11.22.2004
Why the US Constitution Is So Sticky:
It's easy to forget how radical a document the U.S. Constitution really is. It demands no oath of fealty to the president or even to God. Officeholders swear instead to uphold the strange, ambiguous, open-to-interpretation document that is the Constitution itself. This is a radical notion because it allows for individual judgments about what that Constitution means—and recognizes that sorting that meaning out can sometimes be a messy business.
Wow.
That intricately crafted, flexible yet sturdy, 215-year-old document, that has only been amended 17 times since the Bill of Rights, is a radical innovation. Uniquely American in design, rooted in the "Age of Reason" and dedicated to the People of the new nation. . . wow.
There's a reason it's so difficult to amend.
There's a reason it's so subject to debate.
There's a reason why other nations have taken it as their model for their own budding "democracies".
It's not perfect, but it's a heck of a piece of work.
It's easy to forget how radical a document the U.S. Constitution really is. It demands no oath of fealty to the president or even to God. Officeholders swear instead to uphold the strange, ambiguous, open-to-interpretation document that is the Constitution itself. This is a radical notion because it allows for individual judgments about what that Constitution means—and recognizes that sorting that meaning out can sometimes be a messy business.
Wow.
That intricately crafted, flexible yet sturdy, 215-year-old document, that has only been amended 17 times since the Bill of Rights, is a radical innovation. Uniquely American in design, rooted in the "Age of Reason" and dedicated to the People of the new nation. . . wow.
There's a reason it's so difficult to amend.
There's a reason it's so subject to debate.
There's a reason why other nations have taken it as their model for their own budding "democracies".
It's not perfect, but it's a heck of a piece of work.
11.17.2004
Lest I Forget to Mention:
I HATE BOBBY FUCKING FLAY.
He's the smarmiest sonofabitch on Food Network.
WHY IS HE STILL THERE? He's so full of himself and smug and all over the channel, it sickens me.
Die, Bobby Flay, die.
I HATE BOBBY FUCKING FLAY.
He's the smarmiest sonofabitch on Food Network.
WHY IS HE STILL THERE? He's so full of himself and smug and all over the channel, it sickens me.
Die, Bobby Flay, die.
11.09.2004
And The Quote of the Day Is. . .
We know the formula for sexual health, which is sex within a monogamous lifelong relationship.
Wow. Would you look at that? When it's taken out of context, it's quite innocuous, isn't it?
We know the formula for sexual health, which is sex within a monogamous lifelong relationship.
Wow. Would you look at that? When it's taken out of context, it's quite innocuous, isn't it?
11.03.2004
And Now, We Wait
"To appeal to middle America, Democratic leaders don't need to carry guns to church services and shoot grizzlies on the way. But a starting point would be to shed their inhibitions about talking about faith, and to work more with religious groups.
Otherwise, the Democratic Party's efforts to improve the lives of working-class Americans in the long run will be blocked by the very people the Democrats aim to help."
[Available online at The NY Times in the Editorial/Op-Ed section]
That's probably the most accurate quote about the Dem's that I've heard in quite some time. I guess we're still fighting the influence of FDR and JFK, two presidents who've been beatified in the popular consciousness in the last remaining seconds before they were vilified and condemned to the 9th circle of Hell.
The House and Senate are about an even split, although the Democrats lost seats in both houses. This, of course, is due in large part to the Republicans' skill at portraying themselves as the party of the people. And also their manipulation of the September 12th atmosphere of dread and paranoia.
That's not to say, of course, that the Democrats didn't do the same thing. They just did it less skillfully. Especially in districts and states that are crucial to revitalizing the party's image.
And then, there's Ralph Nader. Who's recently come out against what he terms the "liberal intelligensia". . . which, the way he's using the term, means anyone who thinks he should have surrendered his bid for president and thrown his support to Kerry. Or kept his big, fat mouth shut. So, basically, anyone who doesn't agree with him.
Sorry, Ralph. I think that earning LESS of the vote this go-round than last time should prove to you that the American people appreciate your activism to get us seatbelts and fair prices, but we're not all that crazy about having you run the country. Your persistence, while admirable in activist causes like public safety/welfare, is starting to come off as meglomania. And Americans don't like meglomaniacs. Just look at what we did to any dictator we've managed to depose.
Along with the rest of the nation, I'm playing the waiting game. No matter what the outcome, I'm going to be disappointed.
Disappointed that my sense of fair play and decency is shattered.
Disappointed in the lack of investigation into the real issues by the electorate.
Disappointed in the Republic.
What kind of world will we face 4 years from now?
We'll see where the results take us. We'll wait and see.
"To appeal to middle America, Democratic leaders don't need to carry guns to church services and shoot grizzlies on the way. But a starting point would be to shed their inhibitions about talking about faith, and to work more with religious groups.
Otherwise, the Democratic Party's efforts to improve the lives of working-class Americans in the long run will be blocked by the very people the Democrats aim to help."
[Available online at The NY Times in the Editorial/Op-Ed section]
That's probably the most accurate quote about the Dem's that I've heard in quite some time. I guess we're still fighting the influence of FDR and JFK, two presidents who've been beatified in the popular consciousness in the last remaining seconds before they were vilified and condemned to the 9th circle of Hell.
