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