Commentary - this time written by me!
:-)

As a concerned citizen, lifelong environmentalist and peace activist I often wonder about the best use of my very limited “spare time.” (Do we really have much of any time when we’re not working hard to make ends meet, or recovering from exhaustion?)

My gut feeling is that there is a lot of media-fed “blame the victim” hype going on that prevents us from being really mad at the system. This, of course, benefits the stability of the system to keep it the way it is: daily rape of the planet for the profit of the rich and powerful. In this mental environment it’s just too easy to shy away from ardent, rabble-rousing dissent until we have achieved some imaginary level of eco-perfection. How many times have you wondered, even for a moment, ‘who am I to complain to (fill in the blank), when I have so much to improve in my own life?’ After all, didn’t Gandhi say that change begins with you yourself? Nothing wrong with a little humility, is there? Yet, I know it would take so much money and effort to get that solar water heater installed on my roof, or to install a rain capture system around my yard. In short, shouldn’t we simplify our lives to a level resembling the hobbits in Lord of the Rings? The psychic dilemma most of us face is this: we have worked to raise our awareness, thus our conscience is more acute. So when we think about the disconnect between what changes we need to make and where we personally are it can have the effect of making us somewhat paralyzed.

How much time and effort would it take to study all the issues we care about…to FULLY understand the subtle intricacies of both sides BEFORE we come to a reasoned conclusion sanctioned by all who we know and trust? Just thinking about it wears me out!

The powers that be (I refer to them as “elites”) know these internal dilemmas full well and have arranged to exploit our doubt and guilt through the mainstream media.

Don’t get me wrong, I would not suggest that people STOP pursuing ways to lessen their ecological or carbon dioxide “footprint” on the planet! I suggest, rather, that we find a measure of self-acceptance, a balance if you will, between reducing our own contribution to the environmental problems of our planet and our unique ability to affect changes in public policy. Each person knows where that balance is for themselves. We all have to struggle with our own calculus of what we have time for and what we feel comfortable doing. Some of us will be more comfortable keeping to ourselves (family and friends) to improve our impact on Gaia. Some of us will do nothing but organize for positive change in the world. And some will courageously endeavor to do a little of both.

Personally, I spend a good deal of my spare time and money on lobbying government to do the right thing and precious little on lessening my ecological footprint. In my own calculus, I have decided that an hour calling, writing letters or speaking with friends about an issue is worth ten hours working to put a solar panel on my roof (someday, maybe!). Why? I’ll give you an example: if and when we citizens can push public policy in Washington to change the fuel economy standards for the WHOLE nation, that would trump anything I could do as an individual to lessen my personal eco-footprint. Do I question this calculus every day? Yes. Well, almost every day.

On the plus side for lobbying: our state, county and city government is surprisingly accessible for the average citizen. Assuming you can take a day off during the next legislative session, you can drive up to Salem to visit your representatives (BTW, both houses are now controlled by Democrats). I encourage every citizen to experience this! Just call ahead and set up an appointment to visit your state Senator or Representative and tell him/her of your concerns. If not, take few minutes to call them!

Bottom line: the multiple crises we face demand nothing less than an organized, global shakeup of the way civilization operates. Some might call it a revolution, some might call it a re-alignment of values and attitudes. Wherever you stand, however you put it, it is clear to me that we have a choice between a completely chaotic, “market-driven” descent into hell, or a cooperative, democratic venture into a new era of decentralized economic self-reliance and ecological sustainability. I suggest we commence with the agitating and ruckus-making or we may soon run out of time and lose the ability to choose.

News item to give us some cheer...

“V” Makes A Mark In DC
Worldwide Interest in RTP ("Right to Petition") Stirred
It’s working.

We are making good use of the powerful concept of en masse activist resistance used in the movie, “V for Vendetta.”

“V” is helping us as we build support for the unalienable Right to a Response from Government to our Petitions for Redress of Grievances regarding the Government’s violation of the war powers, tax, privacy and money clauses of the Constitution.

“V” is helping us as we educate the public about the First Amendment’s guarantee of our Right to Petition Government for Redress of Grievances.

