follow up...

Having linked to something on Philosopher Karl Popper earlier I thought I'd follow up with another good overview here.

Something I always had trouble with...

but have grown to understand and respect is the idea that being unfalsifiable is not pejorative

thought of that when I came upon this on Karl Popper

For Popper, however, to assert that a theory is unscientific, is not necessarily to hold that it is unenlightening, still less that it is meaningless, for it sometimes happens that a theory which is unscientific (because it is unfalsifiable) at a given time may become falsifiable, and thus scientific, with the development of technology, or with the further articulation and refinement of the theory. Further, even purely mythogenic explanations have performed a valuable function in the past in expediting our understanding of the nature of reality.

Lecture on Global Poverty...

Here is a link to the audio for a lecture from Ecnomist Brad Delong

Here are the slides he passed along from it.

Overheads for Global Poverty Lecture:

http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/the-world-in--1.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/the-world-in-19.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/global-poverty.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/greg-clark-mala.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/greg-clark-engl.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/adam-smith-vani.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/fertility-rates.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/infant-and-chil.html
http://delong.typepad.com/delongslides/2008/01/telephone-use.html

Important transportation funding report to be released...

Looks like the Joint Study Committee on Transportation funding report will be released Wed according to Rep. Steve Davis

Chairman Vance Smith of the House Transportation Committee has called a meeting for next Wed at 3pm. No agenda has been set but I am guessing that we can anticipate the findings and suggestions of the Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding to be realeased at this meeting. The Speaker has suggested in the last couple of days that he is going to push for a solution this year. I am anxious to see the end result of the Study Committee as any solution they bring forward will include a multi-billion dollar tax increase. I hope there is several efficiency and consolidation bills that are also suggested. Rumors are flying to what we will be proposed including the actual elimination of the 7.5 cent set excise tax for motor fuel and replace it with an indexed tax. The other rumors are simply keeping what we have and adding the bills that were proposed last year: Statewide SPLOST Sales tax for transportation and Regional SPLOST. I am not sure what the Speaker is supporting at this point but judging by his comments to the press he is apparently in support of a referndum vote for November on whatever plan is brought forth.

Ahhh dear god what have they done!!

I don't know who I fooled. (Actually I know exactly who I fooled: Tim Cairl Executive Director of the Georgia Young Democrats, pictured below)

But I will be a guest blogger for the GA Young Democrats during my time this Legislative Session working as an Aide to Rep. Buckner and Rep. Crawford. So go over and check out my first post and then check out some of the great work the GA Young Dems are doing to get Young People involved in help our communities get Health Care and our schools get Books. There is a lot of important work to be done and the GA Young Dems are on the front lines of doing it.

So I am really exicited about this upcoming session and hope I can keep Young Dem's across the state informed about whats going on this session at the Capital. I'll be sending you guys over there for my posts so please check out the other stuff the GA Young Dems are doing and think about getting innvolved in some manner (hint: if you are over 40... money is okay in their book!)

Okay so go check out my first post as a guest blogger...

Caroline Kennedy comes out for Obama...

The day after Obama trounces Hillary in South Carolina... Caroline Kennedy says Obama is a JFK of our generation

There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

Josh Marshall is just tired of Bill

And yet I cannot deny that I've felt a mounting sense of unease verging into disgust with Bill Clinton's increasingly aggressive role in the campaign over the last couple of weeks. So I've tried to figure out just what it is that's gotten to me. To give you some perspective, I don't think there are many people who are bigger fans of Bill Clinton than I am or who've expended more ink defending him and his presidency. Nor am I particularly sold on Obama's candidacy. Transcendence isn't usually a big sell for me in politics. And I continue to have my doubts about whether Obama is tough enough or savvy enough to withstand the avalanche the Republicans will throw against the Democratic nominee this fall.

New Democracy For America Ad in NYT's

Prove it!

Conversations With History: J. Bradford DeLong

Started watching Delong's morning coffee on Why Should Economists Study Economic History? and ended up on youtube watching this interesting interview.

Are jokes fair play in politics?

David Corn via Brad Delong

Did John McCain really say, in public, "The reason Chelsea Clinton is so ugly is that her father is Janet Reno"?

