Romney Economics

This video is interesting. I think it speaks to not just Romney Economics, but a very dangerous, selfish portion of corporate America's agenda. Unregulated capitalism is about quick profit, not community, not job creation, not sustainability. It's about profit. That's it. Whatever gets in the way of profit is deemed anti-capitalism, which is in turn deemed anti-American.

http://www.romneyeconomics.com/gst/gst-intro/video

Cooperativism or Balanced Capitalism

It is time for something new.  Unregulated pure capitalism has proven to be as detrimental to the majority as socialism has been in practice. Unregulated capitalism has left us with an extremely concentrated wealth and ravaged other countries resources in ways not unlike early colonialism. We need something different. It's time for a Bourdieu doxa moment of realization. 

I attended a chakra balancing session at my yoga studio the other night. (Go ahead and roll your eyes.) I don't really understand what chakras are or that I believe in them. I just like to try new things. Well, the relevance here is that at the end of the session she started talking about contested dates for the end of the Mayan calendar. She explained that she thought the two dates described a period of shifting and that she thinks we are basically in the midst of a paradigm shift. This reminded me of The Watershed: A Biography of Johannes Kepler that I read in college. The book describes the time period in which Western European thought made a major paradigm shift. The chakra session leader noted the global uprising against our current economic values and asserted we are not happy with the way things are and that she thinks things are beginning to shift. 

I've also been reading in magazines such as Yes! and in online articles and videos about new ways of doing business. Social entrepreneurialism, in particular, catches my attention. There is so much emphasis now on business models more like Tom's Shoes, businesses that benefit the customer, the employees and owner, and the greater community. These businesses thrive best in a capitalist environment and shy away from any taboo labels such as socialist. I think they are portents of what's to come though and what we should all be advocating for. 

Cooperativism or, if that sounds too radical, balanced capitalism is how I would describe my ideal vision for our economy, both globally and at home. Cooperativism is business that is beneficial to all stake holders. Profit becomes only one of goals with value rather than the only goal of value. Our resources and the sustainable use of those resources from extraction to disposal has equal value to profit from product. The life of the product and it's disposal, benefit to community and need has equal value to profit. The health and wellbeing of those that create the product has equal value to the product itself. Most importantly, corporations do not have equal value to the individuals that make up that corporation. 

Things like those single serving coffee makers would be devalued since they create an enormous amount of waste.... 

Confession

So, I actually have things I'd like to say on Facebook but don't much more often than I post here. I have to admit that each time I start to rant about something I feel like I will put a little dent in the universe. And I mean dent in a bad way. Like, does it really help to post my negativity?

Once in a while I like to pick up a new magazine just to look through it and see if anything catches my eye. Most recently I picked up issues of "Urban Farm" and "Yes". The latter really has stuck with me and has become my toilet reading of choice. (Yes, I read on the toilet and if you don't, you're missing out on some quality reading time.)  "Yes"  has kept my attention with articles on state banks and ideas for sustainable and self-created jobs in a down market. The thing is, most of the articles are presenting ideas, alternative options, and highlighting actual achievements rather than just criticisms of what is wrong with our world.

When it really comes down to it, that is what I'd rather be putting out in the universe, but I also have some gripes to get off my chest. So, we'll let this blog slide as my chest getting off place and just remember that it's only one part of how I view the world and my place in it. There, I feel better about dumping on you now in the future. Maybe I'll post a little more often here. Only if you promise not to take me too seriously and know that I have open ears and love a good argument.

Some things that just don't make sense to me....

If folks want government to run like business, why don't they pay government workers like business employees get paid and give government agencies budgets like businesses have (oh wait, government is NOT-FOR-PROFIT)? Why are they against government budget surpluses (they would be great for lean times like this) - that's right states like Oregon don't allow surpluses to carry forward - they literally spend additional money sending surpluses back to the tax payers - that doesn't seem to be good fiscal planning to me)? Why do they require government agencies to be more accountable than businesses (but don't want to fund that accountability)?

If tea party folks believe that they know what the Founding Father's want for us, why don't they advocate for limits to the length of time a corporation can exist? Why do they advocate for more corporate rights than individual rights?

And most of all, why do people who aren't in the top 1% wealthy of our nation agree with them at all?? Don't most people like access to free public education that attempts to do more than train workers, 40 hour work weeks, child labor protections, national holidays (um, family values??), safe equipment, fair wages for labor, a retirement safety net in the event markets crash (including real estate), protections against Potter-like bank practices... I could go on. I just don't get it.

Why don't the Bachmann's and Perry's ask themselves, "If God is communicating through disaster his displeasure, could he be displeased that we are fleecing the poor and rewarding the most powerful and richest?"

