Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Hopes She "Won't See War In Her Lifetime..."

Assemblywoman, Fiona Ma, Representing California's 12th Assembly District was in attendance at the installation of a Veteran's flag pole in front of City Hall today. There was much beating of war drums and general military pomp. I was dumbfounded when, while being interviewed on live television, Assemblywoman Ma said, "I hope that we won't see war in my lifetime...[but I feel it is likely that I will]."

I would like to be the first to point out to the Assemblywoman that we are at war right now and have been in a constant state of war ever since the beginning of the Korean Conflict. I am shocked that an elected official of her stature would make such an outrageous and simple-minded statement. Please, do the world a favor and send the Assemblywoman an email, informing her that we are currently at war and have been for many years. Here is a convenient link to the contact form on her website:

Inform Assemblywoman Ma that we are at war!

Betty Bowers Explains Traditional Marriage to Everyone Else

I realize this will offend some of my religious friends, but this is too good not to post and I think we can all agree that there are some "inconsistencies" in The Old Testament. The main problem I have with religion in general, is that people often use it to try to impose their own ideologies on other people. The debate on gay marriage stands out as an excellent example.

Chicago's Gun Ban to Go Before Supreme Court

The right to bear arms will undergo a trial by the Supreme Court, beginning today.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is that part of the Bill of Rights which protects the individual right to keep and bear arms. According to the American Bar Association, there has been more disagreement on how to interpret the Second Amendment than any other part of the Constitution. Because there are supporters and detractors of the right to bear arms on both the right and the left, this battle will not be decided today. Other cases where the Supreme Court has sought to interpret the Second Amendment include: United States v. Cruikshank (1875), Presser v. Illinois (1886), Miller v. Texas (1894), Robertson v. Baldwin (1897), United States v. Miller (1939), and District of Columbia v. Heller (2008).


Personally, I don't want cops and criminals to be the only people with guns. I believe the intent of the framers of the Second Amendment was to prevent the Government from oppressing the American people through force and give the people a means to protect themselves against unreasonable government intrusion into their personal freedoms.

In light of the Supreme Court's recent decision to remove limits on Corporate political campaign contributions (effectively putting the US Government into the hands of private industry), I suspect the Court will betray the American people again and enforce the proposed weapons ban.

Here is a link to ABC's article on the subject: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-hears-chicago-gun-ban-case/story?id=9780703

San Francisco Considers Law To Target Homeless And Poor

The City of San Francisco is considering a "sit-lie" law which would make criminals out of anyone who sits or lies on the sidewalks. This is inhumane legislation targeting homeless and poverty stricken people who have nowhere else to go. Of course police groups are in favor of the proposed law, because it will give them another excuse to search people for drugs and/or go on "fishing expeditions" to see if they can find some other reason to arrest them.

This really upsets me. It is the same wherever you go--new laws designed to restrict the freedom of the individual and secure the power of a police state are being drawn up in small rooms with little natural light. Where is a homeless person supposed to go if they can’t even sleep on the sidewalk? Will this new law effect other citizens who maybe just need a rest or are experiencing a medical emergency? Will the police profile and target only people who "appear" to be homeless and poor, or people who just dress a certain way?

It is already miserable to be homeless—it shouldn't be illegal too. Contrary to popular belief, most homeless did not become so out of choice and not because they are lazy, stupid, or immoral. I invite you to my pages devoted to raising awareness on homelessness: http://sites.google.com/site/homelessactionnetwork/. There you will find more information and pictures I have taken of homeless people:  I am often surprised by their cheerfulness and sense of pride. I usually give them a dollar or two for the privilege of photographing them. 

Please, help me raise awareness about this assault on our civil liberties by sharing this post with as many people as you can. Together maybe we can prevent this clearly oppressive law.

ANARCHIST WEBSITE COVERS OLYMPIC CEREMONY PROTESTS

These guys are totally radical!

Here is a link to their blog: http://northbayuprising.blogspot.com/

I lifted these videos from some of their posts:

Resist 2010: Eight Reasons to Oppose the 2010 Winter Olympics. (HIGH RES) from BurningFist Media on Vimeo.