Answer: Yes:

David Corn:

[T]his new standard in the practice of journalism seemingly does not extend to other political figures, at least not media darlings like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Earlier this month, at a Republican Senate fund-raiser, McCain told a downright nasty joke making fun of Janet Reno, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. The fact that McCain had made the tasteless joke was reported in major newspapers, as was the vain attempt by his press secretary to initially deny what McCain had done. But... the Washington Post... said the joke "was too vicious to print." The Los Angeles Times... provided an oblique rendering... that did not fully convey its ugliness.... Maureen Dowd... wrote that McCain "is so revered by the press that his disgusting jape was largely nudged under the rug." But Dowd chose not to relay the joke, either.

The joke did appear in McCain's hometown paper... the Associated Press did report the joke in full... But by censoring themselves, the Post, the Times and others helped McCain deflect flak and preserved his status....

[T]his is what [McCain] reportedly said: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."...

McCain's two-liner conveys some interesting insights... particularly since it was delivered to a Republican crowd... the party that champions pro-family values.

McCain's lapse in judgment... may be a significant clue into aspects of his "character."... But many voters have been spared this insight, thanks to the censors in the press....

McCain is also unusually popular with the media. He gives good quotes; he is outspoken. He takes positions that contradict the Republican leadership. When you talk to McCain, he converses in the manner of a real person, seemingly telling you what he thinks. That is rare among elected officials.... [T]he joke revealed more than a mean streak.... It also exposed how the Washington Post, New York Times and Los Angeles Times play favorites when reporting the foibles of our leading politicians.

Now certainly it is important to highlight the conservatives aren't the party of family values. And all and all the concept of one sector of society being the representation of family values is outlandishly absurd. We all have families, we all have values... and you know what? I've found that when I sit down and talk to just about everyone... when I sit and listen to the core values and priorities they have I can respect them.

I'm not saying that I agree at all with many views, opinions, or policy positions they may hold. But when I sit and talk to pretty much anyone and try to find the core of their values I find things I can respect and admire.

So my question is this: Are jokes off limits to political figures. Are there off the record moments or not? Now that technology and the Internet are making the concept of a private vs. a public world seem rather obsolete.

I don't know? Is that a big deal? I'm not sure... it was just something to think about.

economic stimulus packages or politics??

So I'm sitting in the state capital coffee shop area on the first floor and I read this for AJC columnist Jim Wooton

• Politicians cannot be stopped from rolling the printing presses during economic panic. It’s good politics to cut and distribute checks for a few hundred dollars but it’s hard to see what that approach solves, other than growing the deficit. The subprime debacle and housing will settle out when the marketplace reprices the real estate inflated by speculators and high-risk loans to unworthy borrowers. A check for $300 is “don’t blame us” insurance.

Many if not most of my friends won't read Wooten. I understand why but I've always countered that we have to read him so we can know what to counter pose. You can't contend conservatism blindly. You have to learn to listen and see why conservative arguments are so successful with certain sectors of the population.

This has nothing to do with someone being stupid, fooled, ignorant, or selfish. My opinion it that it is based in the fundamental framing of the issues and language one uses to explain, defend, or decry a position.

Lets break down Wootens thought here...

Politicians can't be stopped from rolling out the printing presses during economic panic

Why is that? Is it because of

option A) voters demand it, politicians want to keep their jobs so they'll do it

option B) economist recommend it, politicians want to big good stewards of the economy, so they'll do it

option C) some mix of the two...

Mr. Wooten seems to lean on option A

It’s good politics to cut and distribute checks for a few hundred dollars but it’s hard to see what that approach solves, other than growing the deficit.

My first thought was there was an economist name John Maynard Keynes who did a lot of important work on the question of keeping an economy running smoothly, more superficially on deficit spending. I'm not an expert in the field but I know there are many economist who come from a school of thought that has learned from Keynes work.

But moving away from that, recently on Newshour they had on Noble Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz who teaches economics at Columbia University. Here is what he had to say when asked about what kind of stimulus package he would create... (Lets keep in mind he isn't counting on any ones votes...

Well, I would begin by focusing on, what gives the biggest bang for the buck? The problem is that, over the last seven years, our deficits have increased enormously.

Now, when you're ranking proposals by the bang for the buck, the number-one is strengthening our unemployment insurance system. When people get thrown out of work, they get money, they spend it.

Number two, giving money, tax rebate to low-income Americans. Again, when they get the money, they'll spend it. And a tax rebate could be done in a very quick way.

Number three, giving money to states and localities that are facing real financial constraints. Tax revenues are going down. Property values are going down. And most states have a balanced budget framework.

So if the revenues go down, they have to cut their expenditures. And this will depress the economy. So dollar for dollar, this will stimulate the economy enormously.

