For example...

In an article in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/politics/26calif.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=igw
the author pats Obama on the back for directing federal regulators to move quickly on applications that have been submitted by California and thirteen other states to set strict automobile emission and fuel efficiency standards. Once again, this is fine but in a few paragraphs later he admits, "it stops short of flatly ordering the Bush decision reversed, the agency’s regulators are now widely expected to do so after completing a formal review process."

He should be flatly changing... putting the breaks on... reversing... running away from Bush policies. They have been tried and have proven themselves to be a disaster. There should be no compromise and he should act immediately-- retroactively. And we should expect him to. The reason he won't (other than that he just may not want to)is simply because he doesn't want to hurt big business-- but on matters like the environment we cannot afford to poke around. Our environment is in peril.

Change NOW!!!!

Big business's interests should not come first!!!

here's a Tom Toles strip that hits the mark http://www.gocomics.com/tomtoles/2009/01/26/

Final thoughts

Having finished the final pages of Frank's book and spent time digesting the entirety of what he is saying, he is really sounding the alarm. There will be no change, beyond tummy tuck type changes if we ourselves do not bring it about. People in power do not change willingly. It is a fact of history. In other countries, it has led to war. We can "negotiate" and centricize ourselves into oblivion or we can stand up and say enough is enough! We want our air to be clean (so we need regulations that force corporations to clean up their acts-- which also means they HAVE to be enforced by the government). We want the ability to make a living from our jobs (worker protections-- which means support for unions and worker organizations-), the same kind of fair redistribution of wealth that was available in the 50s-70s. In short, we want a system that does not stack the decks against us and enable the wealthy to keep getting wealthier while we get poorer and poorer!! Time for change- real change.

Force the Obama administration to keep it's promises- don't let the mainstream media fool you into believing that we are making radical changes. Be aware! Educate yourself! Fight back!!!

People power...

In my concern about politics today (and the Obama administration specifically) there is one hope which could trump the "business as usual" political engine-- the voice of the people. If the liberal and progressive organizations that have been oh-so-vigilant during the dark days of the Bush administration would continue with their wariness-- recognizing that the political machinery itself is on a dangerous course and will continue to corner the democrats on the right, sound the alarms when the democrats change things without really changing things, then we might have a shot at real substantive change. Even IF Obama has the intention of changing things in a real way (and as I stated in my prior post, there is more evidence that he will not then that he will)-- there has to be a real will from the people to bring it about.

Vive la revolution!!!

Where is Che Guevara when you need him???

The boob tube

Generally so much of what is on television today is drivel and too many people watch it out of habit, out of... whatever, mindlessly soaking in whatever is on at the expense of getting outside, reading (exercising the mind!) or relating to their families. But watching great television can also make the evening fun (especially if you have a special show you make a fuss over!) It just takes a bit of searching to find those shows. That's why I recommend a show like 'Madmen' to those who are interested in seeing those productions that contain a bit more thought. Another one that we're excited about is 'Primeval' (a BBC production) that was being show on BBCAmerica over the summer/fall and will be premiering it's third season next month on BBCAmerica and OnDemand. In it Nick Carter, an evolutionary zoologist, discovers prehistoric creatures running rampant through the streets of London. Chasing them down and getting to the bottom of the time rift that has enabled the beasts to lop off a head or two of the Londoners they run across is the gyst of the weekly romp.

Also, from the BBC: check out the new season of 'MI5' (a.k.a 'Spooks')! Just released this week, the British FBI is always in the process of foiling the conspiracy of the week. Not averse to killing off their spies (all too graphically in some cases!), they are also not afraid to show the dark side of the agency or the weaknesses of their personnel. Little torture anyone?