10 posts tagged “politics”
The United States Electoral College is a term used to describe the 538 Presidential electors who meet every four years to cast the "official" votes for President and Vice President of the United States. The Constitution gives each state legislature the plenary power to choose the electors who shall represent its state in the Electoral College. The Electors never meet as a national body. At 51 (Fifty states plus the District of Columbia) separate meetings, held on the same day, the electors cast the electoral votes. As such, the collective concept of the 51 groups is the technical definition of the college. It is because of this power structure that the popular vote was overturned in the 1824, 1876, 1888 and the more recent 2000 Presidential election. What scares me about this system is that it is elitist in nature and has a cloak of anonymity that render them (the Electors) unaccountable to the general masses. The Constitution does not require the Electors to vote as pledged, but many (not all) states have enacted laws that do require their Electors to vote as pledged. This system seems to be in place to assure certain citizens that under no circumstance will an "undesired" candidate be allowed to occupy the highest positions in the land. You may wonder why the forefathers choose to wrest the power from the voting public and give it to these 538 mysterious individuals (who are they?).
There are calls to reform this antiquated system. There are those who truly want to put the power in the hands of the people. The argument for an "Electoral College" is that while the Congress is popularly elected by the people, the President and Vice President are elected to be executives of a federation of independent states. The Electoral College ensures that candidates, particularly in recent elections, pay attention to key 'swing-states' (those states that are not firmly rooted in either the Republican or Democratic party). It equally assures that voters in states that are not believed to be competitive will be disregarded.
Supporters of direct election argue that it would give everyone an equally weighted vote, regardless of what state he or she lives in, and oppose giving disproportionately amplified voting power to voters in states with small populations. Under the current system, the vote of an individual living in a state with three electoral votes is proportionally more influential than the vote of an individual living in a state with a large number of electoral votes.
The arguments for and against get bogged down with historic policy and precedence set throughout elections that are skewed by the history of the United States divisions among its political parties, voters and regions (in other words they filibuster the discussion).
Registered Voter,
Bycha Buxton
Should there be a boycott of China? Or should there be a boycott of the Olympic games in Beijing? Mario Vazquez Rana, the president the
Association of National Olympic Committees, and the International
Olympic Committee stated that "Any politician who is pushing for a boycott is
committing a serious error," Vazquez said, "For me a total
boycott, a partial boycott, is totally out of the question."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has not ruled out the possibility he might boycott the opening ceremony if China continues its crackdown in Tibet. In a recent edition of Le Monde, one of his Cabinet ministers outlined changes needed for Sarkozy to take part in the Aug. 8 ceremony. President Bush has received calls to boycott the opening ceremonies, but has not addresses the matter publicly.
The Chinese have not been the model society of humanity nor have they been receptive to international criticism. Will the IOC (International Olympic Committee) give the Chinese the same kind of propaganda boost that the1936 games gave Berlin? A boycott was called for then but largely ignored.
They saw Jesse Owens embarrass Hitler and his team of experiments based on racial superiority. After a New York Times editorial (1933) inferred that Hitlers "race doctrine" had begun. Do we let history repeat itself? Unfortunately America's goodwill, leadership and economic interests are hampered by world events to singularly take on this posture without resounding support from the world community. The world community is too bitter to come together for "human rights" because of "business rights" and personality conflicts. The Games have taken on more than a celebration of cultures and national pride. They have become a symbol of international status for host countries and platforms to propel those countries into industrial powerhouses on the backs of talented athletes and the graves of second class citizens. Do we punish the athletes who only get this world stage once every four years and maybe only once in their lifetime? Is fame, the gold medal and national pride more important than the unalienable rights every "citizen of the world" should be entitled too? Let the tanks roll and the "games" begin the show must go on...and it will be the greatest "show" on earth (all pun's and sarcasm welcome).
A Sports fanatic of Human Rights,
Bycha Buxton
When Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Barak Obama's Pastor) spoke of AIDS being put in the Black community in his much ballyhooed sermon this is why. There is precedence for this kind of action in America. Is this fear mongering? Or is this acknowledging (very real) possibilities? This (Tuskegee) experiment garnered an apology from the President twenty-five years later.