He isn't alone in the economics Field in thinking that stimulating the economy is needed...

And not only that Wooten seems nonchalant about it. As if things are all honkey-dory. Jumping over to the blog for the Brookings and Urban Instutes tax policy blog we see how bad things have come in a post entitled States and Recession: What a Difference Six Months Makes

Six months ago, states were predicting balanced budgets and surpluses. Virtually all had surpluses at the end of fiscal year 2007 and more than half had ending balances equaling at least 10 percent of their general funds. Governors and legislatures were happily talking about property tax relief and expanding medical coverage to the uninsured.

How times have changed. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities about half of all states now expect a budget shortfall in FY '09, with the number growing as more states release their budgets for the coming year. Seventeen states expect deficits totaling at least $31 billion, and California and Maryland anticipate shortfalls in the current year as well. It is looking like states will have a much tougher time weathering the current downturn than they did in the last two recessions.

What concerns me about many of the things Wooten writes is that it falls into a framework that is either untutored in economics or intentionally frames issues in a way that sets us up for divisiveness and selfishness.

The question is what to do about the economy, Wooten think taxes cuts and stimulus packages are about buying "don't blame us" get out of jail free cards for politicians. He creates an easy out for Conservative politicians he supports so that they can live to see another day. One of the problems is conservative thought has helped create the economic woes we are currently in, keeping their political careers alive for another day is the last thing the average American needs right now.

What we need are better technocrats--well tutored stewards of the economy--not better moralizers who use fear to pit one neighbor against another. We all are in this together... we shouldn't let others fool us into thinking otherwise.

Marcy Kaptur Gets Real Confused

Thats a wee-bit of a goof... but he took it in stride. CEO of princinton economics department. I like this guys style.

The right to love and commit to another... the right to make a contract...

Gore comes out for same-sex marriage. You can see the video clip here

Not sure what prompted this, but Al Gore has quietly released a video with a forceful endorsement of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians. It pushes the Democratic establishment that much closer to a position he now shares with Eliot Spitzer and some other leading Dems, and is prompting a bit of grumbling in gay political circles that this batch of candidates aren't quite there.

"Gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women -- to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage," he says on the video, which appears on his Current TV network. "Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to ones partner regardless of sexual orientation?"

Gore's words come after the leading presidential candidates have tiptoed up to, but not crossed, the line of support for same-sex marriage. All three support equal substantive rights for gay and lesbians couples, and they've sought to woo gay voters in other ways: Elizabeth Edwards has voiced her support for same-sex marriage, for instance, and Barack Obama recently scolded the black church for homophobia, in a speech to an African-American congregation.

Conservatives will have a Field day. But its a question of values. To push people away. To not let them have basic rights of creating contracts, making commitments to be with another till death. If we keep the homosexual community alienated, discriminated against; we keep them apart from the rest of the community. We will help breed the unhealthy behaviors of abuse, neglect, and self indulgence that comes from people feeling they have no reason to take care of themselves; the kind of behaviors that conservatives stand up and shamefully moralize about to in attempts to divide America.

Help contend conservatism and keep an eye out for any reaction to this... send it my way via a comment and share it with others. We want to expose the intolerance of conservatives if it should come popping up within the media.

This isn't about anything other than keeping the government out of peoples private lives and public rights.

Unfortunately giving homosexuals basic human rights has become one of the scare tactics conservatives use to divide people who have a common goal of getting people health insurance, getting decent educations to our kids, and bringing a sane foreign policy to the world. Don't let Conservatives divide us using one more political hobgoblin from their tool box.

Youtube video of the week...

I'm creating a new segment for the blog. I'm adding a space for a Youtube video of the week. Now be prepared! This could be anything folks... I'll write up a post on the item and why I chose to pick it among the many great, fun, funny,irreverent and sometimes (for-shame!!!) informative things one can find on youtube.

This weeks is the first segment of a talk given by the economist Dean Baker on his book The Conservative Nanny State.

You can read and even download this book for free at the site because it is publish under creative commons in attempt to harness the better aspects of the market without undermining the people whose sweat goes into creating the work.

In the books introduction Mr. Baker spoke about what inspired the theme of the book:

The key flaw in the stance that most progressives have taken on economic issues is that they have accepted a framing whereby conservatives are assumed to support market outcomes, while progressives want to rely on the government. This framing leads progressives to futilely lash out against markets, rather than examining the factors that lead to undesirable market outcomes. The market is just a tool, and in fact a very useful one. It makes no more sense to lash out against markets than to lash out against the wheel.

