Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Recently (on Sept 19), a McCain/Palin supporter put this post on my Facebook page: "What civil rights have we lost under Bush? If you want to lose your health insurance nationalized health care will be a nightmare! Why do Canadians come to the states for surgery? Why do Europeans who can afford private health care buy it? I already pay 48% of my earned income in taxes and the face that Obama thinks I can "afford" to pay more is horrifying! Where were Pelosi and Harry Reid today? I know 78% hate Bush, but the Democrats are worthless and they decided to campaign and go on vacation rather than addressing the bail out needed and off shore drilling. I know neither of these candidates are perfect, but the choice is democracy or socialism. I love political banter and am thrilled when people want to talk about it! :)
Usually I think there is no point in debating passionate Republicans because they rarely change their minds… but you said you love political banter and you used the word “thrilled”… so, okay, I will attempt to address your grievances with my perspective… but beware, I also follow politics closely and it’s really LONG… and I didn’t even GET to many things that are important to me, like the Iraq war, “signing statements”, problems with the courts, the Christianizing of government, veteran’s benfits, or the censoring of science. But here goes:
(Before you start reading, I should state that I don’t necessarily object to conservatism, but I don’t believe that the current administration or the McCain camp are true conservatives or actually following what they claim the Republican party stands for)
• CIVIL RIGHTS
We have lost several civil liberties that I know of… here are a few highlights based on the Bill of Rights:
Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, violated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Bill, and by arresting people for holding signs or wearing shirts that the administration doesn’t like, and by not allowing freedom of the press in Iraq or about the soldiers killed in Iraq (no photographing the coffins, etc.); Freedom of Assembly, violated by “free speech zones” where people can’t protest in front of the media when Republicans are speaking… etc. The intimidation and harassment and warrantless searches of protesters at the Republican National Convention is a fine recent example.
Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Patriot Act allows the government to come into your home, search your residence and leave without telling you for 6 months. This administration searches library records of citizens. The NSA was provided total, unsupervised access to all fiber-optic communications going between some of the nation's major telecommunication companies' major interconnect locations, including phone conversations, email, web browsing, and corporate "private network" traffic.
Amendment V: …nor should private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. The Patriot Act expands federal asset forfeiture powers, so the government can now confiscate private property without even accusing the owners of a crime. The Bush administration has extended the power of eminent domain, which allows the government to seize property for such unconstitutional purposes as federal production of interstate electrical lines.
Amendment VI: speedy and public trial. Bush invented the term “enemy combatant” so that prisoners would not have the rights of either criminal defendants or war prisoners. The law states he has the discretion to call anyone an enemy combatant. American citizen Jose Padilla was held as an enemy combatant with no trial or access to counsel. Currently there is at least one legal American resident we know of who has been held in solitary since 2003… he was charged with a crime and may well be guilty, but just as he was about to go to trial, Bush named him an enemy combatant (supplying no evidence whatsoever) and he disappeared, losing all of his rights.
The administration is currently having a Halliburton subsidiary build several “detention camps” enough to hold 20,000 people, within the US. Perhaps they are expecting to detain a few more people?? The Military Commissions Act of 2006 allows for the indefinite imprisonment of anyone who donates money to a charity that turns up on a list of "terrorist" organizations, or who speaks out against the government's policies. The law calls for secret trials for citizens and noncitizens alike.
Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Last week, the sister of my husbands colleague was sentenced to 15-20 in prison for "terrorism". She had no prior record. Her crime? She was spraypainting a protest message and someone else lit her spraypaint on fire. She was convicted as an "environmental terrorist".
Here's the summary findings from an survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (of which the United States is a member):
The health system in France is regarded as delivering high quality services, with freedom of choice and generally no waiting lists for treatments.--Page 69
And: In Germany, "Waiting lists and explicit rationing decisions are virtually unknown."--Page 70
The most striking stats come from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). From the article: Only 90 of 18,000 respondents to the 1996 Canadian NPHS indicated that they had received care in the United States during the previous twelve months, and only twenty had indicated that they had gone to the United States expressly for the purpose of getting that care. Only 20 of 18,000 sought care in the United States.
