Thursday, March 22, 2007

"Can We Talk?"

When the administration accuses the Democrats as "not interested in getting the truth ... but instead conducting a political fishing expedition", they once again either miss the point or are avoiding the point. To speak off the record with a few members of congress might indeed suffice to satisfy their own personal curiosities. However this is not about the members of the administration answering to individuals. It is about answering to the citizens of this country. This is not a private corporation that can adjourn to executive session to keep private the details of this "situation" and hide it from the rank and file. The congress is the proxy for "We the People"...and the only way to guarantee what "We" have this information available to us is to have the testimony be sworn, be public and be in the congressional record. If the "testimony" given is not sworn, then it is not testimony at all; it is spin, and we cannot trust it's credibility. Of course we all now know all that if you lie under oath, then the special prosecutor gets a call and the real fun begins.

So let's call on the congressional leadership to move forward on this matter by the book. Otherwise they may as well just all just go off on a golf junket, leaving or perhaps "forgetting" all of the details of the people's business at the 19th hole.

What do you think?

Monday, March 19, 2007

"They Act in Our Name"

We just returned home from a vigil commemorating the 4 year anniversary of the Iraq war. We were a small group that withstood the wind and the traffic noise and strained to listen to our neighbors as they read the letters from family members who have lost someone due to this war. We stood close to each other each, listening and becoming lost in our own thoughts. The same words kept being repeated; "he loved his country... he wanted nothing but to serve... he was 20 or 23 or 37 years old". They were each "unique"; they were each "special". They hailed from California, South Carolina, Massachusetts and from Iowa. They each came home to loved ones who regretably laid them to rest and who now move forward in life, trying to somehow fill the hole in their hearts.

I stood there and asked myself over and over; how does this happen? How do our young people end up memorialized on a Monday evening by strangers standing near a park fountain, in a city that most have certainly never visited? Who decided it was the right time, in the correct place for them to risk their lives? And why did they go so willingly?

Of all the stories I have heard of fallen soldiers, of what motivated them, of what they believed in, never have I heard; not in 2007, 2002 or 1968, that they risked their lives for the president or the congress or Exxon or Bell Helicopter. They always had a much nobler calling. They always risked it all for you and and for me.

Listening tonight to the heartfelt expressions of families trying to convey the magnitude of their loss, it was clear in the faces of all present that their loss is our loss. It is also clear that those brave soldiers acted in our name... indeed they acted solely on our behalf. If we understand that point then we must also understand that we must now act in their name. The time has passed when we rally to "support our troops". We are now called upon to "save our troops". It is time to deliver them from the chaos of this civil war. It is time to save them by bringing them home. It is an odd irony that the new "silent majority" seems to be in favor of ending this war. We must now be willing to be a lot less silent!

If you need a way to think about this war or need a way to understand your personal responsibility to now get involved. Try to embrace the realization that the soldiers are there only as long as we allow it. Think about that for a while. Then send an e-mail to your Senator, call your congressman's office or write to your local newspaper and tell them. Stop! Enough! I will not have this! This will not continue; not in my name. Because a few less letters, read at a few less vigils will be perfectly fine with me.

What do you think?

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Best Foreign Film... 2030

A wonderful film is about to be released on DVD. I saw this film a few months ago in the theater and with it's re-release, I am reminded just how important film this is. The movie is called "Other People's Lives". It is set in East Germany, in the year 1984 and the story in essence, is about government control and its no holds barred attempt to totally dominate the lives of it's citizens, through the use of the media, "official" intimidation, surveillance, "secret" inquiries and covert (and overt) "actions".

The movie is in German and since I do not speak German, I had to rely on the subtitles for the dialogue. I actually love movies with sub-titles. Perhaps that is why the ever present "crawlers" running under most news programs today does not annoy me as much as other people. These movies are unique to me because I actually find that I get much more out of the acting: The pain in his facial expressions, the way she turns in the doorway, their posture when they learn the "news" of one development or the other. These explicit communications of what "is" rather than what is "explained"- makes the experience so intimate for me.

