There is a guy going around with a video camera, setting up crazy situations, and getting people to say silly things. He then publishes his videos and the right jumps over the follies of the few as indicative of how bad the whole organization is. He did it against ACORN and now he has done it against NPR. ACORN has closed its doors; NPR will probably survive because it has many well-heeled supporters.
However, if somebody entraps a Republican like Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, it's called unfair and brushed off as inconsequential.
Subsidies for green energy are bad; energy costs should be determined by free market forces.
But the same people who say this want to supply subsidies to the oil and nuclear industries.
Interestingly, the nuclear industry is not supported by the free market; banks and investors think they are too risky. See "Japan disaster may mean setback for U.S. nuclear energy", Washington Post, Jia Lynn Yang, 2011-03-13.
Showing posts with label David Koch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Koch. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Is Gov. Scott Walker following the Wisconsin Constitution?
The preamble of the Wisconsin Constitution states:
Business generally means a few people, not "the people". This was clearly shown when Gov. Walker was entrapped into speaking with a resident of Manhattan, New York, David Koch, Executive Vice President of Koch Industries.
Second, by raising such a contentious issue as restricting the rights of public employee unions, no matter at what level of government, he definitely is not seeking domestic tranquility.
Third, promoting the welfare of business over people is not promoting the general welfare.
Some would argue that this is a case for impeachment. Whether it is or is not, the Wisconsin Legislature is controlled by Republicans; impeachment is a moot point.
Maybe some Wisconsin dissident would display this version of the Wisconsin Constitution:
We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this constitution.First, Gov. Walker had on his podium at his acceptance speech a sign that that stated, "Wisconsin, Open for Business".
Business generally means a few people, not "the people". This was clearly shown when Gov. Walker was entrapped into speaking with a resident of Manhattan, New York, David Koch, Executive Vice President of Koch Industries.
Second, by raising such a contentious issue as restricting the rights of public employee unions, no matter at what level of government, he definitely is not seeking domestic tranquility.
Third, promoting the welfare of business over people is not promoting the general welfare.
Some would argue that this is a case for impeachment. Whether it is or is not, the Wisconsin Legislature is controlled by Republicans; impeachment is a moot point.
Maybe some Wisconsin dissident would display this version of the Wisconsin Constitution:
We, the corporations of Wisconsin and elsewhere, grateful to the Republican Party for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more pliant government, insure domestic tranquility and promote corporate welfare, do establish this constitution.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Do we have a democracy or a plutocracy? Follow the money!
It has long bothered me that the Republican Party has morphed from a "big-tent party" to a "lock-step party". Instead of being a party that discusses ideas to reach some consensus that fits the party's ideals, the Republican Party has become a party of the checklist. If you don't agree with each and every item on the checklist, then you are a RINO, Republican In Name Only.
A party with a definite agenda that gets many people to agree with it has an advantage of a party that has a wide range of opinions. Not every Democrat gets up in arms to save the whales or feels that the world will end if gay marriage is not legalized. But, because these "wafflers" belong to a party who has a large number of people who support these issues, they have more difficulty defending themselves against a party in lockstep.
It has also bothered me how quickly items can be added to the checklist. This is not a hallmark of a grassroots movement. A grassroots movement, at least in a democracy, would be discussing the issues and forming some consensus about them. This doesn't happen overnight.
Of course, we do have the Glenn Becks and the Rush Limbaughs who have many of their fans at their beck and call. But somebody has to have an organization that translates these ideas into action. Or, maybe somebody has an organization that feeds ideas to Beck and Limbaugh. That is, maybe Beck and Limbaugh are at some hidden figure's or figures' beck and call.
I was overwhelmed when I read "The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party" by
Frank Rich, New York Times, 2010-08-28. He wrote about how the Koch brothers of Koch Oil have been founding and funding libertarian groups to promote their laissez-faire ideas. Not only should we follow the money, we should follow the associations. Some employees of Koch Oil sit on the boards of these "independent" groups.
When you have ten minutes, I suggest that you read Frank Rich's column.
When you have an hour, I suggest you read one of his references, "Covert Operations: The Billionaire Brothers Who Are Waging War Against Obama", Jane Mayer, New Yorker,
2010-08-31.
When you have a week or two, I suggest you read one of her references, "Merchants of Doubt", Naomi Oreskes, which "chronicles various attempts by American industry to manipulate public opinion on science". Hm! Is "junk science" any science that is contrary to somebody's short term interests.
This all makes me think of Robert Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters", an alien race that attached themselves to the backs of human beings and made them do their will. In this case we have a plutocracy attaching itself to people's minds making the people believe they are defending democracy.
A party with a definite agenda that gets many people to agree with it has an advantage of a party that has a wide range of opinions. Not every Democrat gets up in arms to save the whales or feels that the world will end if gay marriage is not legalized. But, because these "wafflers" belong to a party who has a large number of people who support these issues, they have more difficulty defending themselves against a party in lockstep.
It has also bothered me how quickly items can be added to the checklist. This is not a hallmark of a grassroots movement. A grassroots movement, at least in a democracy, would be discussing the issues and forming some consensus about them. This doesn't happen overnight.
Of course, we do have the Glenn Becks and the Rush Limbaughs who have many of their fans at their beck and call. But somebody has to have an organization that translates these ideas into action. Or, maybe somebody has an organization that feeds ideas to Beck and Limbaugh. That is, maybe Beck and Limbaugh are at some hidden figure's or figures' beck and call.
I was overwhelmed when I read "The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party" by
Frank Rich, New York Times, 2010-08-28. He wrote about how the Koch brothers of Koch Oil have been founding and funding libertarian groups to promote their laissez-faire ideas. Not only should we follow the money, we should follow the associations. Some employees of Koch Oil sit on the boards of these "independent" groups.
When you have ten minutes, I suggest that you read Frank Rich's column.
When you have an hour, I suggest you read one of his references, "Covert Operations: The Billionaire Brothers Who Are Waging War Against Obama", Jane Mayer, New Yorker,
2010-08-31.
When you have a week or two, I suggest you read one of her references, "Merchants of Doubt", Naomi Oreskes, which "chronicles various attempts by American industry to manipulate public opinion on science". Hm! Is "junk science" any science that is contrary to somebody's short term interests.
This all makes me think of Robert Heinlein's "The Puppet Masters", an alien race that attached themselves to the backs of human beings and made them do their will. In this case we have a plutocracy attaching itself to people's minds making the people believe they are defending democracy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)