Staggering Unemployment Graphic

I just had to share this with you all...Click "Play" to see the horrible results of eight years of neoconservative policies.

Former Timothy Geithner Testifies On Wall Street Bail Out

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testified at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Wednesday on the bailout of the giant insurance company, AIG. It was great to finally see someone having to answer some questions about what, in my opinion, was the biggest rip off of the American people since the inception of the Federal Reserve Bank.


At one point during the hearing, after a particularly tense round of questioning, Mr. Geithner made a great effort to appear indignant, saying to one of his questioners, "....you are suggesting that we weren't acting in the public's interest...!" 


Pretty comical, Mr. Geithner! Of course he knows that is the reason for the hearings in the first place.

Obama Takes All Questions From House Republicans

President Obama gave a courageous and brilliant performance today, when he spent an hour and a half on camera taking questions and discussing hot-button issues with house Republicans. Click to see it on C-SPAN.
In contrast to former President Bush, who never dared put himself in situations where he might actually have to form his own sentences in a debate format, President Obama answered all of his critics' questions competently and with pure logic. The Republican representatives, kept trying the same old tactics of political jockeying and inserting rhetoric and political attacks into their questions, but the President rebuffed them every time while answering their questions with perfect clarity.

Good job, President Obama!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

"Support Our Troops." Used early in the invasion and occupation of Iraq as a counter to the growing anti-war movement, this patriotic slogan has since undergone a metamorphosis. As the scores of injured and mentally disturbed soldiers return from the battle fields to their home-towns and try to re-integrate into society, their friends and families are learning that no amount of support can ever heal the psychological wounds that soldiers suffer.

Although I have respect for people who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others, I believe heroism should be associated with a just cause. The illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq has caused such widespread destruction that any glory claimed from taking part in cleaning up the mess, should be carefully examined. Don't tell me they are fighting for my freedom, because in my opinion that is pure garbage! The war was sold to the American people with lies and propaganda. Even among the right-wing there are few who will now deny that the invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have had much more to with energy resources and geopolitical strategic posturing than anything else.

There is no justification for the illegal, immoral invasion and occupation of a peaceful country.

State Of The Union Address

During the President's speech tonight I noticed something that surprised me. Although, I always thought that illegal immigration was one of the right-wing's favorite personal peeve's, when the President talked about reforming our county's immigration policy, very few of the Republican attendees stood up to applaude; conversely, nearly all of the Democrat attendees were on their feet clapping immediately. The Republican side of the gallery only grudgingly stood up when the President spoke of ending the war in Iraq: why do Republican's love war so much?

Although it has long been my position that both parties have been ripping off the American public for generations, it has been demonstrated that the Democrat's policies lead to a healthier economy and a freer society. It is clear that the right-wing's bottom line is always profits; they appear to be against anything that might threaten corporate profits.

The President's speech was strong and well delivered; he made a lot of sense. By contrast the Republican rebuttal was weak: The Republican's complain a lot about the President's ideas, but they always seem to forget that it was their irresponsible fiscal policies that led to the economic disaster the world is now facing.

SUPREME COURT THROWS OUT LIMITS ON CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

The United States Supreme Court shocked the nation yesterday, when it decided to overturn it's own 1907 decision limiting corporate spending in political elections. This decision essentially puts the United States government securely in the pockets of the biggest corporations in  the country! 


It may not be a coincidence that the Court has done this at a time when corporate oversight is more crucial than ever: Health care reform is big in the public's mind and it is no secret that the insurance and drug companies have a lot to lose; Wall Street has been asked to return the money that our "government" gave them just before Bush left office, and they have given most of it away already in executive bonuses; also, it is imperative that we take action globally to prevent the pollution that has led to global warming and could possibly destroy human life on Earth.


With the Supreme Court's latest ruling, any efforts to curb harmful corporate activities can easily be squashed by corporations that feel such efforts will interfere with their profits. Elections will be decided by corporations, who will install whatever politicians best favor their interests.


Democracy in this country is now only a dim memory, if it ever really existed at all...