13 Year Old Boys Take Sudden Interest in Politics

I saw this link on a friend's Facebook page last night John Boehner Stays Silent on Weiner Scandal. Laying in bed this morning it hit me, this is a pre-pubescent boy's gift from the media. Can you imagine the Government and Law or history class papers and presentations?

• The not so creative child: My paper will be on "Weiner's and Boehners"
• Class clown: For show and tell and I would like to show my Weiner and maybe later my Boehner. 
• The politically optimistic young student: Sexting scandel may bring Weiner and Boehner together. 
• The young feminist: My paper is titled: "Why there are too many Weiners and Boehners in politics." 

Not Your "The Graduate" Moment

So after a week of food poisoning induced diarrhea I now have the need to use some Preparation H wipes. I won't go into detail. I just want to say that it would really be no big deal to purchase these wipes if the cashier were a 50 year old man or woman - OK even a 40 year old. Better yet, bring on the 80 year old retiree. 'Cause you know they've been there, done that. But really, a 17 year old boy. You know he's thinking, "Gross, I will never need those." Just you wait kiddo.

Nothing in this blog is intended as a factual statement.

Food Posioning

So, do you really want to know what I'd like to post on Facebook right now, but won't? Something I'd like to share but most people won't want to know? Well, have you ever traveled in the Global South or even just somewhere completely new to you? Were you food adventurous? If so, you probably can find a spot of kinship in what I'd like to talk about. For folks who haven't really traveled outside of the lower 48, who eat only at Western fast food restaurants or haute cuisine when they have left their home area, there's a secret you aren't in on. It's called "the shits."

This is a trial by fire, an initiation of sorts, and a sign of a real traveller. When you have experienced "traveller's diarrhea" you belong to an exclusive club. People who have traveled can talk extensively to one another about their bowel activity without embarrassment. In fact, it is a bonding experience. I don't mean your run of the mill "Monteczuma's Revenge" from a bit of disorientation and new food. I'm talking about cramps that have you in tears and well, here's the thing (don't read this if you are sensitive or prudish) you don't know if you're pissing or shitting. You may also be puking your guts out at the exact same moment, not sure whether to sit onto or hang over the toilet.

More than likely you are also experiencing this in a strange environment. When I say that I mean, not a classy porcelain commode with a nice door and toilet paper. You may not have a door, in fact, you may have an audience. You may not have anything akin to toilet paper and you may not even have more than a concrete pad with two "footprints" indicating where you are supposed to stand.

If you know what I'm talking about, and you've been there, then you understand when I say I can't wait for a hot bath in order to soak things that are not terribly comfortable from a week worth of food poisoning. When I say I am so happy to be able to eat  more than a spoonful of applesauce or a banana.

What really sucks is that when travelling for any length of time, this kind of experience can be a good thing and can get your internal bacteria primed for really enjoying the local fare. When you're not even travelling, but you've eaten delicious homemade cheese that travelled far just for you. When you've delighted in the knowledge that this cheese was made with love and care, organic milk and organic feed. When this cheese was made with live cultures and it literally tastes alive, full of life and good for you, but you are in Seattle and you should know better than to eat this straight without cooking it. It's just hellish. There's no payoff. There's no cuisine that I'm prepping for. I can't benefit from a flora of new bacteria that will allow me to continue explorations as there's no exploring to be done.

Damn. I'm going to go soak my ass now. Night.

Fascism Doesn't Become Us

I'm not the first to say it... what's happening in Wisconsin is basically a victory of fascism in the United States. Corporate ownership of schools or cities is not the solution and it's not democratic, it's fascist.

What's wrong with schools:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/collection/376488/best-teacher-moments/376268

OR, read some Jonathan Kozol - he's been explaining this impending crises for several decades:
http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780060974992-13

Mr. Kozol explains in Savage Inequalities that how our schools are funded perpetuates poverty. I can't say it better than Mr. Kozol so read this book. Then ponder on the fact that he wrote it 20 years ago.

Argh.

Baby & Bath Water

Shoot yourself in the foot.
Cut your nose off to spite your face.

You pick the metaphor. This is what breaking unions comes down to. Look, of course there are some issues with unions. I have friends and relatives who are managers and have their hands tied with union employees, unable to fire some people that need to be fired. I know there are corrupt union leaders just as there are corrupt CEOs. Perhaps it's time for some unions to step up and say, OK, we need to make some concessions in terms of how we operate. It is never time to break unions. I don't understand how we can agree to allow the existence of organizations such as WTO and simultaneously want to get rid of unions.

Unions are a sign of democracy. Thank you unions for the 40 hour work week, overtime pay, health care benefits, vacations (some of the shortest in the "developed" world by the way). Thank you unions for workplace safety. Thank you for so many things I don't even have to know about because they no longer exist because of union folks. I am not union, but thank you because I benefit from your work.

