Rain Breaw

Unbelievable.

The top headline and teaser from today’s NY Times is the best example of why our nation has little hope for change.

Conservatives Map Strategies on Court Fight
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Preparing to oppose the confirmation of President Obama’s eventual choice to succeed Justice David H. Souter, conservative groups are working together to stockpile ammunition.

How is it possible to have a fight already underway when the choice hasn’t even been made?  Does this mean that it doesn’t even matter who Obama chooses?  A fight (which will cost tax-payer dollars and take time away from efforts to recover our nation’s economy) will ensue, NO MATTER WHAT?

The full article is, of course, far more informative and doesn’t make this inevitable fight seem quite as childish as the headline does (it goes into the reasons conservatives oppose the top names in the “hat,” as well as listing candidates these groups would like considered):

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/us/politics/17conserve.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th#

The basic point, however, is that for too many years there has been far too much counter-productive fighting in our government.  It’s not helping, and we as a nation are losing out.

No on Prop 8

My Mom on Prop 8 (she’s really nailed it):

“When you allow, honor acknowledge acceptance, tolerance and love we all win. Anything that creates more fear, division, superiority and or hate gets a no vote from me. Simple”

I have to say, when the campaigning for and against Prop 8 began, I was somewhat annoyed. Our world as we know it is threatened right now, what with global warming, a complete economic meltdown, an energy crisis, a looming water crisis that no one talks about, wars everywhere, famine, etc. I kept asking: what are we doing talking about marriage with all of this going on?

Seeing the intensity of the “Yes on Prop 8″ campaign, however, and hearing the ludicrous claims such as “allowing gay marriage means our children will be taught about gay marriage in elementary school,” I’ve come to realize that this is, in some ways, one of the most important California propositions on the ballot this year.

Why?

Well, for the reason my mom stated above. We have a proposition on the ballot that promotes constitutionalizing discrimination. We have people in a huge rage against love. Our priorities are extremely out of balance right now.

The last eight years have all been about fear (axis of evil, terrorists, if you aren’t with us, you are against us, the list goes on). Can we now rise above the past eight years and our long-time fears to help each other find peace in our communities by accepting each other for who we are and how we choose to love?

Why I’m afraid of the Hatchet.

When McCain says that what we need is an absolute spending freeze, except in defense and “other essential services,” what, exactly, does he intend to freeze?

Thinking about the services the government offers, from infrastructure to medicare to education, police, firefighters, I’d like to know what it is that McCain considers un-essential.

California may have to have it’s own spending freeze - possibly even before the November election.  If it does, what will happen?  Will classroom doors be open?  Will firefighters be available to save a family from a burning home?

Will my mom be able to access the medication she needs to continue on to the next day?

What happens when the entire nation has to suddenly start asking the single final question I asked above… will my mom, my son, my brother, my grandmother?

Obama is damn right we need a scalpel, not a hatchet!  Nothing is more likely to cause utter chaos, even potentially riots and, well, serious harm to our internal national security, than a majority of Americans genuinely fearing the untimely loss of their loved ones.

On another note, regarding foreign policy: I’m scared.  I was somewhat young and naive in November of 2000, when election “results” came in and I immaturely yelled at my Republican friend and co-worker: “he’s (Bush) going to start World War III.”  What frightens me is that I was not entirely wrong.  If we don’t turn things around now, I’m afraid history will show me to be right.

For an important read that is far less scattered than this post debate #2 blog post, please check out the New Yorker’s sound endorsement of Obama:

www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2008/10/13/081013taco_talk_editors