For more info, read this article from an uninsured American citizen and Canadian resident: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/mythbusting-canadian-health-care-part-i
• INCREASED TAXES
September 12, 2008: “Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the country can't afford $3.3 trillion of tax cuts proposed by Republican presidential nominee John McCain without corresponding spending reductions…Greenspan said the widening income disparity among Americans is a ``very serious'' issue, and requires both raising the pay of lower-income workers and reducing higher incomes.”
• CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS/VACATION
As far as I know, the Senate and the House were in session on Friday the 19th (I didn’t watch any CSPAN but that’s what the congressional website says). I do believe the House voted during the last few days on the Commodity Markets and Transparency Act. I also believe the Republicans only wanted to stay in session this summer to pass the Offshore Drilling bill, which is a political stunt… “…a report published last year, before the politics of $4-gallon-of-gas was in full swing, stated that new offshore drilling "would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030." The effect on prices, the authors said, would be "insignificant." The source of the report was the Bush administration's own Energy Information Administration.”
It is a matter of public record that Senator McCain has missed far more votes due to campaigning than any other member of Congress. He missed 411 votes (compared to the other campaigning senator Obama’s 294 missed votes).
Finally, to be fair, I think only 71% said they viewed Bush “unfavorably”, which isn’t quite hate. It is, however, the highest unfavorability rating for a president in the 70-year history of polling.
• DEMOCRACY/SOCIALSM
I actually think the argument is between democracy and fascism.
A study of famous fascist regimes (Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet), published in 2004, revealed 14 common factors: the items in parentheses show examples from the current administration:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism (flag pins, emphasis on our country being superior, etc.)
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights (torture)
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause (muslim extremists)
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism (we spend $350 million A DAY just in Iraq)
5. Rampant sexism (turning back achievements in women’s rights)
6. A controlled mass media (4 corporations own almost all the news media, Fox president Roger Ailes is an influential player in the Republican Party)
7. Obsession with national security (terrorism warnings, detention)
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together (faith based initiatives, prayer in schools, etc)
9. Power of corporations protected (2/3s of all US corporations paid NO taxes between 1998-2005)
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated (anti union policies, reduction of income for working class)
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts (reducing funding for arts, suppression of scientific fact)
12. Obsession with crime and punishment (for certain people)
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption (Halliburton, Blackwater, Abramoff, etc.)
14. Fraudulent elections (Florida in 2000, Ohio in 2004)
I also disagree that neither candidate is that great… McCain has told obvious lies recently, he is confused about basic facts, his temper is outrageous, his personal character is questionable and his policies are too strongly influenced by the neo-conservative wing of the party. Obama is educated, calm, intelligent, practical, and he understands and will uphold the constitution. He speaks extremely coherently on both domestic and foreign policy issues, he surrounds himself with the very best advisors, and he runs a very fiscally responsible campaign.
So, here is my response to her (I can cite sources if anybody wants them):
(Before you start reading, I should state that I don’t necessarily object to conservatism, but I don’t believe that the current administration or the McCain camp are true conservatives or actually following what they claim the Republican party stands for)
• CIVIL RIGHTS
We have lost several civil liberties that I know of… here are a few highlights based on the Bill of Rights:
Amendment 1: Freedom of Speech, violated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Bill, and by arresting people for holding signs or wearing shirts that the administration doesn’t like, and by not allowing freedom of the press in Iraq or about the soldiers killed in Iraq (no photographing the coffins, etc.); Freedom of Assembly, violated by “free speech zones” where people can’t protest in front of the media when Republicans are speaking… etc. The intimidation and harassment and warrantless searches of protesters at the Republican National Convention is a fine recent example.
Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Patriot Act allows the government to come into your home, search your residence and leave without telling you for 6 months. This administration searches library records of citizens. The NSA was provided total, unsupervised access to all fiber-optic communications going between some of the nation's major telecommunication companies' major interconnect locations, including phone conversations, email, web browsing, and corporate "private network" traffic.
