7 posts tagged “democracy”

"Daddy I don't like to dream anymore..." (My 6yr old daughter's response to my question at bed time)

What a scary thought if she only knew what that meant literally.

'Activists say North Korean woman publicly executed for distributing Bible'

Headlines in the Morning Report July 25, 2009 just above the headline 'Evangelist convicted of sex with girls.'

"If you're going to support it, you should understand it enough to debate for it. It just promotes common sense and competency in the legislature." -Jerrol LeBaron

LeBaron is promoting the "Honor in Office Act" a ballot initiative that requires lawmakers to actually read the laws that they vote for. (They don't read the Laws they pass???)

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Advertisement for Marijuana at the Florin Wellness Center.

"Bay Area Transit riders have been holding their breath for fear of a strike that would cripple the backbone of the area's public transportation system." - Oakland Tribune

As California unemployment rate hits 11.6% with a $26 billion ($26,000,000,000.00) dollar budget deficit and is paying its' workers with State issued IOU's.

"Tell me three things about your significant other two that are true and one that's a lie" - Dr. Ronn Elmore (Psychiatrist, Life Coach, Marriage Therapist)

The first exercise at the "Marriage University" (At a 7- Week Christian Based pre-marital course.)

'Both houses of Congress have now approved a resolution Wednesday urging a presidential pardon for former heavyweight champion boxer Jack Johnson'  -NBC NEWS (100 years later)

Jack Johnson, publicly defiant of the Jim Crow-era laws that ruled the day (1908), was the first person prosecuted under the Mann Act, which banned the transportation of females across state lines "for immoral purposes."  The official offense cited was for consorting and traveling with a white prostitute whom he later married.
 

"President Obama's handshake is snubbed by Russians" - the Internet

The Youtube video the circulated over the internet like a firestorm purporting that Russian officials refused to shake the Black American President's hand (he was actually introducing the Russian President to other diplomats)

My thoughts...

I see this place (our social world) we call strange, home, heaven and hell all in the same breath. We are just keepers of what we have been entrusted with (this green earth) we govern ourselves with a complex set of laws, rules, beliefs and lies all in the pursuit of happiness, health, wealth, equality or the promise of everlasting life with the creator. When I hold up the mirror of reality this is the reflection I see however skewed, biased, negative or positive; but most importantly I wonder about the world (society) we will leave for our children.

Bycha Buxton

 

A Brief History...

I still have my residence in the Golden State (I will never leave for good) but it is not socially the place that I have grown to be most comfortable in. It is "the wild wild west", free and progressive in many ways and on many issues. But my love of that state, especially the Bay Area has definitely shaped who I am. A tolerant conservative, a moderate, now I do fault in some ways the pitifully waged war on drugs started by the former "B" movie actor, Governor of California and 40th President (God rest his soul) Ronald Regan (the Gipper). With his wife Nancy's (Regan) "Just Say No" campaign and Howard Jarvis author of Prop. 13 in 1978 ( "People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation"),which had a disproportionate affect on the Bay Area and Los Angeles it opened the border to Mexico for cheap labor and cheaper drugs.

Then there was the "Stop The Madness" campaign against drugs in 1986 which featured in a musical video, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, a talking poster of David Hasselhoff and Kareem Abdul Jabbar all who would later become headlines for the losing battle against the "war on drugs".

Present Day...

The great state, the "Golden State" now leads the nation in unemployment(updated 2/27/09 10.1%), the public schools now rank 48th out of 50 states and they have recently had a $42 billion budget deficit. A bill from Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco -- where else?) would tax marijuana sales. It would, first, decriminalize the possession and sale of marijuana under state law, and, second, set up a system for regulating and taxing it. The sales and taxation part only happens, though, if the federal government decriminalizes marijuana too, or at least allows states to make their own decisions about the drug. It puts the "legalization of drugs" on the table in possibly the most liberal government that has occupied Washington D.C. since JFK and LBJ. So we have come full circle back to the 30% tax reduction that was Prop. 13 to be replaced with another tax increase. Better off the backs of California homeowners and on the butts of the blunts and the bowl of the bongs. Ammiano and his supporters argue that the state is losing out on more than $1 billion a year in tax revenues because its biggest cash crop, marijuana, is illegal and therefore not taxable.

The Future...

