Change? Really?

So, all you 20 somethings who thought that Obama was beyond reproach, what do you think of him now? I’m guessing nothing since you probably are not following what’s going on with the economy and such.** The editorial entitled “That thud you heard? Obama falling to Earth” by C Krauthammer this week is bang on. He’s generally a Republican lap dog, but he certainly tells it like it is in this article.

The opening quote from the Messiah himself pretty much sets the tone:

“A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe.” – President Obama, Feb 4, 2009

So, Obama’s administration will stop the fearmongering and bring hope, will it? Hmm, that quote sounds pretty scary to me. He is using fear to rush this bill just as Bush and every other politician have always done to get their way. It’s classic. Notice the RUSH to get it passed, like NOW, before more scrutiny can happen? Yah. Business as usual.

“An ostentatious executive order banning lobbyists was immediately followed by the nomination of at least a dozen current or former lobbyists to high position.” – C Krauthammer in article cited above

And of course the spending bill… Yah, nothing new there, either:

[Obama promised] “…a new politics where the moneyed pork-barreling and corrupt logrolling of the past would give way to a bottom-up, grass-roots participatory democracy. That is what made Obama so dazzling and new. Turns out the “fierce urgency of now” includes $150 million for livestock insurance.” – C Krauthammer article

I was really hoping for at least a few months of honeymoon, with Obama still shining Messiah-like and doting upon his followers… Nah, we got 2.5 weeks.

Turns out that Messiah Obama is indeed only a mere mortal. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

I direct these posts to the Obama-as-Superman T Shirt wearing 20 somethings simply because they are the ones who crowed the loudest upon the Messiah’s victory and now they are suspiciously quiet. Look, kids, it takes more than casting a vote, you know? You’ve got to PARTICIPATE in your government. Which would include being able to talk about the issues, btw.

So, get out there and discuss. Write letters to your Reps. Make sure to hold this administration to the promises it made. That is what participation is all about.

**In your defence, 20 somethings, I had no idea what was going on in my 20s, either. I had no idea that unemployment was over 10% in 1982, for instance. [Clarification: I was 17 in late 1982. What I meant was that I didn’t know about the recession in the 80s (or much of anything else) when I was in my 20s.] I direct my comments towards this group very pointedly because of all the snotty attitude I put up with (even being called CONSERVATIVE!!!) during the election when I was pointing out these very things that are happening now and getting shit for it. Shadowblind, I’m looking at YOU. :-)

More on the Handout Plan

CBS’ article on this convoluted mess is very good. The breakout articles on the actual points of the bill as well as a comparison between the Senate and House versions are also invaluable for seeing just how FUBAR things are and why we’ll be paying this shit off for decades.

Why are you still here? Clicky click.

My first impressions:
– Credits for buying a car? Really? So buying a NEW car when you can’t pay your bills is a good idea? This is “Buy American” incentives for the auto industry. Didn’t they just get billions of our money to save themselves?

– $4.6 billion for fossil fuel research and development? Oh, yah, right that “CLEAN” coal that Southern Company is promoting… PORK.

– $116.5 billion for education? And this helps out the economy how, exactly? If there are no jobs, then having a BA really doesn’t matter, does it?

– $870 million to combat flu. What? ::shakes head::

Sadly, the differences between the House and Senate bills are not significant.

Bend over, America! Get out the LUBE, you’re gonna need it.

44th Presidential Inauguration

Wow. I’ve got to say the energy of this event is palpable. It came gushing through my TV screen like a wave. I am awestruck by the experience. If it was this much in my living room, I can only imagine what it was like in DC. It’s like the whole USA cast a circle and sent up an energy burst. Seriously. I’m still stirred up!

The music performed by Yo-Yo Ma and the rest of the quartet was AMAZING. It was written by John Williams (Star Wars) and it’s called “Air and Simple Gifts.” It made me weep with the beauty of the first movement. Cello always hits me straight in the heart, but just WOW.

Obama’s speech was very good – although I really hope he learns to rely less on TelePrompTers. He touched on all the major points of his campaign and it was very motivating.

Poet Elizabeth Alexander… Well, I think the poem itself was pretty good, but her delivery was abysmal. Why. Did. She. Speak. One. Word. At. A. Time. ? The Bill Shatner school of poetry reading, I suppose. I want to read the poem myself to see what I think (if anyone locates the text of it, please let me know). I hope it was just nerves that made her read that way – she is a scholar and well known poet after all!

And then, the closing by Rev Lowery. OMG. That guy was just absolutely perfect. The rhyme at the end was exactly what this event needed. Kudos to the very old dude!! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

It was awesome, just awesome. If you didn’t watch it live, then get to YouTube and watch it now. Even a curmudgeon like me felt more positive about this country than I have in a long time. I sincerely hope that this positive energy will continue past, oh, tomorrow, yanno?

PSA re: Cell Phone use today

The cell phone companies are expecting the cell phone network to be logjammed today with the gazillions of people either at the inauguration or texting about it.

So, please keep your usage to a minimum and don’t be surprised if your service is slow, spotty or even non existent. Texts are just as susceptible to not make it as calls, btw, for you texting bastards. ;-)

/end PSA

All’s quiet on the virtual front?

You’ve got to be kidding me! I find it hard to believe that the ONLY newsworthy event is Travolta’s son dying at 16. Tragic, yes, but is that the only thing going on?

No drama? No gnashing of teeth or rending of clothing? No tales of woe? LJ, you can do better!

Well since no one has anything to say, I’ll post a big ole political post to at least give everyone something to read. No cuts, either, bitches.

A bunch of Muslims got tossed off an AirTran flight and detained for talking about which seats are the safest in a crash. Stupid, yes, but illegal? I think not. The fucking TSA must be reigned in. Those assholes can detain you as long as they wish for any reason they wish. That is WRONG. Oh, and these Muslims were CITIZENS, people, not some random ferrinners.

I get searched about 50% of the time at the airport, which tells me that I’m probably on a watch list for my views on this blog. Well, SUCK IT, TSA!! Go ahead and harass me all you like. I will not stop criticising a fascist department of government with unbridled power to treat citizens any way they wish. It’s wrong and it should be stopped. The fallacy that it “makes us safer” is just plain stupid.

Let’s have some quotes about democracy, shall we? Remind ourselves of a few things:

“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – CS Lewis

“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” – George Bernard Shaw

“In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.” – J. William Fulbright

“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi

“The most effective way to restrict democracy is to transfer decision-making from the public arena to unaccountable institutions: kings and princes, priestly castes, military juntas, party dictatorships, or modern corporations.” – Noam Chomsky

“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.” – Voltaire

Why do we allow the TSA and the Patriot Act to continue? Because Americans have become sheeple, that’s why. I’m certain that the people of Germany told themselves that Hitler’s regime was acceptable because “I’m not doing anything wrong, so what am I worried about?” And the trains, did indeed run on time.

“Lack of dissent provides permission by acquiescence.” – Angela H. Pratt