The United States government did something that was wrong—deeply, profoundly, morally wrong. It was an outrage to our commitment to integrity and equality for all our citizens. . . . clearly racist.
Apologies only begin the healing process. It does not cure the hurt. Germany has apologized (for the Holocaust) but the Jews still feel the pain and recognize the significance of never forgetting nor letting the world forget their struggle. Neither shall Black Americans forget; so when you hear the endless loop of Rev. Wright's petition to GOD damning America it stems from this experience along with, slavery, racism, discrimination and injustice that seeks to understand WHY? And how long do we have to suffer this kind of deception? And is their still this kind of government sanctioned racism going on now?
When (non-Black) Americans hear the horror of the Black experience they want to put it in the past, tag it as "what once was", say "it's not like that anymore" until the next event that tears the scab off a wound that will ultimately leave a scar at best. So here is a reminder of why you (America) will from time to time get the vitriolic rhetoric from our gatherings at churches, rallies and demonstrations. Please pardon the anger, hurt and distrust that Black Americans have for some of America's worst offenders, bad actors and racists. It is natural to cry in pain when your healing; to be in discomfort when you've been handicapped. We are in repair.
Your (test) subject,
Bycha Buxton
The U.S. economy is definitely in an "economic downturn" the latest bailout (corporate welfare) of Bear Stearns has to be the biggest cover-up of a defunct financial market in U.S. history. Bear Stearns's capital base of $17 billion had dwindled to $2 billion in cash, and Bear Stearns told government officials that it saw little option other than to file for bankruptcy the next day. Had the government let this Investment Bank go bankrupt the entire banking industry would have stopped dead in it's tracks; no loans, hoarding of cash and the depositors (you and I) would be in a panic.
Could you imagine what you would do if the 24-news cycle told of a bank that went broke and left it's customers with no way to claim their money (Investment Banks are not federally insured [FDIC]). I know I would go down to my bank and ask a few questions while withdrawing my change (along with millions of other depositors). Thus creating a classic "run on the banks" which hasn't been seen since "the great depression" of 1929 -1939.
So this is the reason that a Sunday night deal was made to save the financial markets by rescuing Bear Stearns. Not only was the Federal Reserve Bank saving the banks but indirectly heading off a financial crisis of magnanimous proportions. Was it a corporate bail out? or did they spare America a "real depression" at the expense of our reputation abroad. The recent reforms proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson was of direct results spurned by the mortgage crisis. So here is the fallout which will hurt us (America) abroad, continue to keep the dollar devalued, inflation rising and worldwide confidence in the greatest economy at a low.
This is an excerpt of an article ran in the
USA 2008: The Great Depression
Food stamps are the symbol of poverty in the US. In the era of the credit crunch, a record 28 million Americans are now relying on them to survive – a sure sign the world's richest country faces economic crisis
By David Usborne in New York
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
We knew things were bad on Wall Street, but on Main Street it may be worse. Startling official statistics show that as a new economic recession stalks the United States, a record number of Americans will shortly be depending on food stamps just to feed themselves and their families.
Dismal projections by the Congressional Budget Office in Washington suggest that in the fiscal year starting in October, 28 million people in the US will be using government food stamps to buy essential groceries, the highest level since the food assistance program was introduced in the 1960s.
A ticket of Al Gore for President and Barack Obama for Vice President would create an electricity and enthusiasm that would transform American politics and send shock waves of excitement throughout a world yearning for new American leadership. - Brent Budowsky (Huffington Post)
BILL HEMMER : Do the Democrats need a savior? And if so, is that savior in the shape of Al Gore? - Fox News
Democratic Senator of Illinois Barack Obama put to bed that question from a voter who donned a t-shirt reading, "Obama and Gore: Experience and Youth, Obama and Gore: Wisdom and Truth." The supporter asked the '08 presidential hopeful if he would consider taking "the wind out of Hillary’s sails" by asking Nobel prize winner former Vice President Al Gore to be his running mate before the primaries. - ABC News (Political Radar)
But let's play a little. Let's say the elders of the Democratic Party
decide, when the primaries end, that neither Obama nor Clinton is
viable. Let's also assume—and this may be a real stretch—that such
elders are strong and smart enough to act...What if they then approached Gore and asked him to be the nominee, for
the good of the party—and suggested that he take Obama as his running
mate? - Time Magazine
Not only has the media played up the "Vice President" possibility of the democratic primary front-runner, who leads in national polls, has gotten more primary votes than any candidate in history (republican or democrat) and has raised more money than any other candidate in the history of campaigns. But the establishment "Illuminati" has threatened to change the rules, make new rules or just plain overturn the will of the people (maybe that's why I'm a republican, I know who I'm dealing with [insert sarcasm here]).
