Democracy Blast

Democracy Blast: Politics as un-usual

You know that our political candidates pay for their expensive campaigns thanks to deep-pocketed donors willing to fork over big bucks.  As a result (the more cynical among us would suggest) these candidates routinely end up in the very pockets of those big spenders—beholden to special interests. 

Championing the concept of voter-owned elections, some citizens in Oregon have made their state the latest to challenge the status quo.  (Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Connecticut already provide public financing for state campaigns. Alaska and California, like

Oregon

, now have citizen groups working toward this end.)

So what are voter-owned elections?  Basically, qualifying candidates who gather a required number of signatures then receive money from the state. 

And where does that money come from?  Click on this link for more detailed information, but a short answer is that it comes from voluntary tax credits from individuals, a 10 per cent surcharge on all civil penalties and criminal fines; and a voluntary $5.00 check off on state income tax returns (a redirection of five dollars the taxpayer already owes).

A system whereby our candidates would be beholden only to the voters.  Could it possibly work?  It works in

Arizona

—they’re celebrating ten years of “Clean Elections.”

 

To discuss voter-owned elections, click on the “Comment” link at the bottom of the Blast. 

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How do you stay safe?

The recent shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist church are the latest in a long, sad list, begging the question: how do you stay safe?

If you attend church, does your congregation have a policy in place to deal with violence of this kind?  Does your workplace?  Your child’s school?

How do we remain an open and welcoming society—and still remain safe?  Is it possible?

To discuss violence in our society, click on the “Comment” link below. 

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The answer is…

"There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment."

If you have not yet had the opportunity to read or watch Al Gore's recent speech delivering an energy challenge to America, I urge you to do so.  Short on time?  Check out this brief video highlight.

In it, Gore states that a common thread runs through three crises facing our nation: "our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges - the economic, environmental and national security crises. We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change. But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.
The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels."

And then he challenges us to do so in ten years.  Are you ready?  Visit www.Wecansolveit.org  and add your voice to Al Gore's, saying "America must commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and other clean sources within 10 years."


 

To discuss Al Gore’s energy challenge, click on "Comments," below.

Playing with the CIA

"Where do the children play?" asks an old Cat Stevens song.  Well, when they play online, the answer might be with the CIA, Army, FBI or FEMA.  A regular Democracy Blast reader tipped us to these interesting websites…which leads to the question: what do you think about these websites?  Are you not surprised to hear that there are special kids' sections on these websites, or do you find it kinda disturbing?   

To discuss these kid's sites click on the "Comment" link at the bottom of the Blast. 

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CEOs want health care 4 U

It’s true: More than 50 of America’s top business leaders and largest employers have formed a coalition working toward health care for all our citizens. CEOs might not strike you as the most-likely folks to jump on the healthcare reform bandwagon—but scooch over, progressives, union leaders, and public advocates, and make room.

I had my doubts when my Safeway-employed friend insisted her company’s CEO Steve Burd was leading the charge for health care for all. But check it out: she’s right. And why are companies like Coca-Cola Enterprises, Del Monte Foods, Bumble Bee Seafoods, General Mills, the Hershey Company, WinCo, etc etc, concerned about health care for us? Maybe you’ve already guessed why: the increasing cost of financing workers’ premiums.

As Oregon’s senator Ron Wyden has said, “The refrain from business was, ‘We can’t afford to do universal health care. Now the refrain is, ‘We can’t afford not to do it.’ ” Check out Burd’s Coalition to Advance Health Care Reform, and see where your state stands on health care.

To discuss health care reform—and what role of business leaders may have in it— click on the “comment” link below.

What do you think of Swift boating?

As July 4 rolls around again—and with a coming election in November—consider the plight of the

Vietnam

veterans who served on Swift boats.  As a recent New York Times article points out, the term Swift boat has become synonymous for “the nastiest of campaign smears…Swift boat veterans — especially those who had nothing to do with the group that attacked Senator John Kerry’s military record in the 2004 election — want their good name back, and the good names of the men not lucky enough to come home alive.”

But a quick check on Google shows it’s already too late: There are over 800,000 hits for “Swiftboating Obama,” and over 200,000 for “Swiftboating McCain.”   

This July 4, as you consider the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military, consider also this quote from the article by Stan Collier, who served as an officer on a Swift boat based in Qui Nhon: “‘We’ve all been attributed to the sleaziness that those guys assigned to Kerry,” he said. “I think we’ve all been demeaned.’”

To discuss “Swift boating,” patriotism, or veterans, visit Democracy Talking’s website, and click on the “Comments” link below. 

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Why are you altruistic?

You’re the type of person who will help someone out, even without obvious reward to yourself, right?  Perhaps you give money to help those in need, or do volunteer work, or assist little old ladies across the street.

Why?

Does being human endow an advanced sense of obligation toward others that other animals don’t share?

Are we naturally selfish as children and learn to be altruistic through socialization or culture?

Watch a couple of the videos at http://email.eva.mpg.de/~warneken/video.htm#helping_study for direct answers to those questions.  In these filmed experiments 18-month-old children spontaneously help when an experimenter drops something beyond his reach.  Chimpanzees do the same.

What are your thoughts on why we are altruistic?  Have you seen altruistic behavior in other animals?   

To discuss altruism, click on the “comment” link at the top of this Blast. 

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Did $4 = different habits for you?

It’s been widely suggested that $4/gallon for gasoline is the “tipping point” at which the average American will change driving habits to save money. 

So how about it?  Have you made changes—riding a bike, walking, taking public transit?  And if you’ve made no changes yet, would $5/gallon force your hand?  Or $6?

Let us know by clicking on the link below to discuss changes—and meanwhile, here’s a link of where to find cheaper gas according to your zip code, and another to find a local carpool.

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6 more years—think we’ll make it?

Wouldn’t it be great if the world’s leaders agreed on certain basic worldwide goals—say reducing hunger, getting children of both genders into school, and ensuring environmental sustainability? 

That’s right—they did.  In September 2000 the Millennium Declaration was endorsed by 189 countries, setting 8 goals to be reached by 2015.  The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are commitments by those countries, both developed and undeveloped, to “reduce poverty and hunger, and to tackle ill-health, gender inequality, lack of education, lack of access to clean water and environmental degradation.”

And the countdown is on: the 189 signers aim to make their goals by 2015.  Each goal has specific target measurements to see if we’re on track.  You can check these via specific goal, location, or country/world map. 

Think we’ll make it?

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Green Acres, we are there!

Little did TV’s Green Acres’ Oliver Wendell Douglas realize that he didn’t need “land spreadin’ out so far and wide” to farm.  He and his shopaholic wife Lisa could have stayed in New York City and raised crops on an urban lot.

’ Oliver Wendell Douglas realize that he didn’t need “land spreadin’ out so far and wide” to farm.  He and his shopaholic wife Lisa could have stayed in and raised crops on an urban lot.’ Oliver Wendell Douglas realize that he didn’t need “land spreadin’ out so far and wide” to farm.  He and his shopaholic wife Lisa could have stayed in and raised crops on an urban lot.

People from New York to Hootersville are farming in their own (and sometimes their neighbors’) backyards.  And not just a nice little row of tomatoes and carrots—but food enough to sell to restaurants and at local farmer’s markets.  It’s urban farming and it might be coming to a lawn near you.

Backyard farms (not gardens—check out “urban farming” on YouTube.com) allow for very local, organic, and specific plantings as requested by the buyers or lawn-owners.  Oliver and Lisa would have loved it (although they would never have met Arnold the pig that way).

To discuss lawn farming, visit Democracy Talking’s website, and click on the “discuss” link at the bottom of the Blast. 

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