This is the kind of film that keeps your attention for days afterward. The layers upon layers of message and movement continue to be revealed, long after the reels have run out. This movie transported me to the era of the cold war with its images: the grey tones, the cigarette smoke, the European police "sirens" and it's structure; the "pretend" society where the rules are always present but rarely mentioned and it's characters who seemed for the most part like the dancers on a dingy marionette stage, who are not quite aware of the strings attached to their bodies. It is a startlingly accurate portrayal of a truly frightening prescription for existence. One that denies every "freedom" that we as "Americans" have come to take for granted.

As the movie concluded and the credits rolled and I retreated to my own thoughts; a woman rose in front of me and spoke, to herself I suppose, this awkwardly cliche' comment - "I am so glad I live in America". For months now, her simple affirmation, and the complexities and nuance of the film have been reverberating in my head.

This film, viewed from a western perspective, was not surprising in it's portrayal of the dreary existence in Soviet controlled East Germany. We in the USA at that time, seemed to know what was happening in the GDR and I suspect we also wondered why the people there let it go on.

They were wiretapped. They were blacklisted. Their careers were threatened by politicians and women were forced to "cozy up" to the "bosses". They were threatened with prison without trial. Resistors were marginalized, often via the state run media and some... Well, some just disappeared.

I am certain that you are aware of the irony of a movie like this coming out at this point in time, in this country. So I will not "over emphasize".... But I do hope, with more than a dash of skepticism in my mind, that our current society is not the subject of a "docudrama", released somewhere in the not too distant future... I hope that the script is not currently being written, for the best foreign film of 2030...... "I Am So Glad I Live In America"...

Be lucky!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

The embattled "Middle Class"...It is time to focus inward

We have been so obsessed with external threats. Threats from people who "hate us for our freedom" that many of us have all but ignored the internal threats to "our way of life". The war in Iraq and terrorism still dominate public focus and debate, and rightly so, but while we have been consumed with these issues the other effects of a so called conservative agenda are now significantly impacting our society. Over the past several years there has been a systematic transfer of wealth and influence from the lower and middle classes to the upper classes. It has been achieved, somewhat insidiously via legisltaion, judicial rulings and eroding governmental oversight. Now we have energy legisltation drafted by oil companies, HMO executives authoring health care bills, judges allowing pension funds to be raided, credit card companies given protection in new bankruptcy guidelines and freedom to raise rates indescriminately. These tactics have resulted in soaring gas prices, exploding health care costs and millions of Americans forced into what amounts to indentured servitude, to their credit card companies.

The public was slow to react to the situation in Iraq, in fact we are still somewhat aimless in our response. I am not certain as to the reasons why, other than we have been somewhat insulated to its day to day effects. But now we are faced with a far more greater threat to our way of life. We are faced with the possible demise of the middle class. I would like to examine two of the more significant contributing causes to our potential downfall.

We have all heard the parable of the boiling frog. It goes something like: if you drop a frog into a pot of boiling water the frog will jump out. However if you place a frog into a pot of cool water but gradually raise the tempterature to a boil, then the frog will remain in the pot until he eventually is cooked. Such I fear is the fate of the middle class.

There are several sentinel indicators that have set off alarm bells drawing me to this conclusion. Near the top of the list is the negative effect of "Global Free Trade" on labor. Free trade is the notion that we should freely participate in a world market with minimal or no protections for our own "products or services". Free trade was sold to us as "essential" for our economy to grow. It was backed of course by big business, opposed by labor and most substantially delivered upon us via The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by none other than Bill Clinton. He was and still is a proponant of global free trade. (Perhaps this provides some insight into his surprising affinity for George Herbert Walker Bush). In any case the net effect of NAFTA and the WTO in general has not been the promised opening up of vast new markets but instead it has been increased access to a vast impovershed workforce. Manufacturing jobs are farmed out to 3rd world countries to take advantage of essentially slave labor, allowing huge profits for investors who in turn pocket the inflated profits. The alternative strategy of creating jobs in the US, providing a living wage with a future for American workers who pay taxes, educate their chidren and build an infrastructure for the future is sidestepped. Of course this approach would mean far less profit for investors and senior management.