On November 6, 2006, a lone man in a “V” mask and clothing visited security checkpoints at the White House, the main Treasury Building, the Department of Justice and the Capitol, to deliver a letter and the Petitions for Redress. A short videotape of the encounters has made its way around the Internet, including links from sites such as MySpace.com.

The letter informed the leaders of the Executive and Legislative branches of the federal government that up to 100 people in “V” masks and clothing would gather in silent vigil at those locations on November 14th to await a response to the Petitions for Redress.

True to his word, at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, nearly 100 men and women in “V” masks and clothing could be seen walking along different streets in downtown Washington, DC, all heading to Lafayette Park across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

MORE...(with photos)

I guess the nation listened to you, Mr. Toles. Thanks for your many contributions!
:-)

AN OPEN LETTER I FOUND TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI:

Read and pass along to your friends and relaties and (MOST importantly) your representatives in Washington:

Nancy,

Congratulations to you in your new post, and mostly, to US VOTERS, who triumphed despite considerable fraud--only because of their VIGILANCE and their determined numbers! We VOTERS are who put you where you are, and who you need to LISTEN TO us now.

We hear that you're going to have lunch today, 11/9/06, with the "President" (We are aware, the proof is in, that BOTH his elections were stolen, hence the quotes...hard to beleive so many of you in Congress haven't factored that in yet!)

So... DON'T be making any promises to Bush about NOT impeaching him, like the nonsense you uttered before: This is NOT YOUR PROMISE TO MAKE!

It will be the PEOPLE's right to decide; Represented by the HOUSE you now reside over.

We are the ones Bush, et al, have harmed the most, while you "Representatives" sat in your cushy seats and kept rolling over to his imperial-style leadership! You have much to repair and much to be ashamed of. YOU OWE US!

We were all hoping, when you said it takes a WOMAN to really clean HOUSE,
you meant it, and THAT would INCLUDE clearing out the huge pile of ELEPHANT POOP we're all neck-deep in, the pile YOU guys have been gingerly stepping around! Do your job, exonerate yourselves in the process: INVESTIGATE Republican abuses of power, starting at the TOP, and then PROSECUTE, to whatever extent necessary. (Bush seems to think it appropriate to HANG Saddam, for killing maybe 1/100th of the people HE has killed.)

Letting these CRIMIANALS go with a slap on the wrist is just going to encourage MORE of this, and the PEOPLE will feel CHEATED again. As it is, they think Dems are hardly better.

The Democrats MUST become an effective OPPOSITION party before you can LEAD.
THIS is what we really voted for in such numbers: a serious CORRECTION, not more smiley-face, suckered "Bi-partisanship".

So, you GO, Lady, and do as you yourself prescribed: CLEAN HOUSE!

By: GrannyBgood on November 10, 2006 at 08:30am

Just my 2 cents...
A few sobering thoughts on the election and the way things work:

In my view, while the election results were impressive and direct, it is not the American people who control the machinations of our national systems. It is an elite of rich and powerful men (and perhaps a few women). To the extent that we have set the stage for a slowing down of our descent into fascism, we have given ourselves a measure of breathing room and much-needed relief from the darkest days of fear. Much as I hate to give in to my cynical side, I think the elites helped the results along in order to curb the extremism (or rapidness of the descent) of a particularly radical wing of complete dipshits. They did this, I believe, to avoid any potential wrath from us really mad folks. Does anyone wonder about the extraordinary coincidences of "discovering" the Mark Foley scandal JUST before the election and the Armed Forces publications that came out with a rebuke of the way Bush, et al handled the Iraq war THE DAY BEFORE the election. Remind me if there were other events/revelations that seemed suspiciously well timed...and that the media actually covered. And what about the potential for stealing the vote with the HUGE number of e-voting machines? If the right wing of the elites stole twice before, why not this time? Could it be that the Democrats are just the more reasonable wing of the same group of folks?

What we can do about the situation...
now that we have some measure of the elite's attention, we should kick ass in the "nonviolent protests and civil disobedience" area of things.
It is a time when we have the potential to really feel our potential as a people and test the limits of this so-called democracy based on our Constitution. And by all means, there is NO harm in phoning/faxing/emailing our reps and demanding impeachment, but I'll tell ya: I saw an interview with Nancy P. on CNN and she emphatically said there will be no impeachment hearings.
:-(
DAMN! Woulda been SO much fun!