A myriad of health related issues will consume the California heath system related to the increase in smoking. Bronchitis, asthma, lung cancer; a number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia (sounds like growing up in the 'hood). In one study, heavy marijuana abusers reported that the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including physical and mental health, cognitive abilities, social life, and career status. Several studies associate workers’ marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers’ compensation claims, and job turnover. So the future of California's marijuana policy will have little change on the current state of affairs (sad but true) it (pot smoking) will not stop.

The Remedy...

It is time to surrender and be prudent about the lost revenue (I am a fiscal conservative). Maybe the coalition against Prop. 8 will be too "high" to mount an effective campaign (a much more important social issue) because the war on marijuana is moot. It (legalization) has the possibility of creating thousands of jobs related to the cultivation, processing, sale and monitoring of the product. Also one of the most prized jobs of all "quality control"second only to that of "profiteer". It could reinvigorate the once and much ballyhooed agricultural industry of California that has given way to dot com start-ups and bio-tech innovation of the nineties.

Yours truly, but I never inhaled ;-)

Bycha Buxton

 

 

He is our President. It says volumes how far this country has come. I am a proud black man; but "cash rules everything around...dolla' bill ya'll ....dolla', dolla', dolla', dolla' bill ya'll" Since the close of the DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average a collection of 30 of the largest and most widely held public companies in the United States.) on January 16, 2009 at 8281.22 opening again on the most historic day in US modern history 2/20/2009, until today February 23, 2009 a mere 35 days into his Presidency the "market" (DJIA) has had a precipitous drop of 1166.44 pts. to 7114.78 these are 1997 levels. Now I do have to fault my former party leader G.W. Bush for the current fiscal status but this is ridiculous for it (the markets) to continue in a free fall. Many fault the appointment of Timothy Geithner (Treasury Secretary) and his lack of a detailed plan, general aloofness and inability to convey confidence.

President Obama's economic plan though a milestone in effectiveness in getting a major piece of legislation passed so quickly has not been able to inspire the "markets". When the markets are in a "bull run" money flows it does have a trickle down effect. A rising tide lifts all boats. But now we (America) wait for the big ship (the Titanic) to give us a lift out of these deep recession waters. Who will talk the helm of the Titanic? Even though the historic ship sank their were survivors, such as the case with this economic downturn. We will go down, some institutions will find themselves at the bottom of the abyss never to see the sun shine on their dariaires again; but that is the nature of the beast called the capitalist market. The health of the Dow Jones is directly connected to most 401K retirement accounts, pension funds and dictates the mood of business worldwide. Not that policy should dictate or be dictated by the whims of wall street; but as the nations Chief Executive Officer he (President Obama) has to be aware of his adverse affect on the financial markets and its effect on the very poor and disaffected citizens he is trying to help.

There has been a sea change of late within politics as we begin to conclude the first decade of the 21st century. With the accidental but timely appointment of the first Black Governor of New York. Then the overwhelming victory of the Presidency by a African American and the most recent appointment of a Black U.S. Senator by a now impeached Governor. Leave it to my party the GOP to get on the bandwagon albeit late but on the wagon with the appointment of the first African American RNC Chairman.

It was a challenge for the conservatives but after the fiasco this past holiday season when former Tennessee chairman Chip Saltsman gave a holiday gift to members — a CD that includes a song called Barack the Magic Negro, sung to the tune of Puff, the Magic Dragon. It was necessary to either choose what was popular at the time or who is best for the party. I still don't know which one they chose. Although they had two black candidates vying for the top spot to lead the party many quietly were in support of the Saul Anuzis, the Michigan GOP chairman, a Harley-Davidson rider, an ex-union member and the son of an autoworker an appeal to the mainstream of America.

The GOP lost the presidency, 21 House seats and at least seven Senate seats on Nov. 4. The party that emerged was concentrated in the South and several Mountain West states, and it had little appeal to blacks or Hispanics and problems attracting better-educated voters. So now Micheal Steele our new RNC Chairman, impervious to the race card sits atop the throne to guide the Grand Ole' Party to at the very least a congressional comeback with increases in representatives in the House and Senate or the coup de gras  POTUS (President of the United States). But for now this chairman post is too important to be considered a token appointment but well within reason of status quo for D.C. politics. As a proud black man it would be my pride to assume that we as a people have finally arrived on the political stage as a force to be reckoned with; but as a realist and sometime cynic I see the world through a filtered lens. I cannot believe that all the barriers have come down post January 20, 2009. So with great reservation do I look to our new leader Chairman Steele not because of who he is but what he has become. The leader of a party in disrepair; the party that I chose because it did not have any representation by African Americans. I have been a member of this party for 21 years and just now does the RNC see fit to be lead by a man of color. Is it a fad or is it status quo?