But simply put the audacity to pull out all the stops (including the Tanya Harding 'Knee Cap'em Strategy') shows either a desperate attempt to win or a prejudice that extends beyond just the DNC. It is absurd and insulting to the millions of Americans to think that even when your winning you are a loser. That is the message being broadcast by the media, insinuated by the opposition and projected by the pollsters. Presidential hopeful Barak Obama handled it well stating, "I can promise you that as President I will have him (Al Gore) involved in our administration in a very senior capacity in his role...having won the Nobel peace prize and an Oscar that being Vice President again would be probably a step down for him." It seem as though certain factions do not, will not and cannot allow the "front runner" status of Senator Obama the feed the hopes and fears of this nation. If you wont let him be the "front runner" is it a stretch to say you wont let him be President?
Our democracy,
Bycha Buxton
Clinton's faith is grounded in the Methodist beliefs she grew up with in Park Ridge, Illinois, a conservative Chicago suburb where she was active in her church's altar guild, Sunday school, and youth group. It was there, in 1961, that she met the Reverend Don Jones, a 30-year-old youth pastor; Jones, a friend of Clinton's to this day, told us he knows "more about Hillary Clinton's faith than anybody outside her family."
Under Jones' mentorship, Clinton learned about Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich—thinkers whom liberals consider their own, but whom young Hillary Rodham encountered as theological conservatives. The Niebuhr she studied was a cold warrior, dismissive of the progressive politics of his earlier writing. "He'd thought that once we were unionized, the kingdom of God would be ushered in," Jones explains. "But the effect of those two world wars and the violence that they produced shook his faith in liberal theology. He came to believe that the achievement of justice meant a clear understanding of the limitations of the human condition." Tillich, whose sermon on grace Clinton turned to during the Lewinsky scandal, today enjoys a following among conservatives for revising the social gospel—the notion that Christians are to improve humanity's lot here on earth by fighting poverty, inequality, and exploitation—to emphasize individual redemption instead of activism.
Niebuhr and Tillich's combination of aggressiveness in foreign affairs and limited domestic ambition naturally led Clinton toward the GOP. She was a Goldwater Girl who, under the tutelage of her high school history teacher Paul Carlson (whom Jones describes as "to the right of the John Birchers"), attended biweekly anticommunist meetings and later served as president of Wellesley's Young Republicans chapter. Out of step with the era's radicalism, Clinton wrote Jones from college, lamenting that her fellow students didn't believe that one could be "a mind conservative and a heart liberal." To Jones, this question indicated that Clinton shared Niebuhr's notion of Christians needing to have "a dark enough view of life that they can be realistic about what's possible."
Two decades later, while Bill was campaigning for president, Clinton picked up that theme once more, displaying a theological depth that conservative believers could appreciate. In an interview with the United Methodist Reporter, she expressed regret that her church had focused too much on social gospel concerns in the '60s, '70s, and '80s, "to the exclusion of personal faith and growth." The spirit, believe theological conservatives, matters more than the flesh. Clinton added that she was happy to see her liberal denomination becoming more salvation centered in the '90s.
When Clinton first came to Washington in 1993, one of her first steps was to join a Bible study group. For the next eight years, she regularly met with a Christian "cell" whose members included Susan Baker, wife of Bush consigliere James Baker; Joanne Kemp, wife of conservative icon Jack Kemp; Eileen Bakke, wife of Dennis Bakke, a leader in the anti-union Christian management movement; and Grace Nelson, the wife of Senator Bill Nelson, a conservative Florida Democrat.