The reality is that conservatives have been quite actively using the power of the government to shape market outcomes in ways that redistribute income upward. However, conservatives have been clever enough to not own up to their role in this process, pretending all along that everything is just the natural working of the market. And, progressives have been foolish enough to go along with this view.

The frustration with this futile debate, where conservatives like markets and progressives like government, is the driving force behind this book, along with the hope that new thinking is possible.

Take a moment and enjoy our youtube video of the week from Dr. Baker...





Now think about learning more. Go download the book, or go check out the think tank Mr. Baker co-founded:

Center for Economic and Policy Research The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) was established in 1999 to promote democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives. In order for citizens to effectively exercise their voices in a democracy, they should be informed about the problems and choices that they face. CEPR is committed to presenting issues in an accurate and understandable manner, so that the public is better prepared to choose among the various policy options.

They do great work in many different areas, and I consistently find myself using their stuff to help my own work locally. From the housing bubble (which they were way ahead of the curve on...) to health care for poor kids (schip anybody?) CEPR does a lot of really important work.

Also Mr. Baker has a blog called Beat the Press over at the magazine The American Prospect. His focus is to keep a sharp eye on economic reporting to see if it promotes an accurate and balanced representation of Ivory tower Economic Policy. This is vital since unfortunately the newspapers are often full of bad framing, inconsistent context, and pure right-wing think tank talking points with no picture from the "other side" of the spectrum.

For those of us who care about "the other side"--the middle class,the working class, poor and minorities; not to mention worker rights, and holding a goal of an economy that gives everyone a fair shot--the kind of work Mr. Baker does is greatly needed and hugely appreciated.

Dr. Kings National Holiday...

What a wonderful day. What a wonderfully blessed day. Today is the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday here in this country. And for those of us within the social justice movement he is a very important leader.

On a day like today I think it is good to pause, reflect. But I felt called to write today because the one thing I don’t want any of us to do... is reflect too long. Dr. King wouldn’t want that. Its so easy for me to become overwhelmed by the magnificent grace, the humble but steadfast spirit, the tragedy, and sacrifice of an amazing man. But I can’t let myself fall into despair or wavier on what I am supposed to learn from Doctor King. I am asking you to not wavier either. Doctor King tells us what we are called to do. He speaks to us and we must never let Dr. King’s voice die because that would be the worst tragedy of all.

It was such a magnificent voice. He spoke with the commitment of Gandhi and grace of Paul. Dr. King was called to serve. He was called to lead. And he expected others to serve with him. I don’t know about you but I’m gonna listen to Dr. King today like I have never listened before.

In his letter from a Birmingham Jail he responds to his critics who are saying, “What are you doing there? You belong in Atlanta. You’re causing trouble.” And he responded by saying that “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.” .

One of his gifts was that he was always able to boil things down to simple issues. Simple, but not simplistic. He was able to remind us all that we tend to forget that the only true question at hand is ‘are you your brothers keeper’? The theme of the letter he composed in that jail cell was in many ways a theme of his life. The message he spoke to those questioning clergy was: I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m here cause there is trouble; and I’m part of something that going to change that!

I wanted to remind us of that today. Dr. Kings voice still speaks to us. It is our obligation to keep his voice alive. His voice says to me as I look around my neighborhood, my country, and across this globe that I too have been called to serve. That I too am supposed to stand up when my neighbor has no health care coverage, when the 19 year old down the way has no education, no good jobs, and even worse no hope. Its not just me is it? Am I the only one who hears his voice when they walk out their door to go to work, or read the paper. Its not just me. He speaks to us, of that I am certain.

He says that we are to stand up and not sit idly by while people across the globe drown in abject poverty, die from diseases we can cure and wars that wouldn’t happen if we used diplomacy and wisdom. We are to stand up and act because right now in a country in Africa, a country called Sudan a genocide is taking place today. It’s the same Genocide that was going on last year. And the year before that.

Something is wrong in our culture when so much violence is perpetuated against other human beings and we sit and do nothing. But I know that something is right about the hearts, minds, and souls of people who stand together and say we’re here not to cause trouble, we’re here because there is trouble. That’s what Dr. King teaches us and it is up to us not to forget.