George Bush has been so instrumental in the advancement of African Americans to position's of power and influence.

It was George Bush who appointed the first and second Black Secretary of State. It was President Bush who appointed the first Hispanic Attorney General, the first female National Security Advisory, appoint a Black Secretary of Education and a Hispanic Commerce Secretary and so many more advancements of people of color. It was George Bush's failed economic policies and misguided war on terror that guaranteed the republican party would be in disarray and repair (I'm am so sad...I am a recovering republican). So this the last farewell to a President who will be considered in the short term the worst president in modern times, I do salute The former President for without his vision and aloofness, without his leadership and incompetence this day may not have been; today President-Elect Barak Obama will be sworn in...God bless America, George Bush has did it again.

Sincerely,

Bycha Buxton

The difference in Candidate # 5 and Client # 9 is as clear as Black and White. But the irony is what men are willing to pay for their egos to be stroke and stoked. The "Candidate" seeks power the "Client" sought the pleasure both men paid with a currency of trust.

# 5 exposed like a newborns bottom; naked, tender and helpless to the good doctors swift smack of an open palm.

# 9 treated like an ostracized cleric; hypocrite with the guilt of his own sin weighing down his divine service to his flock.

These men are mere numbers in U.S. Federal Investigations, but moreover stains on the political landscape of the most exciting year in U.S. politics of a generation.

"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." (Thomas Babington Macaulay)

But let not me be the one who has a plank in his eye, speak of the speck in the eyes of the Candidate and the Client for I have been both in retrospect.  Seeking the power and the pleasure at times in the most unconventional ways. Violating my own "Constitution", under self-imposed moral reflection; as I measure ones own character. Although the Candidate (Jesse Jackson Jr.) has not been charged with any wrong doing only his ambition, guilty by association, led by hope and validated by the election of change. # 5  the weight of your legacy will crush you if don't choose to be plumb with integrity. # 9 (former Governor of New York) just pray that strumpet doesn't write a book about your bedroom manners.

This dysfunctional behavior breeds the disdain that the public has for politicians. The stench of corruption that good tax paying people would consider too egregious for reconciliation and too tendentious for consideration. Let this be a lesson for those seeking power or pleasure it can cost more than you can afford.

Bycha Buxton

 The third century of the industrial revolution age is seeing the repackaging of socialism in various forms. The most dramatic is the plan of Venezuela’s President, Hugo Chavez (President Bush’s biggest fan) is to create a city from scratch in a national park. Here in the U.S. a more subtle approach is the national health care plan, proposed by Hillary Clinton. Our neighbors to the north (Canada) already have such a system to much applause by those who think this is a fresh new idea.

Moving pictures also came along once upon a time. Only to evolve into talking pictures, then Technicolor, inevitably sex came on the screen (no pun intended); now you need the FCC; they have to have a mortal enemy (Hollywood), and even they need somebody to take advantage of (The Screen Writers Guild). Socialism has always morphed into a living hell for those who can't escape its promises of equilibrium (i.e, Cuba). In its' purest form; an entry in Webster’s dictionary Socialism is beautiful. But in this century cooperation rather than competition to guide private industry will bring the big “C” if not carefully planned to remain an ever evolving entry in Wikipedia.

What is the big “C”? China’s 1 billion people? Castro’s dream of a ‘Communist’ victory, or ‘Coverage’ (health care); managed by a government who can’t agree on how or how not to fund a war? Imagine if your triple bypass was filibustered in a short session of congress just before the holiday break. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Socialism historically leads to a societal breakdown. Can we improve the quality of life socializing programs and not society? These are questions for a democratic society. Isn't freedom beautiful! (Even thorns have roses.)

Be careful my liberal friends, who see a great utopia on the horizon. I too see wonderful things; a world liberated from the oppression of ideologues like Stalin, Mao Tse -Tung, Ho Chi Minh, Mussolini, Hitler, and Hussein. Have we defeated these ideas only to incorporate them into our great republic? The ‘Gipper’ would be turning over in his grave along with JFK, MLK and the KKK. 

Your American,

Bycha Buxton

buxtonbycha@aol.com