Amendment V: …nor should private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. The Patriot Act expands federal asset forfeiture powers, so the government can now confiscate private property without even accusing the owners of a crime. The Bush administration has extended the power of eminent domain, which allows the government to seize property for such unconstitutional purposes as federal production of interstate electrical lines.
Amendment VI: speedy and public trial. Bush invented the term “enemy combatant” so that prisoners would not have the rights of either criminal defendants or war prisoners. The law states he has the discretion to call anyone an enemy combatant. American citizen Jose Padilla was held as an enemy combatant with no trial or access to counsel. Currently there is at least one legal American resident we know of who has been held in solitary since 2003… he was charged with a crime and may well be guilty, but just as he was about to go to trial, Bush named him an enemy combatant (supplying no evidence whatsoever) and he disappeared, losing all of his rights.
The administration is currently having a Halliburton subsidiary build several “detention camps” enough to hold 20,000 people, within the US. Perhaps they are expecting to detain a few more people?? The Military Commissions Act of 2006 allows for the indefinite imprisonment of anyone who donates money to a charity that turns up on a list of "terrorist" organizations, or who speaks out against the government's policies. The law calls for secret trials for citizens and noncitizens alike.
Amendment VIII: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Last week, the sister of my husbands colleague was sentenced to 15-20 in prison for "terrorism". She had no prior record. Her crime? She was spraypainting a protest message and someone else lit her spraypaint on fire. She was convicted as an "environmental terrorist".
In addition, the first “criminal” ever convicted under the Patriot Act lost his business and spent 18 months in prison… for the “terrorist” act of incorrectly filling out an application for a state business license. Oh, and his name was Mohammed. In April of this year, Bush told the press that he personally approved the CIA’s torture/interrogation policies.
Amendment X: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. This administration has created “No Fly” lists, which those who disagree with the government frequently find themselves on and unable to get off of… therefore can’t travel. Also, earlier this week, a court in California found the Bush Administration guilty of violating the 10th amendment for harassing state authorities and medical marijuana users despite California voters having passed the Compassionate Use law in 1996.
This is only a sampling of what the public currently knows of… how many more violations are probably occurring that we aren’t aware of?
• HEALTH CARE
Did you know McCain’ health care plan would make you pay tax on your employer-based health insurance premiums (which are currently tax free), using the tax revenue to give credits to people who are uninsured? That sounds like Socialism to me. He also wants to privatize and deregulate insurance… look how well that deregulation has gone on the stock market lately. Obama has said he will create a National Health plan, but it will only be required for uninsured children, and that everyone has the choice between private insurance or government insurance… like what people do in Europe. It basically just allows poor people, especially poor children, to get health care.
Amendment X: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. This administration has created “No Fly” lists, which those who disagree with the government frequently find themselves on and unable to get off of… therefore can’t travel. Also, earlier this week, a court in California found the Bush Administration guilty of violating the 10th amendment for harassing state authorities and medical marijuana users despite California voters having passed the Compassionate Use law in 1996.
This is only a sampling of what the public currently knows of… how many more violations are probably occurring that we aren’t aware of?
• HEALTH CARE
Did you know McCain’ health care plan would make you pay tax on your employer-based health insurance premiums (which are currently tax free), using the tax revenue to give credits to people who are uninsured? That sounds like Socialism to me. He also wants to privatize and deregulate insurance… look how well that deregulation has gone on the stock market lately. Obama has said he will create a National Health plan, but it will only be required for uninsured children, and that everyone has the choice between private insurance or government insurance… like what people do in Europe. It basically just allows poor people, especially poor children, to get health care.
Here's the summary findings from an survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (of which the United States is a member):
The health system in France is regarded as delivering high quality services, with freedom of choice and generally no waiting lists for treatments.--Page 69
And: In Germany, "Waiting lists and explicit rationing decisions are virtually unknown."--Page 70
It is a myth of the Right that the Canadian health system is so bad, millions of Canadians come here for their health care. A 2002 Health Affairs paper examined hospitals near the border, as well as national surveys to tease out how many Canadians actually visit the U.S. to receive elective procedures.
