguments are based on conspiracy theories and not, well, reality. Their argument is that our current President is a second coming of Adolf Hitler and our rights are disappearing by the second. What they don't realize is that the reason they are able to shout down their Congressman at town halls and march the streets of the Capitol with signs preaching hate is because our rights are in tact and our Democracy is stronger now than it ever was. When people gathered like this during our last President's incompetent voyage through the White House, they were labeled as less than American. The hypocrisy is incredible.

Our Democracy is strong. It is not some fragile institution that can be broken by one man or by one Congress or by one group of protesters. Have faith in our Democracy and don't question its strength just because someone you didn't vote for won the Presidency.

This tone is not just coming from those on the far-right fringe of our political spectrum though. Nancy Pelosi and other uncooperative and close-minded liberals often ignore the President's call to listen to the other side, meet with them, hear what they have to say, and get the job done. They, too, end attempts at bipartisanship when they don't get exactly what they want - which in many cases is government control of everything - something I, as a Democrat, am not in favor of.

Both sides have been unable and unwilling to do that because they are afraid of what's politically at stake for them during an election year. That type of game-playing and posturing needs to stop.

I read a piece in the editorial section of the newspaper on the anniversary of the Kent State shooting. It was written by a mother who lost her son on that day expressing the grief she still feels today because of it. She says she even hears people say that those killed on that dark day in 1970 deserved it and that more should have suffered the same fate. The mom went on to say that every day when she turns on the news and sees the Tea Party followers shouting and our Congressmen pointing fingers and calling names, she thinks of her son and remembers a time in 1970 when the tone of our politics was similar. It was that tone, she says, that leaves her mourning the death of her son, even today, just because he was speaking out.

We have to be careful in the way we conduct ourselves. We have to respect one another - even if we disagree. The tone must be brought down because it has already reached a level of danger that cannot be sustained. Let us debate each other respectfully and use facts as our weapon, not guns or threats or false labels.

I am an American and I love my country just as much as those marching with tea bags hanging from their hats. I read my constitution, I know my rights, and I have faith in the institution our founders created. It has gone nowhere. My rights have gone nowhere. And I will not be afraid of a few people who find it in their interest to stoke fear in the minds of their fellow countrymen instead of have a debate based in fact.

So as you begin to type words belittling a person for a political disagreement or fudge the truth to scare someone with a different opinion, step back and ask yourself why you're doing it. Is it solving a problem? It is improving the political dialog in this country? It is renewing a spirit of cooperation and unity that this country needs back in its politics? No, it isn't. It, instead, amounts to nothing but the cheap thrill of attacking someone who disagrees with you. And it is helping no person and solving no problem.

Remember the words of Lincoln as you go to take a personal swipe at someone who disagrees with you on immigration or health care or gay rights.

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

We are all Americans. And we must not let our political disagreements force us to stop acting like Americans.

Vote For Your Community, Country

I came across a website today as I was surfing the internet. It was as follows: www.stopschoollevies.org

Now before I get to my anger regarding those who can’t pay a dime more for their community’s schools, I’ll talk about what I think is probably the most important issue in our country: education.

Education is the foundation for almost any other major issue that this country faces. In the global community, the United States of America is falling behind compared to so many other nations across the world. It is, in part, because our education system is, too, falling behind. It is important that we take steps to improve this. But there is an overarching issue that goes beyond numbers and standings. It is about communities across this country.

In order for our communities and our country to succeed we need our educational system to succeed as well. Hundreds and thousands of teachers and students depend on school levies and millions of communities across this country depend on them as well – not just those working or studying inside those schools but the businesses and homeowners who live near them.

Levies support instruction, smaller class sizes, school transportation, health and safety, and technology for student learning. They also cover the state's shortfall for special education, highly capable learners, English language learners, advanced placement and honors courses, extra-curricular activities such as arts and athletics, and much more.

Sure, voters can choose to kick the can further down the road and just wait until it’s on the next ballot or the next or the next. But some districts just can’t wait for help. Voters need to vote for their communities and their schools – and they need to do it in the next election.

Take for example Northwest Local School district which serves parts of Clinton and New Franklin; Canal Fulton and part of Lawrence Township in Stark County; and Marshallville in Wayne County. This is a district that hasn’t been able to pass a school levy in over a decade and it is starving for funds to operate its district. It won’t last long without funds either.

This year they are, again, trying to pass what is called the “Earned Income Tax” levy to help the district just have the ability to operate the basic functions necessary to keep it afloat. Those who don’t earn a paycheck won’t pay it, those who are retired won’t pay it, those without a job won’t pay it, farmers won’t pay it, and folks who lose their job don’t have to pay it. Only those living in the district’s area and earning an income have to pay an extra 1% in income taxes. And even if this does pass, there is still a long way to go to bringing back the district.

The point is that this is the situation all across America. Teachers are being laid-off. Schools are being under-funded. Books are in need of replacement. Technologies need to be upgraded.

These are vital to communities all across America.

So to the folks over at www.stopschoollevies.org: Talk to the kid having trouble making good decisions wanting to play football instead of getting into trouble who depends on his school levy passing. Talk to the teacher wondering if she’s still going to teach next year who depends on her district’s levy passing. Talk to the surrounding businesses that need a community with a strong school district in order for them to thrive. Talk to the millions and millions across this country who are counting on voters to go to the polls and save a system that is in desperate need of repair. Talk to them and see if you’ll have the courage to spew your anti-tax, anti-government rhetoric to their faces.

Because in the long run, the future of America depends on making sure our schools are strong and funded and are providing future doctors and nurses, scientists and lawmakers, teachers and business owners, a first class education.

We can’t turn our backs on our schools, because if we turn our backs on our schools, we’re turning our backs on a prosperous future for our communities and our country.