His voice tells us that wherever injustice goes, we must follow. We organize, we educate, we vote; that is how we never forget. And we stand firm and resolute; peaceful and respectful; and in the most gracious and loving way we can, tell those who aren’t able to hear us yet, that we aren’t here to cause trouble. We are here because there is trouble and we are not going to stop until we change that fact.


Listen to Dr. King's speech: "Why I am opposed to the War in Vietnam"


Please take some time today to make a commitment to do something for our community.

If you are local there are many options. To see of some of the things I’m involved in you can go to 3rd District Common Agenda which is the online location of the grassroots social justice network I founded last year. We have done house parties on issues like Darfur and getting books to people in Prison. Or go look at the political organizing I am helping to build up here in Henry County for the Democratic Party.

Henry County Grassroots Network

These are just two avenues... if you want to help get people health care, or any of the many other causes of human suffering that must be addressed come get involved. If these avenues don’t appeal to your interest get in contact and I can help locate the groups and organizations doing important work.

But its up to each and every one of us to use what we have been blessed with in a way that helps others. We are in the thing together...

Edwards in Atlanta...

John Edwards came into town yesterday so Deana and I headed up. The weather for those of you who aren't local turned Atlanta into a little winter wonderland. I had invited a few people with my local One Corps Chapter of John Edwards supporters to come carpool up with Deana and I. But they understandably cancelled due to concerns about being stuck in town in bad weather.

I was having a very political day, having just held an organizational meeting to get volunteers organized to start working on voting Lynn Westmoreland out of office with canvassing, phone banking, and house parties. As soon as I found out Edwards was coming I cancelled the canvassing for that day so that I could come out to see Edwards. Tommorrow we take on a congressman who said in response to the Genocide in Darfur that it's time for those people to pull themselves up by their boot straps and take care of their own problems; today we go get some motivation after working hard all morning coming up with a coherent plan. We don't have to do everything in one day! We can have some fun...

The event was scheduled for 2:30 but the good little volunteer I am, I wanted to head up early to see if anything needed to be done before the event. We left about 12:30 in the snow!!




It was so warm we weren't really concerned about the roads having ice till possible late that night. But I wasn't going to let reality stop my little romantic vision of volunteers braving the weather to come out and support their candidate. It was my own little Iowa fairytale.

So we get up there. Leave it to me, we walk in and five minutes later we're upstairs painting signs for the event.



One of the reasons I love Deana so much is the fact that we can go to some kind of event and 9 times at of 10 she ends up working. She's a real trooper when it comes to doing this kind of stuff with me. I try to give her options where she doesn't have to do anything. But I figure its almost like a non-option: So what your telling me is I can sit down here, by myself, in an empty room where they are testing lights and nobodies going to be coming for another hour and half, or go paint signs? Thats a choice?

Anyhow, I of coarse have struggled with any form of drawing/painting/or visual art since way back in kindergarten. But I go at it. I come up with the idea to say "John Edwards can take our country back" since one of my big arguments has been his strong polling data among swing voters and conservatives. He has much better numbers than Clinton or Obama when it comes to the way people view him personally. Especially in a state like GA we need that.

I'm personally involved with a big push locally in Henry County to get the Democrats back on the map. We will be doing real grassroots work this election year with canvassing, phone banking, and house parties. We will stand up for our communities, because someone has to fight for those without health care, good education, or good jobs. But we have a huge challenge before us and if we want to get candidates elected locally we can use all the help we can get.

So as a voter in Henry County... I want a strong top of the ticket name thats going to help inspire voters but not inspire the opposition to come out and vote. Its a basic question of do I want someone on TV talking about social justice or do I want to be able to elect local officials actually working for social justice? I choose the later... which is why Edwards polling numbers tell me he would have a positive impact for us at the polls.

So anyways I think Edwards helps us locally take our country back. So now I start to work... I'm doing great...

Edwards...

can...

take...

our...

and then all of a sudden I get too much on auto pilot. Someone said something that distracted me and I look down to notice that I've written the words

back...

Opps!!

Edwards can take our back! Hmmm. Now i'm really embarrassed... the volunteer lady's hollering out we've got twenty minutes till they need us to clear the room! I think, how can I hide this so that nobody ever notices that I can't paint a sign. I'm back in kindergarten and the cool kids will laugh. So I pull myself out of that and say to myself, self your 27 years old and have an A.A. degree how do we fix this. Then all of a sudden I think of something and ask to everybody: Hey can somebody draw an outline of the country?

So the end product turns out like so...