The Fellowship's ideas are essentially a blend of Calvinism and Norman Vincent Peale, the 1960s preacher of positive thinking. It's a cheery faith in the "elect" chosen by a single voter—God—and a devotion to Romans 13:1: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers....The powers that be are ordained of God." Or, as Coe has put it, "we work with power where we can, build new power where we can't." Coe has been an intimate of every president since Ford, but he rarely imposes on chief executives, who see him as a slightly mystical but apolitical figure. Rather, Coe uses his access to the Oval Office as currency with lesser leaders. "If Doug Coe can get you some face time with the President of the United States," one official told the author of a Princeton study of the National Prayer Breakfast last year, "then you will take his call and seek his friendship. That's power."
"If you're going to do religion in public life," concurs Schenck, a Jewish convert to fundamentalist Christianity who's retained his sense of irony, Coe's friendship is a kind of "kosher...seal of approval."
The Fellowship's long-term goal is "a leadership led by God—leaders of all levels of society who direct projects as they are led by the spirit." According to the Fellowship's archives, the spirit has in the past led its members in Congress to increase U.S. support for the Duvalier regime in Haiti and the Park dictatorship in South Korea. The Fellowship's God-led men have also included General Suharto of Indonesia; Honduran general and death squad organizer Gustavo Alvarez Martinez; a Deutsche Bank official disgraced by financial ties to Hitler; and dictator Siad Barre of Somalia, plus a list of other generals and dictators. Clinton, says Schenck, has become a regular visitor to Coe's Arlington, Virginia, headquarters, a former convent where Coe provides members of Congress with sex-segregated housing and spiritual guidance.
Throughout her time at the White House, Clinton writes in Living History, she took solace from "daily scriptures" sent to her by her Fellowship prayer cell, along with Coe's assurances that she was right where God wanted her. (Clinton's sense of divine guidance has been noted by others: Bishop Richard Wilke, who presided over the United Methodist Church of Arkansas during her years in Little Rock, told us, "If I asked Hillary, 'What does the Lord want you to do?' she would say, 'I think I'm called by the Lord to be in public service at whatever level he wants me.'")
Source: MotherJones
My life has taken a unique turn. I often felt this internal pushing and tugging to be a contributor to mankind (what a Utopian idealist I am). I look up to and reflect on many individuals unselfish sacrifice for temperance and guidance in my own quest for a life of service to mankind. A life that bears a mark (bastazo), a life that has used me as a touchstone of progress. It would be so easy to just wake up and live, work, love, and leave the philosophical, social and religious engineering to the Illuminati. But no, there will always be the Lynch’s of the world. Be they Internet hoaxes or real persons with an agenda that constitutes a response, an uprising or even at times a lifelong struggle to undo the social destruction they cause.
If you are not familiar with William “Willie” Lynch here is some background information for you. Willie Lynch was believed to be a successful British slave owner in the West Indies who was invited to the Colony of Virginia in 1712 to teach his methods to slave owners there due in part to several slave uprisings in the area prior to his visit (The term “lynching” [example] was derived from another ‘Lynch’ Captain William Lynch 1742 - 1820 who authored the “Lynch Law” sent to the Virginia Legislature on Sept. 22, 1782). There has never been any supporting document of Willie Lynch’s speech “The Making of a Slave” that mysteriously surfaced in the 1990’s.
Since its discovery (for lack of a better term) it has become the go to speech for ‘Black History Month’ (celebrated throughout February in the U.S. and Canada and October in the U.K.) programs, rally’s and the like. It’s a moving and thought provoking letter that is so relevant today that it is undeniably appropriate when African Americans gather. It provides a solution to systematically oppress a group of individuals (the Negro) for long term domination and manipulation for the benefit of the oppressor. It is not used as kindling for civil unrest as the supposed authors (Willie Lynch) race might think; but more so as a wake up call to the ancestors of former slaves (yours truly).
In this climate of Presidential Primary elections here in the States there is an uprising much like that of the Colony of Virginia in 1712. A man; not of the dominate race has brought the masses together and awakened a sleeping people, a people who were never intended to be fit for leadership of this kind. Whether this man is qualified for the highest office in the land is not the litmus test (although it should be) it will ultimately be the establishment he intends to serve and the threat assessment that is determined by a victory that will ascertain how the ancestors of former slave owners will react. The methods described in William Lynch’s speech are seen (by this author) as tactics used present day against the African American.