And that’s something that we can’t afford to do.

So, Ohio: Vote for your levies. Vote for your communities. Vote for your country.

Sources: http://www.northwest.sparcc.org/community.cfm?subpage=229736

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/04/the_plain_dealer_endorses_the_3.html

Tea Parties and Blind Hatred

All Presidents - Democratic and Republican - have opponents and certain demographics that will never agree or try to seek common ground with them. Some folks just have philosophical and fundamental disagreements that are legitimate and open for discussion. It's normal. It's healthy. It's democracy.

But since President Obama took office, opposition based on fact has seemingly become a lost art. Those today who proudly call themselves "Tea Partiers" march in the streets carrying their signs preaching hate, violence, rebellion, secession, and racism. And while they aren't gathering in the streets, they are sending death threats to public officials with whom they disagree or shouting down their Congressmen and women at town hall meetings - meetings used to have civil discussions about where our country is and where it should be going.

Just last year, I went to one of these Tea Party events at Wes Point Park in Willoughby. It wasn't in my plans for the day but I was driving by and I heard shouting and saw signs much like the ones I described earlier except with a smaller degree of hate since it was still early yet in the Obama administration.

What made me stop as I was driving by was the shouting I heard from the loud speakers. They were talking about the people they opposed - the President, House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Reid, and Democratic voters as a whole. They didn't speak with respect or with the acknowledgement that we're all Americans who want to see this nation succeed. Instead they gave speeches - one after the other - talking about who 'real Americans' are, where 'real America' is, and how they want their America back without actually being able to name a right they've lost or which piece of America is suddenly missing.

This is opposition fueled by partisanship and blind hatred and the Republican Party has been spending all of it's valuable time either inciting that hatred or obstructing progress in this country - or both at the same time.

So to the 'Tea Partiers' who claim to have a monopoly on patriotism: All of us put country first. All of us love this country. All of us want to see it succeed. As a group, all of you are doing exactly the opposite of what you claim to be doing. You are, in fact, pressing the pause button on progress in this country by blindly opposing measures your own party used to support before Barack Obama became President.

We need to march together with an understanding that everyone may not agree on each particular issue but we should work together to make sure we can agree on some common sense solutions for problems that need to be solved.

As you all take orders from Sarah Palin's Facebook page or Glenn Beck's televised nonsensical classroom lessons, remember what America stands for. Hate, violence, and mob rule weren't what this nation was founded upon.

It is the 21st Century. Hate like this shouldn't exist anymore in the United States of America. But it will continue to thrive so long as the Republican Party and its followers are more focused on provoking fear than solving problems.

So, again, to my tea-partying, right-wing friends: Put down your guns and your tea party protest signs that are in dire need of a run through spell-check, and begin the work of lifting this country up instead of tearing your political opponents apart. The United States of America cannot afford anything else.

Ariz. Immigration Law Is Shameful

A decision made Friday by Arizona's Republican Governor, Jan Brewer, enacted into law a measure that basically makes racial profiling legal and just.

The bill requires that police officers determine the immigration status of anyone based on "reasonable suspicion." Then those police officers have to check the status of the person they believe may be here illegally and verify their citizenship with the federal government. Clearly they won't be stopping every middle aged white man walking down the street. Instead it will be solely based on race. And the proponents of this measure have not come out and said otherwise.

There are plenty of common sense ways to improve and solve our immigration problem here in the United States and using racial profiling just isn't one of them. After all, about 30% of Arizona's legal residents are hispanic. And with this bill, they can be pulled off the side of the street and have their citizenship put into question just because of that. It's wrong and there are other ways to do it.

I think we can all agree that this issue is a problem and doesn't bode well for the United States economy. But there are some common sense approaches that we can take.

First, we continue to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants at a lower cost and pay them under the table. This kind of activity - which is also the fault of American employers - is killing jobs for folks who are actually living here and playing by the rules.

Second, we need to get those who have avoided taxes and who are living here illegally, on the books and to the end of the line. They need to pay fines and pay back all the taxes they've avoided paying for as long as they've lived here. If they want to be American citizens, they're welcome to be, but they have to wait their turn, learn some English, and pay what they owe.

Once we crack down on all of those who are already here illegally, we then must secure our borders to make sure more illegals do not keep coming back. If they do come back, hopefully Washington will have had the common sense to pass measures by then which will make it easier to deal with them.

Those are some of the simple, common-sense approaches that need to be taken. Racial profiling should have no part of how we do business in this country. Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer and their opportunistic, flip-flopping Senator, John McCain should know that as well. 2008 Presidential Candidate McCain would be apalled at this bill. But Senator McCain who is in his toughest primary fight in years is embracing it.

I guess there is one thing that is good about the passage of the shameful Arizona bill. It has put the necessity of Immigration Reform in the spotlight again. It is a problem that needs to be solved and those in Washington need to come together to solve it in a common sense way.

My Goal

This will not be a long entry. I am here to speak about what my intentions are with this blog.

If you turn on your television and watch the news, you might have noticed that the political tone in this country is toxic. This new tone of debate is one, not where folks sit down and work out the issues of the day, but where facts virtually play no role at all. Shouting has replaced civility and violence has replaced problem-solving.

My goal with this blog is to discuss current political issues while being mindful of reality. I don't want to use this space like the Rush Limbaugh's and Glenn Beck's of this world would use it for: to hate on anything and anyone with which they disagree. I want to instead use it as a place where my view will be expressed (yes, my views may be left-leaning), but also where the views of others can be expressed as well.

Welcome to the blog and no matter who you are, you are free to join in the discussion. Yes, even Tea Partiers are welcome. I just ask that you leave your firearms at the door.