So I was very happy of my fixed goof! I wanted to find the person who ended up with my sign but the room filled up really well so I never got to get a picture of them with my sign.

But we felt we could go back downstairs, that we had done something to help. Plus I had invited some people who said they might come, we've grown to know a few other core Edwards supporters since way back at the beginning of all this that I hope were going to turn out; so we didn't want to not get to say hello to anyone.

Anyways as we wait I try to keep working the room making sure nobody is bored and that everybody is aware of Edwards One Corps, the DNC's neighborhood leader program, and by the by "do they know someone in Fayette and Henry County?". These are all important questions to ask that I need to know and have info and contacts for them in many cases. Plus you get to meet some wonderful people from all walks of life that truly care about whats going on in the world.

Met a lovely couple who had driven up from Macon, met an Associate Director of the AARP here in GA, had a good conversation with a German journalist who was covering the Edwards campaign who said that Edwards was very popular in Europe. People from all walks of life participate in politics thats why its so important to make sure to take the time to go up and say hello.

Anyhow the event starts...



The best line of the whole event came from Governor Roy Barnes said: "We knew George Bush would screw up the country but we didn't know he could screw up the whole world."






Edwards did great. He hit some of his best material in good stride that lifted the emotions. With any good speaker you can feel the rise and fall of the audience. He talked about fighting for health care for everyone, protecting Unions, ending the tendency in our country to create divisive constructs of your success is my failure. Its a message of economic justice that really melds with my core values. I truly believe that you ask people to work hard, get an education, and be a productive member of the community; and you hold the entire community to be a part of helping to make sure that individuals don't have an unachievable mountain to climb.

Working hard is meaningless if there are no opportunities, and no way to lift yourself out of bad times. Opportunity, and second chances; these things shouldn't be a blessing that only the rich, wealthy, and successful upper-middle class can be able to fall back on. Everyone no matter race, class, gender,genetic disposition, or disability; should be able to work hard, not fall from the unexpected, and be able to move past bad choices or situations they have found themselves in. Our communities should support those efforts.

Thats why I support John Edwards because I think he has an ability to communicate those values to people in a way that a majority of Americans will be able to hear him and respond.

All and all it was a wonderful day. I kept thinking to myself how could it felt to see a leader talking about these issue. Deana must have been thinking the same thing because as we were going home we said to each other out of nowhere: We've got to go see a Republican talk. We both wondered what a Conservative could possiblly be talking about? And I mean that not in jest. Do they mention the millions of Americans in poverty, without health care? Do they talk about the fact that the current administration violates our laws as well as international human rights laws? Do they sprinkle their speech with the wonkish data that brings to life the struggles of Americans, and then talk about their vision for fixing those issues? Do they talk about all of us being in this thing together?

I don't know. But come back soon. We're going to go and listen to a Conservative, and I'll be reporting back to you on what I find out. If anyone knows of events in Atlanta from any of the Republican candidates please let me know.

Economist are human too...

Economists Dean Baker reminds us that

economists and people in policy positions have a tendency not to recognize or acknowledge recessions.

Is it just me or...

Have Conservatives masterfully created a narrative where people feel they have to defend their views on women or minorities at the ballot box all of the time?

via TPM:

TPM Reader JS chimes in ...

I almost wonder if more Dems didn't vote for Hillary to counter the BS media narrative about rejecting the Clintons once and for all. I say this as someone who has given 1500 bucks to Obama, gone to several of his events out here in CA, met him, and plan to vote for him. Part of me, however, was so pissed about this media narrative about Hillary and the Clintons in general that I had in the back of my mind that I would consider voting for her just to piss the media off. That's not going to happen now as it appears we have a real race, but still . . . do you see what I am saying? I mean this whole weekend we see people like Andrea Mitchell and Chris Matthews salivating over how the Democrats "rejected the Clintons" and want to puke. I am for Obama not because I am against Clinton (either one), but because I am for Obama. That's it. I think he is the best of the big 3 dem candidates. Would I be happy to vote for Hillary or Edwards in the general? Hell yeah. Did I think Bill Clinton was a great President? Yes. And I think Hillary would probably be pretty good too. This whole media narrative sickened me.
TPM Reader DB too ...

I have been an Obama supporter since 04, gave money to him this year, own the t-shirt, etc., etc. But the sexist bullsh-t these past days (I am a woman) from the media is making me root for her to win this tonight. The only thing I dread if she wins tonight is the inevitable story from the media that this proves that white america really won't vote for a black man, the resulting made-up defection of Obama's made-up new found black support, etc., etc.