Too Long for FB

I tried to post this on my status, but I was denied because it's too long. FB limits the literary, academic, and verbose.... :  )

“The Justice Department and the president have taken the position on behalf of the United States government that discrimination against gay and lesbian people in all cases is presumptively unconstitutional,” he said. “It’s the first time the United States government has ever embraced that position, and if the courts agree, it will help to eradicate all of the various forms of discrimination that gay and lesbian people suffer around the country.” - New York Times quoting Tobias Wolff. 


Major victory!

The List

I just watched "Food Inc." and it's inspired me to write my own little list of things. We've been convinced to be afraid of many things lately - such as terrorists, Muslims, illegal immigrants etc. Here's the list I think we should really be worried about:

• Copyrighted seed production/ownership
• Monsanto
• Deregulated and privatized water
• Water rights being sold to multi-national corporations
• Water/food security in general
• Capitalism being considered synonymous with democracy
• Laws that allow college students to carry weapons on campuses - hello, have you been to college or to a campus party? 
• Textbook production - the fact that Texas influences it so much
• DNA copyrighting
• Fox News 
• Bills proposed to remove funding of public television and radio

That's just a start. I'm sure I'll add more later, but now it's time for bed.

Blah-g.

Thinking about starting another blog called "Blah-g". Tee hee.

Really, I just have a lot to say. A LOT. I have an inner dialogue that yoga can quiet a bit. Silly meditative tapes at night before bed can give a bit of respite. Therapist listens and I just blab away - that helps a bit. I journal, OK I have a journal and I sometimes use it. I have three blogs. I post all the time on FB. I still have more to say... Could this be a specific kind of deficiency or condition?

I don't even care if anyone is listening! And, yes, I talk to myself.

Yeah, I Probably Can't Say That on FB

Ever see pictures on FB of folks that you used to know and think:
 - wow, do I look that old?
- I so dodged that bullet.
- I can't believe I had a crush on him/her.
- wow, she/he hasn't changed one bit and that's not a good thing.

OK, that's just mean and I won't say those things on FB...

Glenn Beckians are the Enemy of the State

I just wanted to say that I think folks who subscribe to Glenn Beck is one of the most insidious characters in modern history. Right up there with Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. What they promote is anti-American. There. Just that simple.

Did you not learn from W?

So, I just want to get this off my chest. Sarah is for dummies. Dummies like to be surrounded by dummies. Really, I think some people want other stupid people to run the country because smart people make them feel stupid. I think they're afraid "those smart people" are trying to pull something over on them. Get behind Sarah, she'll make you feel smart. That's what we want in our leadership... Stupid people who can talk dumb to us.  I'm am completely convinced of this now.

When W was elected the first time, I thought, "Great, 'activist judges' elected our president." (Oh wait, 'activist judges' can only be liberal right?) Then when he was elected the second time I thought, "Well, maybe people are just that out of touch with the world and are just voting along party lines."

Sarah's nomination to run as VP made me think, "OK the media has largely been taken over by conservative folks with lots of money." I went along with "the media controls what we see and therefore what we know, which leads to how we vote." Yeah, um now that she's ditched her responsibility as governor and revealed more of the lack of knowledge that she possesses, I am left with a dismal reality. There are stupid people out there. Maybe I should say uninformed, but that somehow softens the responsibility.

Let's get real, we are responsible for what we know, for how we get our information, for our participation. No matter how much one party may own the media, or be owned by the media, we do still live in a democracy - even if that democracy is anemic. I am judging people too. I'm using that bad word "stupid." Just because you might not know if it's South or North Korea that is the "good one" doesn't mean that you don't want a president/leader who does. It's OK if "we" don't know exactly what NATO does, but don't you want your leaders to? (OK, it's really not OK that the average citizen may not know these things, but don't get me started on our US-centric educational system. Most people in the rest of the world know more about the rest of the world than the average US citizen.) Realize that if a political figure doesn't know the difference between North and South Korea, has never really traveled outside the US, ditched her office early (um there is a lame duck period for presidents people), they are probably not safe as leader of one of the largest, richest, most powerful countries in the world -and I don't mean China.

Will Work for Doxa

Bourdieu proposes that culture is replicated by orthodoxy and heterodoxy. In other words, there is the way we have "always" done things (orthodoxy) and sentiments/actions/etc. against the way we have always done things (heterodoxy). I think we're stuck in this binary dualism right now in terms of liberal/conservative, democrat/republican, capitalism/socialism. Bourdieu posits that social change occurs when a completely new way of thinking comes about, or doxa. Doxa is what we need, we need a new way of thinking, a new party, a new system of governance. Change. People are ready for this, I think that's what the last presidential election tapped into. We are still fighting heterodoxy and orthodoxy trying to come up with doxa though.

