Friday, October 31, 2008
October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Dia de Los Muertos event in the South Valley will be on Sunday at 4pm!
In the Obama infomercial he talks about a living wage. Hopefully we see that. Hopefully we will at least index the minimum wage to inflation. And maybe Democrats will prove they are democratic and remove some of the barriers they have put in the way of democracy by opening up elections and voter options!!!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Dia de Los Muertos event in the South Valley will be on Sunday at 4pm!
In the Obama infomercial he talks about a living wage. Hopefully we see that. Hopefully we will at least index the minimum wage to inflation. And maybe Democrats will prove they are democratic and remove some of the barriers they have put in the way of democracy by opening up elections and voter options!!!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Real Democracy
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Carol Miller Doing Well
This former Raza Unida Party candidate is doing well! And apparently not "spoiling" the race either!
October 30, 2008
As much as I am for voter choice - I sure hope that the Obama folks are going to live up to their expectations and pull a win!
There are a lot of unquestioned things going on that if the Republicans weren't so freaking fascist are worth talking about. Like why are we so consumed with an individual as opposed to the fabric of democracy itself. Voter choice would be key instead of individuals. If we have to wait for a Kennedy or an Obama before we can defeat fascism, aren't we setting ourselves up?
I'm waiting until the last day to vote - Cynthia is looking like a good choice, but if its REALLY close...
KEEP LEFTING!
There are a lot of unquestioned things going on that if the Republicans weren't so freaking fascist are worth talking about. Like why are we so consumed with an individual as opposed to the fabric of democracy itself. Voter choice would be key instead of individuals. If we have to wait for a Kennedy or an Obama before we can defeat fascism, aren't we setting ourselves up?
I'm waiting until the last day to vote - Cynthia is looking like a good choice, but if its REALLY close...
KEEP LEFTING!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Friday Funnies - 10/24
$150,000 for clothes! And that's a typical American?
If only I could be more typical! Maybe if workers could afford to buy more. Since the Dow is off 4% at the time of this writing we'll see what anyone can afford over the weekend.
Keep Lefting!!!!
If only I could be more typical! Maybe if workers could afford to buy more. Since the Dow is off 4% at the time of this writing we'll see what anyone can afford over the weekend.
Keep Lefting!!!!
Labels: Hell In Handbasket
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Oct. 22, 2008
Don't buy the crappy $300 checks as a "stimulus"! If the US split up what it gave in the bailout there would be about $2,000 per person to spread around. That might be nicer so my family would get $8,000. But if the US subsidized a dollar raise for all workers making less than $60,000 we might get a bigger bang for the buck, so to speak.
Or maybe a graduated raise. Anyone making $6.25-9.00 an hour gets a two buck raise. People between $9.01-12.00 get a buck seventy five. If you're in the $12.01-15 you get a buck fifty. People in the $15.01-18 get a buck twenty five. And so on. Those making the least spend a larger percentage of their income and flowing dollars create income tax and sales tax. These taxes will help deal with issues that governments are dealing with regarding lost income. People spending money will also create more jobs, which... create more taxes!
Quit trying to give us more credit cards, give us more money to actually afford what we need!
A permanent raise in the minimum wage along with an index for inflation will deal with some issues. If you buy the analysis of the ClusterFu*k blog then we'll need to invest in seeds and bicycles as much as alternative driving technologies.
Unfortunately as time may show, it seems fairly tragic that the left voices are marginalized at this time. Instead we get lots of Che, Malcolm, and Zapata wearing "progressives" who wouldn't ever vote for a socialist, labor party, or even green candidate.
I understand not being for McSame, but at least with the news of the double digit lead we can get a handfull of people to vote for the different options. The fear of stolen elections is real - this is no longer electoral dream land...
When I do hear people tell me, "well, if there were other options..." I get sick. THERE ARE other options, but then you get systematic issues like a Secretary of State giving misinformation regarding the ability to support alternatives. Or the hurdles that are occasionally presented like minor party candidates needing to get signatures while corporate party candidates do not. The GOOGLE Book Search for Multiparty Politics In America will get you a book that talks a bit about the barriers at the federal level. Given that Senator Obama pretty much crushed hope of federal level campaign finance reform and the good liberals that support it in order to win - we will likely be stuck with corporate candidates for the foreseeable future.
So, now with the larger lead for the fine Senator I may be able to comfortably vote for who closest represents me. The next election may be guided then by trying to win "left" voters a little more and not only the center-right voters. Don't get me wrong, it will be history for Senator Obama to get in.
It could be like Colorado with 16 choices for President... But with 6 NM is not that bad. The Bernalillo County Clerks office where to vote feature is nice. So I get to choose between Obama, McCain, McKinney, Baldwin, Nader, and Barr. Tell your Republican friends to vote Baldwin!! (Just kidding). If things keep going I will likely vote for Cynthia and Rosa (Green).
And below, the biggest worry... much more so than minor parties.