A second key development has been the rapid demise of the pension plan. Labor has taken a beating over the last decade in many areas and as labor goes so goes the middle class. They have sustained huge losses, most notably in "give back contracts" and evaporated pension funds. Pensions in my opinion, are the one benefit that keeps people motivated and loyal. I believe that the notion of working for and protecting your financial future, even for those who are many years from retirement, has a quality of purpose and focus unlike any other. The promise of living out your life with some measure of guarenteed financial secuirty is greatly comforting, but to live it out "independently" not being a burdon to anyone else is really the ultimate satisfaction. I am not certain where the first pension was put into place but what a marvelous idea it is for a company to say to a worker; "we will enter into a bond. If you dedicate your time and energy in a partnership with us, we will honor that partnership even after your working days have finished. We value you not only when you are on the clock doing a day's work for a day's pay but we will also value you as an individual, who has dreams. We will treat those dreams with dignity and respect". Without this key piece of the employee benefit plan, workers are less likely to invest themeselves in a company and instead become more transient in their work life. I think this hinders companies as they try to create solid enduring organizations.

Alas the days of the company sponsored / under-written pension are just a memory for most. There are exceptions of course, but from what I can see even those groups who have retained the traditional pension, teachers, nurses, railroad workers, are losing ground quickly. As the boomers age and move towards retirement, many school boards are stonewalling teachers trying to force cuts in pensions and other benefits. I think it is the symbol, like the assault on social security, of a society once again focusing away from traditional values of productivity, and instead revealing a change in sensibility that is obsessed with corporate profit.

In summary I believe that World Trade has opened up an oversea's work force, for "the bosses" to exploit, a new group of "scabs" willing to work for pennies a day, without any other sort of benefit. Obviously they are not to blame for this situation, these unwitting souls have no choice because their reality is perhaps the reality of the US worker in the 19th century. They are not reaping the benefit of their sweat and blood. Even the corporations though primarily culpable do not bear the full burden of responsiibility here. Their job is to turn the most profit they can, always has been. I am pro business and pro capitalism. This also means that I am pro labor. There is a natural tension between ownership and labor that needs a mitigating force to keep their efforts, if not their goals and aspirations in harmony. That mitigating force is government and our government has failed us. Failed to keep in check the greed of the corporation, failed to protect the life blood of the the economy, failed to protect what is at the heart of the very idea that is America - the middle class. They have slowly turned their backs as the the heat has been turned up on this melting pot of frogs and I hope we are starting to feel the heat. Maybe this could motivate the American people to take action, or at least take notice. Are we now ready to jump out of the pot or are we still looking for the thermostat?

What do you think?

Friday, March 9, 2007

Originally Posted December 2006 "It's A Wonderful Life for Some"

I have actually tried to read the Iraq Study Group report (I at least wanted to "out do" congress' reading of the intelligence reports leading us into war with Iraq). I have made a good deal of progress. I wanted to read it because I was so excited when I heard first the leaked and then the official recommendations. Here I thought is the reality check we have been waiting for. I can stop experiencing the cognitive dissonance, that envelopes me when I bounce back and forth between the alternative realities of Tony Snow, Air America, The Times, the Post, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the BBC etc etc etc .. . I thought that finally someone is really telling it like it is and now we can finally get some traction on our efforts to get out of there. (Iraq)

But then as I was reading the report I started to realize…this is a sales (“Snow”) job. A classic case of appease the masses by affirming our good sense and “superior intelligence” by stating the obvious in the hope that it will suffice enough to buy more time? Time for what I am not certain. Time to funnel a few billion more dollars to Halliburton?

In the days following my reading the report I kept thinking about the classic holiday movie, It's a Wonderful Life, specifically the scene where the befuddled George Bailey is sitting in front of Mr. Potter, puffing on a fine cigar as he (Potter) has just offered “the bright young man…the best house in town…trips to New York and Paris and a 5 year contract”. Of course George quickly comes to his senses and proclaims: ”You sit here and spin your schemes …well the world doesn’t revolve around you Mr Potter!” You know the scene. Well I think Mr. Potter has just offered the American public the illusion of a chance to step out of this “blight” all the while “staying the course” to nowhere.

You know; It’s a Wonderful Life could really be the story of George Bush. Think about it. In the end the deluded George Bailey thinks that the world is "perfect”, but Potter still runs the show. His military hero brother may raise a toast to the richest (smartest?) man in town, while his doe eyed wife stands by his side. But in the end, …George’s roof will always leak.