I don't have time to lay this out very well so I will ask for good faith to go back and clarify if something doesn't come out as I mean but...

Yes you defend women and minorities at the ballot box when the choice is between some one who is for basic rights or against those rights. But if you look at Hillary and Obama... they both support the basic priniciples Democrats stand for. But by saying that the only way we beat x is to put y on the Democratic ticket. Ladies and gentlemen I smell a trap...

Concrete example: current question of defending homosexuals basic human rights. I know there are a handfull of very passionate defenders of the basic human rights of homosexuals within the Republican Party. But when it comes to the question of homosexuals basic human rights there is no question that voting Democratic is the only way even consider voting... on that issue a vote at the ballot box directly takes on violation of human rights. But both Clinton and Obama support basic human rights of homosexuals.

Say Obama happened to be gay. Would a vote for Hillary be a vote against Homosexuals? I don't think so! THis isn't a competition between people who support human rights of homosexuals and those who don't. Its a question of two candidates who BOTH support homosexual rights.

Now a smart Conservative operative who didn't support homosexual basic human rights would run into the whole issue helping build an argument within the media with some terms that are known to set off certain bias and emotions for the battle scars of descrimination and having been a victim of wrongs. It sets us off as a community down the wrong path.

What happens is we've all been well tutored on some of the important work coming out of the womens studies movement and the many other cultural studies areas... so then all of a sudden it becomes a free-for-all-mudsling because peoples natural passions for defending their communities comes into play.

This isn't a national election... if it were a question between the conservatives and Democrats. A question of whether the Democrats are representing and upholding certain communities would be a fair question.

Maybe its just me... but I smell a trap

I need to find new sources...

I post Krugman, Krugman, throw in a Delong... maybe a Baker. I need to exand my horizons. They just happen to be on my radar right now coming up with good stuff I want to share. Which is why I blog...

I'm still trying to share more of me.

Skip the political for a second...

Look at the wonder of language and word play with this Krugman post: (emphasis add by me)

Now the economy is falling off a cliff — although according to the White House, nobody is predicting a recession (I seem to know an awful lot of nobodies)

I read it earlier this week. But I came across it again this morning. Seriously follow me for a second cause this part of communication is so beautiful, fun, and complex.

1) nobody is predicting a recession
2) I seem to know an awful lot of nobodies

So in 1 it is stating that those predicting recession don't exist. It is a concept without an actuality.

2 accepts in jest this construct... but re actualizes the enitiy so that what once was a concept with no actuality becomes a very real object. The use of awful lot with nobody is even better. To say nobody... and then one or two pop up can be randomness. To say nobody and there be so many one could hardly deny they didn't exist without steering towards pathological lying or pathological dislussion... creates humor.

And a (dare I say) few hundred blog readers smile instead of pull out their hair at conservatives.

Its better to laugh than scream. Screaming ups the level up intensity and hinders the helpful discussions that can occur through dialogue. Krugman does a funny...
but its really (and this is why I wanted to post on this) a funny of language usage that I have always loved and more than likely used too often.

I've been told in books I read that the later Wittgenstein steered away from logic and highlighted regular language as the key method for understanding the world. In my own poorly tutored view the analytic push said logic helps us aviod ordinary language because ordinary language may misrepresnet reality. That this is the cause of all our troubles. If I'm correct there is a catch to that truth. Ordinary langugage may misrepresent reality. But part of reality is understanding the effects and processes of misrepresentations and bad interpretations. If you stick to pure logic you lose some of the clever mishaps, emotional bumps, and distructive wrong turns. If you don't learn about those things how can you address the big questions in any meaningful fashion.

Granted I have neither a good enough grasp of symbolic logic, ordinary language, or a solid foundation in any of the philosophers who work in this area. I do use and play with ordinary language. And I certainly understand the experience of reality. What more I can speak of is simply random murmurs from a guy trying to not be overcome by the beauty, trapped by the dificulity, or turn hopeless from the meaninglessness of it all.

Put simply... I like plays on words that highlight something not just about language but expose something about the world... and liked this play by Krugman enough to point it out to you.

Krugman makes a funny... funny in two ways 1)nonsense of language 2) exposing conservatives as unable to listen to or use substantial portions of the economic community. Both come from his language usage. You just have to be listening closely to ever pick up on it.

Once again speaking a voice of reason...