The House and Senate are about an even split, although the Democrats lost seats in both houses. This, of course, is due in large part to the Republicans' skill at portraying themselves as the party of the people. And also their manipulation of the September 12th atmosphere of dread and paranoia.
That's not to say, of course, that the Democrats didn't do the same thing. They just did it less skillfully. Especially in districts and states that are crucial to revitalizing the party's image.
And then, there's Ralph Nader. Who's recently come out against what he terms the "liberal intelligensia". . . which, the way he's using the term, means anyone who thinks he should have surrendered his bid for president and thrown his support to Kerry. Or kept his big, fat mouth shut. So, basically, anyone who doesn't agree with him.
Sorry, Ralph. I think that earning LESS of the vote this go-round than last time should prove to you that the American people appreciate your activism to get us seatbelts and fair prices, but we're not all that crazy about having you run the country. Your persistence, while admirable in activist causes like public safety/welfare, is starting to come off as meglomania. And Americans don't like meglomaniacs. Just look at what we did to any dictator we've managed to depose.
Along with the rest of the nation, I'm playing the waiting game. No matter what the outcome, I'm going to be disappointed.
Disappointed that my sense of fair play and decency is shattered.
Disappointed in the lack of investigation into the real issues by the electorate.
Disappointed in the Republic.
What kind of world will we face 4 years from now?
We'll see where the results take us. We'll wait and see.
11.01.2004
Make the Truth Your Business
When did I start using my blog as a bookmarks list? Today.
And the other day, I was watching News 12 New Jersey and heard probably the lamest quote related to tomorrow's potential debacle. A statement that was prefaced by the following phrase: "well, I don't know anything about politics, but. . ."
Oh. My. God. That's the PERFECT illustration of what the founding fathers feared when they created the Electoral College. An uneducated public electorate making the final decision on who would run the country they'd just spent the past 13 years fighting to create.
My response to statements like those is, if you don't know about politics (etc.), shouldn't you make it your business to know? Isn't that coupled with your civic duty to vote? Making it your business to know about the things that will affect you and your town/district/county/state/nation/world is your civic responsibility.
If that's how you make your voting decisions, I'd hate to see how you make personal and household decisions.
Make it your business to know. It's important to be an educated voter.
Online - The Congressional Record
Legislative Information (from the Library of Congress)
The Library of Congress
Bookmark these sites. Search for your state representatives in Congress. Grab their voting records. Grab their attendance records. Grab the listing of their proposed legislation.
Ask yourself if they're doing the things they promised. Ask yourself if they deserve to remain in office at the expiration of their term. Are they pushing for the things that are important to you? Are they really working for the states' best interest? Or are they working for high-pressure outside interests?
Vote accordingly.
I'm not offering an endorsement of either candidate, mainly because they both make me ill, but this election was the most difficult one for me to decide on a vote because there are SO many issues that are important to me that are being distorted on both (major party) sides and it makes me angry. Both parties have openly participated in mudslinging, dredging and so many other filthy practices that have become acceptable and commonplace for a free electoral system that I'd endorse anarchy over the current election.
Yes. Anarchy. But, in my opinion, the Florida debacle of 2000 is roughly equivalent, so who cares?
(I wrote this just for the spying eyes of the Patriot Act surveillance officers who I know are reading this blog each and every day because they found out that while I was in college, I purchased, and have read frequently from, a copy of the Koran. And I didn't sell it back at the end of the year.)
When did I start using my blog as a bookmarks list? Today.
And the other day, I was watching News 12 New Jersey and heard probably the lamest quote related to tomorrow's potential debacle. A statement that was prefaced by the following phrase: "well, I don't know anything about politics, but. . ."
Oh. My. God. That's the PERFECT illustration of what the founding fathers feared when they created the Electoral College. An uneducated public electorate making the final decision on who would run the country they'd just spent the past 13 years fighting to create.
My response to statements like those is, if you don't know about politics (etc.), shouldn't you make it your business to know? Isn't that coupled with your civic duty to vote? Making it your business to know about the things that will affect you and your town/district/county/state/nation/world is your civic responsibility.
If that's how you make your voting decisions, I'd hate to see how you make personal and household decisions.
Make it your business to know. It's important to be an educated voter.
Online - The Congressional Record
Legislative Information (from the Library of Congress)
The Library of Congress
Bookmark these sites. Search for your state representatives in Congress. Grab their voting records. Grab their attendance records. Grab the listing of their proposed legislation.
Ask yourself if they're doing the things they promised. Ask yourself if they deserve to remain in office at the expiration of their term. Are they pushing for the things that are important to you? Are they really working for the states' best interest? Or are they working for high-pressure outside interests?
Vote accordingly.
I'm not offering an endorsement of either candidate, mainly because they both make me ill, but this election was the most difficult one for me to decide on a vote because there are SO many issues that are important to me that are being distorted on both (major party) sides and it makes me angry. Both parties have openly participated in mudslinging, dredging and so many other filthy practices that have become acceptable and commonplace for a free electoral system that I'd endorse anarchy over the current election.
Yes. Anarchy. But, in my opinion, the Florida debacle of 2000 is roughly equivalent, so who cares?
(I wrote this just for the spying eyes of the Patriot Act surveillance officers who I know are reading this blog each and every day because they found out that while I was in college, I purchased, and have read frequently from, a copy of the Koran. And I didn't sell it back at the end of the year.)