What would doxa be though? I think it would have elements of, dare I say it, socialism, regulated capitalism, environmentalism, conservatism and so on. But we can't use the same words. We need new words and new ways of expressing these ideas. We need to get to the nexus of these ideas blended together. If we use these words, we trigger the old nags of orthodoxy and heterodoxy. We need a new vocabulary in order to think differently and to move us from the confines of what these words have come to represent to us.

Post Election Angst

There's so much roiling around in my mind since the elections this November. It's hard to sort out just how it has left me feeling.

I'm frustrated by people saying this is an indictment of Obama's agenda. Congress barely touched his agenda and they often acted against it in their own self-interests for re-election. Republicans literally stated they would not compromise and this stalled any movement while they simultaneously accused Democrats of not compromising. We are in a recession and yet billions of dollars were spent for campaigns. Democrats supported big business interests and sustained a costly war while passing the limpest of health care reform possible.

My personal feelings are that the elections are a further indictment of the weaknesses of our political system. Big banks are richer, the average person is poorer (if not in income then in home and retirement values). Money is what determines our political power/voice and what sways legislation. This is not democracy. Yet we still fail to see where our sustained participation in the political process is a necessary ingredient of democracy. We vote once and say we participated, if we vote at all... Voting is not enough. Voting is just one element of democracy.

Oh, and capitalism can be poisonous to democracy. This doesn't make me naive, bleeding hearted, or anti-American. Unrestrained capitalism is another form of tyranny. This also doesn't make me anti-capitalist nor socialist. I am simply for regulated capitalism within a democracy. Our votes, our lobbying for the direct rights of people must trump the rights of corporations.

OK, I digress. If our congress just became all at once both more conservative and more liberal... then I would argue that the last elections were a demand for something different in how we "do" politics.

And seriously, if there is so much money out there that we can fund billions of dollars in campaigning, why are we in a recession?

Not really a Facebook reactionary post but a "really, I don't want to post this for everyone to see and react to and think, 'gee she's depressing' post."

So, some things you want to shout to the world to hear and Facebook seems like just the right forum these days for shouting to the world. Some things though you think, "I want to shout this to the world, I want you all to see what I'm dealing with, but I also don't." Ha! We all have those times in our lives, or at least I am quite sure we all have these times, when you feel that sharing one more negative piece of news will send everyone running away from you as fast as possible. I am reminded of a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, "Solitude." The famous line, "...laugh and the world laughs with you.... grieve and they turn and go." That's depressing shit to pass on in and of itself! And, I don't think it's entirely true. There are friends who will sit by your side while you vomit up life's ugly moments. Friends who will witness what you need to get out in open.

So, if you are one of those people, here's the latest. (And I don't judge anymore those friends who aren't the ones who will be with me in the mire. You are sometimes the ones who toss a lifeline of laughter or something equally positive.)

Mom's MD Anderson trip just wasn't what we wanted. They are quite certain she has cancer in her liver now and the spot they saw months ago wasn't deterred by the chemo. This isn't good news. This means most likely another surgery and more chemo. Now, before I build us all back up with my characteristic Maria let's look on the bright side speech - here's the very possible dark side. This likely means she is Stage IV and not Stage 3 as we were hoping. This means that, if worst case scenario happens, her outlook is not great, positive could be 5 years if the websites I've tortured myself with are correct. It also could mean a road of miserable chemo visits from here to eternity.

It does for sure mean visits to MD Anderson for her every 2 months. Every 2 months of visiting that depressing city of hospitals and far more horrific things to see.

OK, because I am a team player and a motivator at heart, here's the possible upside: They have caught this little spot at a point where it is so damn small the surgeon was adamant he wouldn't be able to see it with his bare eyes. It could be a lesion and they could be totally wrong about it being cancer. OR, a different chemo treatment could be effective, with surgery, and she just may have a bad year. One to two bad years would be completely worth a decade or two of no chemo. The next chemo may not have the same side effects, they may be milder.

Live in the moment right? Right now, it's sunny out and warm. Right now, we just had a great week together. Right now, she's feeling pretty good. Right now, we are all in this together and feeling like supporting each other.

If you have stayed with me while I've shouted this to my mini-blog world, thank you. You are extremely appreciated.

Passive Jerks

So, my biggest Facebook pet peeve is when people make comments that are passive aggressive. OK, and when people are competitive on my wall with my posts - like "oh you think you have it bad... well, blah blah blah my life."

Alright so I'm half asleep still. I'll try to explain. If I post something like, "such and such sucks" you're being a bad listener if you post back - "oh yeah, well such and such in my life sucks more." Just a simple joke or hit that like button will do please. Also, passive aggressive comments just suck. Mostly because I want to be passive aggressive back and I don't like that about myself. Then I feel like I have to keep my mouth shut which makes me want to cry, "I'm being oppressed and silenced!" Not unlike that scene in "The Holy Grail."

My sniveling is probably unwarranted. And, oops, maybe this post is passive aggressive.