Whoa! An election to BEHOLD!

Here are a few letters to the editor that appeared on the subject on the NY Times (online version) on Thursday, Nov. 9th...just to share:

The Democrats’ Jolt to the Political Landscape (11 Letters)


Published: November 9, 2006
To the Editor:

Re “Democrats Take House” (front page, Nov. 8):

So President Bush is not “the decider.” We, the American people, are — as it was meant to be.

Emily Rome
New York, Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

I watched, disheartened, as our country grew sicker and sicker. On Tuesday, it proved that its legendary self-healing abilities were still in good working order.

Anne Bernays
Cambridge, Mass., Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

Now that our electorate has finally woken from its stupor, we should ask ourselves why it took six years to recognize the incompetence and demagogy of this administration and the responsibility of the Republican leadership that blindly followed its lead.

The damage done is enormous, in Iraq, in the United States and around the world. Years have been squandered while the critical issues of our time have gone unattended.

How and why were we fooled?

We have a fascination with personalities instead of policy, a desire to be entertained rather than enlightened, and a need to have an enemy to define us and give our lives meaning.

Thankfully, our democracy is still functioning, though we will not see really meaningful progress until we can disconnect the electoral and legislative processes from the flow of corporate cash.

Let’s not forget that the Senate voted to give President Bush authority to start a war in Iraq. Our euphoria should be short-lived, and our vigilance should be redoubled.

Ken Swensen
Pound Ridge, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

Re “A Loud Message for Bush” (news analysis, front page, Nov. 8):

It’s almost too good to believe ... the American people have done the “almost” impossible using the greatest democratic process known to man, the vote!

A president so convinced of his power and his mandate has been handed a message: “You wasted your power and your mandate to act without consensus. The people have shouted, Enough! No more abuses of the Constitution and our freedoms; no more disregard for the values our forefathers fought hard to establish; no more ‘I am, therefore I can!’ ”

Thank you, my fellow Americans, for taking back our great country and for putting us back on the path to leadership and greatness in America and the world!

Doris Fenig
Floral Park, Queens, Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

Re “A Loud Message for Bush”:

To President Bush et al.:

Here’s why we Democrats won: For six years, even though the Republicans barely won their elections (if they won at all: see the 2000 election), they have disregarded us, scorned us and demonized us.

The debacle in Iraq is not the problem; it’s a symptom of profound arrogance. Here’s the “loud message”: We don’t like being ignored.

Stephanie Nicholas Acquadro
Westfield, N.J., Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

The shift in power in Washington is the result of a desire by midterm voters to cut the engines of President Bush’s wayward ship of state.

That most of us regard the present course as being disastrous is shown by the fact that we made this change with no clear, unified ideas as to how to plot a better path.

We can only hope that the White House will get the message, accept this verdict and unbend somewhat from its rigid ideology.

While there is certainly a need for an accounting by the Bush administration on many matters, the investigative powers that the Democrats have gained are not means for revenge.

Any true wrongdoing must be brought to justice, of course, but our most immediate goal should be to stanch the bleeding in Iraq.

As is so often the case, the way out of this mess seems to lie somewhere in the middle ground. We must all be prepared for sacrifice, to seek compromise where we can find it and tolerance where we can’t.

Like it or not, we are all Americans, all with a common fate. And we’re in trouble.

Reese Lloyd
Atlanta, Nov. 8, 2006

•

To the Editor:

As a Republican, I suppose I could go on and on with excuses for Tuesday’s debacle, but nothing would change what has happened, so let’s look at the bright side. It should be clear to all that much of the recent spike in violence in Iraq was an effort to affect our election.

With this out of the way now, perhaps there will be less of this bloodshed and the Iraqi government can get a handle on the pacification of the country and give us a legitimate reason to leave.

Also, with the election out of the way, the Democrats will have less need to carp at the administration; at the very least, they should start coming up with some solutions of their own.