Amen

So I finally watched the now-famous clip of Hillary Clinton getting emotional — and my reaction was …
That’s it?
That’s the 1 minute 51 seconds that launched a thousand commentaries?
I think this thing does call for some serious psychological analysis, not of the candidate — who looked and sounded like a normal person — but of the pundits who have turned Hillary into the object of their obsession

Preach on brother Krugman, preach on... for those of us without PhD's or fancy intellectual jobs that will make anyone want to listen to us... preach on. They may not listen to you... but at least you have the clout to create pause.

And in that pause by the grace of god one or two might start to hear and see.

listening to right now...

From Brad Delong... Are There Moral and Political Consequences of Economic Prosperity? (Audio)

[I'm adding a new tag: online education... to help keep up with solid and substantial items on the web that someone can get a solid education from...]

Haven't read all of this...

But I have to move on this morning... so you go finish reading it too! I like reading a Libertarian who is actively taking on conservatives! For the segment I've read so far... we might disagree on some important points... but at least we agree to contend conservatism.

Sometimes a picture....

Originally uploaded by Alex Arnold Photography

wow... totally hits where I'm at right now.

Blog post on Dainel Dennets Mitochondrial Eve

I happened upon this blog post....

I too have always found the idea fascinating... and the author does a real good job of giving an overview if you've never read Darwins Dangerous Idea.

Don't think of a sick child...

I'm glad to see this. Rockridge Institute is a great resource for progressives. I will try to keep you up to date on this blog... but please go read more on their health care campaign. It is going to be vital for progressives, liberals, and conservatives who want health care for everyone in this country to engage themselves with the issues. Talking to your freinds and neighbors is going to be the ONLY way we take on all the money and power that wants to keep health care broken...

Any time health care becomes a part of one of your discussions you need to frame the issue in the correct context... something to the effect of... look, I know there are some people who will spend a lot of time and energy to try to get us to not think of sick children, but I for one and not going to fall for it. This is about values... and it is immoral to let people go without basic health care in this country.

lovely day outside...

So I didn’t roll out of bed until 11 or so. I got up, ate some food. Caught up on emails and blogs. For the past 20 minutes I was just sitting outside reading. A thought popped into my head about how much work I have to do so I rushed in to type this out realizing I was failing to listen to the essence of the thought I was having.

I have a lot to accomplish if I’m ever to have a somewhat decent grasp of the world. One of my big failings is a get caught up in the rush of the moment and don’t take the time to build a strong knowlege of the things I try so hard to speak on. Its as if I’m trying hard without the effort... which is double hard and causes one to want to pull ones hair out–believe me!

So I will go back out and sit on the patio and read. My dog will vie for my attention every now and again and the warm sun and lovely weather will encroach on my mind. But I will sit and read Karl Popper until time to go to work. I won’t worry about the German I have yet to learn, or the forum my Representitive is holding tomorrow night. I will sit and ponder for a while. And I will accept that I don’t need to catch up to the world, that at some point the world might dare to catch up with me. Thats good enough for now....

Honest Conservatives...

Brad Delong on... A Proposed Pecking Order for Honest Conservatives

As good Millian liberals, we want to promote authentic, articulate, and intelligent advocates of other points of view. Who should we liberals respect--and give a boost to, in terms of reading them, arguing with them rather than mocking them, debating them, and suggesting that others read them?

Obama does it again...

So two issues close to home for me are health care and labor issues. After going over a year without health care coverage during a catastrophic health care crisis in my life, health care and those who are for getting people covered AND stopping the right wing nonsense on the issue is a big deal for me. Currently working in a low skill occupation with no labor union causes me to be defensive of and stand up for labor unions who are protecting workers rights. I work in retail and the shareholders are doing quite well I assure you. But the work force is neglected, taken advantage of, and manipulated. And I DON'T work at WalMart. So anyone who takes right wing shots at unions looks bad in my book. Obama has used conservative rhetoric to attack the universal plans of Edwards and Clinton, and is now attacking unions alla conservative rhetoric. This quote really says it all

“I’m taken aback that somebody like Obama would think that Oprah Winfrey has a greater right to participate in the political process than the 4 million people I represent,” Edward J. McElroy, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, which has spent $799,619 on New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s behalf, said, referring to the television host’s high-profile support for Obama. “It’s sour grapes. It sounds just like the charges the Republicans make.”

I'm also throwing this one in the political hobgoblin tag for unions being special interests...