Well the deluded George Bush still thinks that he is the smartest, most principled guy in town. But Iraq has become “Potter’s Ville” and in spite of reality he prefers to listen to his guardian angel. He saw Iraq last week for a few minutes but before he could get a swig of eggnog down he was crying out: “Get me back Clarence ( or was it Cheney)…I want to go back”…back to the days of Mission Accomplished…back to the days of Shock and Awe”

Now after listening to the talking heads this weekend, even the leading Democrats. I have concluded that just like George Bailey, George Bush appears to be once again choosing an alternative reality……while Potter remains in charge…

And of course the real ultimate grotesque sadness here is that “every time a bell a ring…a US soldier gets his/her wings”

Originally Posted January 23rd 2007 "Fate of The Union"

Tonight as we listen to the President's address please think about the following:

Is there anything new or will he try and sell us the tired old notions of connecting 9/11 to Iraq, weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Iraq as the center of the "War on Terror"?..Fight them there so we don't have to fight them here?

All these ideas have been debunk-ed. Clearly we have been brought into this war for reasons other than those stated. Follow the money or OIL perhaps?

Is there anything worthwhile?

Or will he try and give a "lip service" push to a domestic agenda; challenging congress to fix Social Security, Health care or perhaps to address education?

Mr Bush has had 6 years of a republican congress in his pocket which could have allowed him to effectively address many domestic issues and all he has done is facilitate the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the elite. He doesn't care about the elderly; he wants to privatize Social Security to provide a wind fall profit for Wall St. He doesn't care about health care; he wants profits for the drug companies. How much have your health care premiums increased in the past 6 years?. Please do not fall for the argument that utilization has increased. The facts are, that the same amount of money is being spent in health care, but without federal oversight HMOs etc can pass on any fluctuation in cost to the consumer and preserve their profits!. In the past there had to be documented utilization trends, over several quarters before a company could raise premiums. Now they are allowed to raise rates for any reason. Even 1 quarter of utilization increase, or even 1 incidental "Overhead Event" ...including senior management bonuses are passed on to the consumer, without any justification! And what if the utilization goes down? Well I haven't heard of any ones' premiums dropping. Have you?

If we really want health care reform, get the government to underwrite health care. Medicare only cost 2-4% in administrative fees vs private health care companies with 20-30% administrative overhead. Will that save a penny or two?

Want to really help business? Help them keep jobs in the US and help restore the middle class! Universal health care will certainly put us back on that road! If we can shovel tons of cash onto the Iraq - Haliburton dung heap, then we can spend some money to help businesses and working people stay healthy. Keep them from choosing between proper health care and heating oil.

Is there anything visionary?

Or will we hear more about trips to Mars and breaking our addiction to oil?

What we really need is a massive commitment to seeking out and developing energy alternatives....and not just switching lobbies form oil to corn. We need a project that is federally funded to help us re-build the aforementioned middle class. Put people back into well paying jobs. Jobs with a future.

As you listen tonight think about the "fate of our union".

What will it be?

A country that in spite of it's foibles is still the envy of the world? Still the leader on human rights? Still the shining light of opportunity? A country where we deal with terrorists threats as they arise with solid intelligence and police work and military action if needed? A country where we invest in our own infrastructure? A country that makes friends by helping other countries not by occupying them? A country that negotiates with our potential enemies instead of baiting them?

Or will it be a militarized, neo fascist society? A society blindly led to protect the interests of a small upper class while creating a vast lower class and all the while decimating the middle class?

FDR, and even Eisenhower believed in a middle class and so did the founders. The middle class they created was actually the most radical notion of this new country. A middle class that drove the economy, stood guard over our freedoms and was guarded in turn by a system of checks and balances. Today we have a situation where the Attorney General shocks even me by proclaiming that he is not certain that Habeas Corpus is "in the constitution"!!

Think about our fate as you listen tonight. Think about the fate of your children. The one thing Mr Bush has given us; is a chance to see what as a people, we do not want to become. He has given us a wake up call perhaps?

The fate of the Union is in our hands. Or perhaps it could be, if we stop sitting on them.

Be Lucky!....Mike