The most striking stats come from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). From the article: Only 90 of 18,000 respondents to the 1996 Canadian NPHS indicated that they had received care in the United States during the previous twelve months, and only twenty had indicated that they had gone to the United States expressly for the purpose of getting that care. Only 20 of 18,000 sought care in the United States.
For more info, read this article from an uninsured American citizen and Canadian resident: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/mythbusting-canadian-health-care-part-i
• INCREASED TAXES
September 12, 2008: “Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the country can't afford $3.3 trillion of tax cuts proposed by Republican presidential nominee John McCain without corresponding spending reductions…Greenspan said the widening income disparity among Americans is a ``very serious'' issue, and requires both raising the pay of lower-income workers and reducing higher incomes.”
You can go to CNNMoney.com and based on the candidates proposals, get a breakdown of taxes by income
Obamas tax plans will only really increase taxes if your combined household income is more than $600,000. I 2006, less than 20% of households in the US had an average income of more than $100,000. So more than 80% of Americans would see greater tax reductions with Obama. Bush reduced taxes for the wealthy, saying it would benefit the economy… how is the economy doing right now?
• Where were PELOSI and REID?
Thursday night, September 18th, Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a meeting of Congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Chris Cox, who asked Congress for the authority to take extraordinary measures intended to bring stability to the financial markets and avoid further market disruptions. Henry Reid was present at this meeting.
• Where were PELOSI and REID?
Thursday night, September 18th, Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a meeting of Congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Chris Cox, who asked Congress for the authority to take extraordinary measures intended to bring stability to the financial markets and avoid further market disruptions. Henry Reid was present at this meeting.
• CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS/VACATION
As far as I know, the Senate and the House were in session on Friday the 19th (I didn’t watch any CSPAN but that’s what the congressional website says). I do believe the House voted during the last few days on the Commodity Markets and Transparency Act. I also believe the Republicans only wanted to stay in session this summer to pass the Offshore Drilling bill, which is a political stunt… “…a report published last year, before the politics of $4-gallon-of-gas was in full swing, stated that new offshore drilling "would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030." The effect on prices, the authors said, would be "insignificant." The source of the report was the Bush administration's own Energy Information Administration.”
It is a matter of public record that Senator McCain has missed far more votes due to campaigning than any other member of Congress. He missed 411 votes (compared to the other campaigning senator Obama’s 294 missed votes).
Finally, to be fair, I think only 71% said they viewed Bush “unfavorably”, which isn’t quite hate. It is, however, the highest unfavorability rating for a president in the 70-year history of polling.
• DEMOCRACY/SOCIALSM
I actually think the argument is between democracy and fascism.
A study of famous fascist regimes (Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet), published in 2004, revealed 14 common factors: the items in parentheses show examples from the current administration:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism (flag pins, emphasis on our country being superior, etc.)
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights (torture)
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause (muslim extremists)
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism (we spend $350 million A DAY just in Iraq)
5. Rampant sexism (turning back achievements in women’s rights)
6. A controlled mass media (4 corporations own almost all the news media, Fox president Roger Ailes is an influential player in the Republican Party)
7. Obsession with national security (terrorism warnings, detention)
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together (faith based initiatives, prayer in schools, etc)
9. Power of corporations protected (2/3s of all US corporations paid NO taxes between 1998-2005)
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated (anti union policies, reduction of income for working class)
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts (reducing funding for arts, suppression of scientific fact)
12. Obsession with crime and punishment (for certain people)
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption (Halliburton, Blackwater, Abramoff, etc.)
14. Fraudulent elections (Florida in 2000, Ohio in 2004)
I also disagree that neither candidate is that great… McCain has told obvious lies recently, he is confused about basic facts, his temper is outrageous, his personal character is questionable and his policies are too strongly influenced by the neo-conservative wing of the party. Obama is educated, calm, intelligent, practical, and he understands and will uphold the constitution. He speaks extremely coherently on both domestic and foreign policy issues, he surrounds himself with the very best advisors, and he runs a very fiscally responsible campaign.
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