Or maybe a graduated raise. Anyone making $6.25-9.00 an hour gets a two buck raise. People between $9.01-12.00 get a buck seventy five. If you're in the $12.01-15 you get a buck fifty. People in the $15.01-18 get a buck twenty five. And so on. Those making the least spend a larger percentage of their income and flowing dollars create income tax and sales tax. These taxes will help deal with issues that governments are dealing with regarding lost income. People spending money will also create more jobs, which... create more taxes!
Quit trying to give us more credit cards, give us more money to actually afford what we need!
A permanent raise in the minimum wage along with an index for inflation will deal with some issues. If you buy the analysis of the ClusterFu*k blog then we'll need to invest in seeds and bicycles as much as alternative driving technologies.
Unfortunately as time may show, it seems fairly tragic that the left voices are marginalized at this time. Instead we get lots of Che, Malcolm, and Zapata wearing "progressives" who wouldn't ever vote for a socialist, labor party, or even green candidate.
I understand not being for McSame, but at least with the news of the double digit lead we can get a handfull of people to vote for the different options. The fear of stolen elections is real - this is no longer electoral dream land...
When I do hear people tell me, "well, if there were other options..." I get sick. THERE ARE other options, but then you get systematic issues like a Secretary of State giving misinformation regarding the ability to support alternatives. Or the hurdles that are occasionally presented like minor party candidates needing to get signatures while corporate party candidates do not. The GOOGLE Book Search for Multiparty Politics In America will get you a book that talks a bit about the barriers at the federal level. Given that Senator Obama pretty much crushed hope of federal level campaign finance reform and the good liberals that support it in order to win - we will likely be stuck with corporate candidates for the foreseeable future.
So, now with the larger lead for the fine Senator I may be able to comfortably vote for who closest represents me. The next election may be guided then by trying to win "left" voters a little more and not only the center-right voters. Don't get me wrong, it will be history for Senator Obama to get in.
It could be like Colorado with 16 choices for President... But with 6 NM is not that bad. The Bernalillo County Clerks office where to vote feature is nice. So I get to choose between Obama, McCain, McKinney, Baldwin, Nader, and Barr. Tell your Republican friends to vote Baldwin!! (Just kidding). If things keep going I will likely vote for Cynthia and Rosa (Green).
And below, the biggest worry... much more so than minor parties.
Labels: Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Friday, October 17, 2008
Oct. 17, 2008
Well, I'm actually missing Karlos at this point. Maybe he was right. More people will read when there is a good fight.
Things are good. Very busy but good.
Money is tight, but I'm getting better at getting side jobs. I think the next thing will be to make business cards as an accordionist.
I'm being much more patient at home.
I'll post more next week. My main question has been, if you want to improve the economy, why don't you spend $700 billion on improving wages? A $1 increase will get most workers around $4,000 a year. That's much better than the crappy "stimulus" garbage the two corporate parties throw at us. I wrote a little bit more on the SWOP Blog (follow link on right column).
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Things are good. Very busy but good.
Money is tight, but I'm getting better at getting side jobs. I think the next thing will be to make business cards as an accordionist.
I'm being much more patient at home.
I'll post more next week. My main question has been, if you want to improve the economy, why don't you spend $700 billion on improving wages? A $1 increase will get most workers around $4,000 a year. That's much better than the crappy "stimulus" garbage the two corporate parties throw at us. I wrote a little bit more on the SWOP Blog (follow link on right column).
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
October 8, 2008
As usual, Nader is being blamed for the Dems not being further ahead. Even with Barr pulling votes from McSame. Apparently, Nader is also pulling Republican votes. I've been asking people who is on the ballot here and no one seems to want to know. The head in the sand method seems to be the way people go.
Luckily the League of Women's Voters has their Online Voter's Guide! Too bad the Greens didn't get on the ballot here.
You can also celebrate the Fair Housing Act here! Thanks to Machi for the idea to post it here.
This has to be one of my favorite quotes from Vicente Navarro:
"...for those wishing to optimize the health of populations by reducing social and income inequalities, it seems advisable to support political forces such as the labor movements and social democratic parties, which have traditionally supported larger, more redistributive policies..."
Now I appreciate the Labor Party's choice of waiting to have 1,000 members before becoming an official political party. But in New Mexico 100 votes in a block could make a difference. For example if a coalition of small parties were able to pull 500 votes, they could use that to try and negotiate with candidates for specific issues.
But I regress...
What people pushing me to vote for Obama understand is that it does make a difference which party is in power. But "in countries with weaker labor movement labor movements and social democratic parties and stronger capitalist classes, such as the liberal Anglo-Saxon countries, there has been a weaker commitment to redistributive policies and worse health indicators."