This entry is not an attempt to draw racial lines (they have
already been drawn) but to acknowledge that there was and is undoubtedly a plan
to make distinctions between the races and their roles. William "Willie" Lynch, fable or
foe; message or myth is the lesson for Black History Month, February 2008.
Watch, listen and learn...but never forget.
Celebrating my history with you,
Bycha Buxton
Throughout recorded history ordinary people have been placed in extra-ordinary situations. These people have been called to lead, follow and even been sacrificed for “who” they serve; a selfless act of courage, fear and at times ignorance. The underlying principle is that they believe in some ‘thing’, this is “why” they serve. To serve does not mean to become a slave or a mindless puppet for which some authoritarian figure or invisible deity has control or influence of undue burden over you. It means that you can humble yourself to allow a cause, action or deed to be performed, tarried or conveyed.
To do the “will of God” is to start with a neutral heart, have no will of my own in regard to a given matter, seek guidance through the (Holy) Spirit with the Word combined, and take into account providential circumstances (George Müller 1805-1898). To do the “will of the people” (as stated in the Declaration of Independence) is to represent with the consent of "the people" and execute the concerns of "the people" to the best of your ability. The purest example of service is a soldier in an all volunteer army. He or she is willing to accept their mission regardless of circumstance and they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice with the hope that an idea based on principle will be realized even in their absence; this is blind faith in their fellow soldier and cause that the fight will continue.
Everyone is not going to be a servant. For many the idea of being “told what to do” hearkens of weakness and ineptness. But when you frame “service”; someone is for some reason incapable or unwilling of carrying out a task so it is you the “servant” who is now the “master” of the situation. This is not a concept easily digested, circular reasoning can continue to baffle a simple mind; but an open mind (it’s [the mind] like a parachute if you don’t open it won’t work) can see clearly that servitude is not only power, it is Christ-like (Christian).
My treatise here is to invigorate, revitalize or encourage those who are contemplating service (i.e. public, private or national), been chosen to serve or been relieved of serving. To know why you serve and who you serve will forge your character. It will strengthen your perseverance, focus your zeal and bestow the crown of humility upon you. To serve is to “love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
Your servant,
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
Senator Larry Craig from Idaho (R) your insulting my intelligence. It's time to go out to the wood shed (no hanky-panky this trip) for a come-to-Jesus meeting and be reintroduced to the truth. I've agonized about this scandal. I've read you pled guilty. I've listened to you rescind that plea. I watched you on T.V. with your wife by your side (I was almost convinced). But now we (The Grand Ole' Party) have a problem...you Larry! Take your circus act and sideshow freaks (Mike Jones included), go into the nearest lavatory stall and FLUSH!!! This is not the time for America to learn about your liaisons at the house of ill repute with (eight) other men. Your lifestyle and relations is none of my business; but your full an undivided attention to the matters of the Nation i.e., Iraq, health care, the energy crisis, our national debt, job creation and the growing trade deficit (just to name a few) are for the hard working people of Idaho and the rest of the Country. 'Come clean' does not mean We (America) want to hear the details. We want to hear Goodbye.
A disgruntled GOP constituent,
CC: Senator Larry Craig
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
Do you really care that I am a registered republican, who voted for (Bill) Clinton twice?
Probably not.
My social politics are conservative.
- Against gay marriage and adoption; but not gay people.
- Not for abortion, but against irresponsible sex that leads to unwanted pregnancy (except in the case of rape and the endangerment of a womens life).
I'm for a strong defense and the highest educated population in the world (more education spending).
- Less government involvement; but useful legislation that supports the Constitution and upholds our civil liberties.
I'm for the poor to have an opportunity (a hand up); not (always) a hand out.
- Less entertainment; more edu-tainment ( generation x,y and z are consumed with fame and fortune).
I'm a fiscal moderate; some taxes are necessary (but I don't like pork barrel spending).
- National debt is priority, along with the trade deficit (import/export), health care(not socialized medicine) and social security.
I willing to go green but not go broke.
I grew up saying "I pledge allegiance to the flag..."; and "in GOD we trust" that was part of who we (Americans) were.
I love this country and everything about it (but just because I love you doesn't mean I like you).
I guess you could call me ...
The "Republicrat",
Bycha Buxton
buxtonbycha@aol.com
