Sunday, June 24, 2012

Things to Know - 25 June


Doonesbury
1.  This is a very curious, and I am sure very controversial piece.  It is an in-depth analysis and review of a DVD, out there for purchase, on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   All the way from Joseph Smith, and his sordid history, up to and including Mitt Romney.  It reads (the review) like a screen play conceived by Hunter S. Thompson, and narrated by Bill Maher and George Carlin, and directed by Oliver Stone.  That is the review the the author of this piece gives.  How the actual DVD comes across, who makes it, and what relevance it has ....I dunno.  I know that I am not going to spend the $19.95 to get my own personal copy.   You just might enjoy this piece, however:

2.  The NY Times puts a name, a face, and some details on a super rich one-man Super Pac - Sheldon Adelson.  By himself he can influence elections and a stable of bribed members of Congress, state, county, and local officials to bend to his needs in keeping his global Casino operations in big business while enjoying protection from taxes and regulation:

3.  When you're barely scraping the bottom, and it's a hand-to-mouth existence, and you can tell that the forces at the top of the food chain are just jacking you around, your only option is to stick in a couple of bucks for a chance on a lotto winner:

4.  This is a short story, but true of conditions in a very outback and rural township during the Great Depression.  Some may read it and marvel at how far we have come since then.  Others may not understand that this actually happened.  Others may not know that these conditions may still be around today.  Far off from the interstate highway system, in rural areas, populated by the forgotten, the undocumented, and the those for whom bootstraps were never supplied, the Great Depression still lives:

5.  There really seems to be much hopeless punditry talk that Obama Care - ACA is going to get shot down by the Supremes.   It is an unfortunate malaise and complete lack of confidence all because there are so many people who do not really know what the Affordable Care Act contains.  I published a 1-page synopsis of the ACA, and there is no real reason why it cannot be regarded as common sensical, justified, and morally correct.  The lack of discussion and understanding is all due to the screaming and bellowing from the opposition that it must be repealed because it is unconstitutional and its Obama's agenda - end of story.  It is sad to see that the proponents are not working harder to make everyone understand what is on the table and what is at stake:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-will-we-love-the-health-care-law-if-it-dies/2012/06/24/gJQAPpQC0V_print.html

6.  Paul Krugman refers us back to the Great Depression (see #4).  Only this time it is a criticism of the forces at the top of the food chain who are the culprits in a different sense.   Tossing money around in the name of bailing banks out is one thing, but to do it without a sense of leadership and getting in the trenches is another.  The powers that be are not going to solve anything, but exacerbate the problems by continuing to throw 8-foot life lines to 12-foot problems:

7.  Jimmy Carter speaks to us to remind us that we are straying from our appointed mission as champion of human rights.  We have strayed badly, and have blinded ourselves by attempting to wallow in and justify acts that are contrary to the values of the USA.  As such, our leadership is now cheap and hollow, and that we need to get back on track:

8.  The State of California is often seen as the leading edge on what the rest of the country is facing or will become down the line.  In this example, the Republican Party, affected by the ossification to the extreme right, started by former Gov. Pete Wilson in the 90's, has drifted into irrelevance, and more party pols are bailing out and labeling themselves as Independents.  This is what other Republican Parties in other states will be facing as Tea Party influence grows.  This is not to say that the Democrats in California are the in fine fettle and  the true champions - it should seize the opportunity and clean up its own messes and work to gain the confidence of the disillusioned:

--
Juan

"We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it." 
       -- Roald Dahl
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." 
       -- Krishnamurti
"I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure." 
       -- John D. Rockefeller
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; In practice, there is." 
       -- Chuck Reid


No comments:

Post a Comment