As long as we continue to vote moderate to conservative we make that a norm. If the Democrats can depend on your vote regularly, then they can focus on chasing more moderate and conservative voters who are "the middle." The tough thing is getting enough resources to people willing to do labor and social democratic party organizing. Solidarity is key - "mortality reductions result from a larger set of related interventions guided by a political party or parties (socialist, social democratic, communist, labor, or whatever name is used to define these labor-oriented social democratic parties) that generate and reproduce a culture of solidarity and opportunity."
A big challenge is where to start. And starting small seems like the only answer at this point. "It is important to stress that even in countries, such as Italy, that have not been governed by social democratic forces, those regions of the country that have been governed by parties following social democratic policies of reducing inequalities and creating employment, such as the former Italian Communist Party (today the Left Democratic Party), have had lesser inequalities and better mortality indicators than other regions."
As Vicente concludes in "The Political Context of Social Inequalities and Health," ...that to reduce income inequalities and infant mortality, it is advisable to support labor base social democratic parties."
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Luckily the League of Women's Voters has their Online Voter's Guide! Too bad the Greens didn't get on the ballot here.
You can also celebrate the Fair Housing Act here! Thanks to Machi for the idea to post it here.
This has to be one of my favorite quotes from Vicente Navarro:
"...for those wishing to optimize the health of populations by reducing social and income inequalities, it seems advisable to support political forces such as the labor movements and social democratic parties, which have traditionally supported larger, more redistributive policies..."
Now I appreciate the Labor Party's choice of waiting to have 1,000 members before becoming an official political party. But in New Mexico 100 votes in a block could make a difference. For example if a coalition of small parties were able to pull 500 votes, they could use that to try and negotiate with candidates for specific issues.
But I regress...
What people pushing me to vote for Obama understand is that it does make a difference which party is in power. But "in countries with weaker labor movement labor movements and social democratic parties and stronger capitalist classes, such as the liberal Anglo-Saxon countries, there has been a weaker commitment to redistributive policies and worse health indicators."
As long as we continue to vote moderate to conservative we make that a norm. If the Democrats can depend on your vote regularly, then they can focus on chasing more moderate and conservative voters who are "the middle." The tough thing is getting enough resources to people willing to do labor and social democratic party organizing. Solidarity is key - "mortality reductions result from a larger set of related interventions guided by a political party or parties (socialist, social democratic, communist, labor, or whatever name is used to define these labor-oriented social democratic parties) that generate and reproduce a culture of solidarity and opportunity."
A big challenge is where to start. And starting small seems like the only answer at this point. "It is important to stress that even in countries, such as Italy, that have not been governed by social democratic forces, those regions of the country that have been governed by parties following social democratic policies of reducing inequalities and creating employment, such as the former Italian Communist Party (today the Left Democratic Party), have had lesser inequalities and better mortality indicators than other regions."
As Vicente concludes in "The Political Context of Social Inequalities and Health," ...that to reduce income inequalities and infant mortality, it is advisable to support labor base social democratic parties."
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
October 7, 2008
On the personal side, I've been realizing the similarities between my son and myself. I remember what it was like to be a sort of black sheep in the family. Where the other youth encouraged you to be "crazy" then left you hanging when the crap hit the fan. To have the adults really not trust or support you. So I've been working on being gentler with his frustrations in life.
It is good to remember that he's reflecting the difficulties I had, but in a harsher environment in society. The difference is that he has parents at home trying to help out.
I've been working with other neighborhood leaders on improving the area and one thing is replacing the term people use for my neighborhood to "International Neighborhoods District." I found a great document on health. It is called "Understanding the Relationship Between Public Health and the Built Environment." This would actually make a strong argument for voting green - if we wanted a healthy enviroment that is...
This relates to why I think supporting unions and social democratic parties is a health issue. I will post that later or tomorrow. Not necessarily for the green aspect, but for other policies.
Oh, and we gotta talk about this Maverick thing...
KEEP LEFTING!!!
It is good to remember that he's reflecting the difficulties I had, but in a harsher environment in society. The difference is that he has parents at home trying to help out.
I've been working with other neighborhood leaders on improving the area and one thing is replacing the term people use for my neighborhood to "International Neighborhoods District." I found a great document on health. It is called "Understanding the Relationship Between Public Health and the Built Environment." This would actually make a strong argument for voting green - if we wanted a healthy enviroment that is...
This relates to why I think supporting unions and social democratic parties is a health issue. I will post that later or tomorrow. Not necessarily for the green aspect, but for other policies.
Oh, and we gotta talk about this Maverick thing...
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Monday, October 06, 2008
Hand Basket I say!
The global economy is in bad shape. Clusterfu*k sure does sound pessimistic. I don't even know where to start today...
I think now would be a great time to focus on community organizing!!!
Keep Lefting!!!
I think now would be a great time to focus on community organizing!!!
Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Hell In Handbasket
Friday, October 03, 2008
Jody Six Pack?
Sarah Palin tries to paint herself as a "Joe Six Pack" kind of person but Palin's net worth is 1.2 MILLION! (down at the very bottom in the Personal Life section)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Tina Fey as Palin continued
