Ideologues are the problem not the solution....

A great example of why Republican Ideologues have done damage to the quality of life for citizens was in the Henry Citizen Newsletter #123 on July 31 where the husband of a teacher wrote in about the impact of furlough's on their family.  He ended up having to take the day off of work to assist in getting the class ready, and pointed out that they have spent money out of pocket to buy white boards, supplies, and decorations for the classroom.   Private citizens footing the bill for our obligations as a state is unacceptable. 

This isn't the first time I've heard about situations like this.  In fact there are many examples of budget cuts directly impacting citizens.  This is unacceptable, government has an obligation to meet is commitments to the citizens of this state.  Don't get me wrong, nobody will be happy with every program; and certainly procedures, processes, and bureaucratic nightmares can and should be fixed. 

These kinds of headaches are faced in the corporate world as well--government isn't unique in these headaches.  That is one of the reasons why I'm campaigning on the need to start looking at modern findings in behavioral economics and cognitive science.  As I asked around to some of the Legislators, lobbyist, and activists who spend a lot of time up at the Gold Dome about which Legislators were looking into this kind of approach--everyone scratched their head and said they weren't aware of anyone approaching government this way. 

That is unacceptable--its time for policy to join the 21st century!  It is also a great example of why a new generation of leaders who are bringing new ideas and new approaches to the Gold Dome are needed. We create programs and process that are more efficient and effective--not by working at cross purposes with our natural biology but by harnessing our natural predispositions and human nature.  We can create more efficient and effective government--but underfunding our state is not going to make that happen.

Republicans like Ronald Regan and George H. W. Bush raised taxes to deal with structural deficits--so this isn't a democrat or republican issue.  Its a prime example of how ideologues have taken over the Republican Party.  The number of "Independents" running around these days is another one. 

If we want to cut programs--fine, make it happen.  The fact they a Republican Majority has failed to make that happen is proof that the people don't want their services and programs cut.  That's why I support instant runoff voting so that more Libertarians can get elected if that is the will of citizens in those districts.  This would hold the Republican majority accountable for their claimed "small government" approach.  But if you can't get the programs cut, then you have to pay the bill in a sustainable, responsible manner.  Its like gravity, you can't get away from it.

Therefore Legislators have an obligation to pass responsible solutions that are sustainable--and protect our long term prosperity.  Last minute cuts and plugging holes in the budget with a stimulus program that we can't expect every year is not sound economic policy and has a huge impact on the quality of life of citizens in this state.  Rep. Davis has done the best he could, but his commitment to ideology before pragmatic solutions and compromises is part of the problem. 

I'm running because this state needs solutions not two more years of gridlock and broken government. 

Posted via web from Jim Nichols for GA State House

Republican ideologues have created a mess of State Government

It appears that the former Chairman of the Henry County Republican Party, Charles Mobley, has decided to tag me the tax increase king.  This kind makes my case for me: Republican ideologues do a lot of damage when they are in government and can't be trusted to promote fiscally responsible solutions.  Its not that they are bad people--they just don't get it! 

Its pretty straight forward--Republicans are in the majority and have proved politically incapable of scaling back spending.  This proves the irresponsibility of Republican leaders who continue to promote tax and spending cuts that further deteriorate the quality of life for citizens in this state putting their safety and prosperity at risk. 

Steve Davis and the Republican majority have created a structural deficit in this state and I'm headed to the State House to help clean it up   Its not rocket science--you have to pay for the spending the citizens have demanded of their state government.  Its unfortunate that the Republican leadership has declined so far--we deserve responsible leadership from both sides of the aisle.  Doing the right thing won't be popular with Republican ideologues.  They've created the problem, its time to clean up their mess. 

Posted via web from Jim Nichols for GA State House

9.28.09

I made a list last night. Because discipline I lack. Sigh. I wonder what I was thinking back years ago when I was reading Henry Miller and I thought it'd be so great to be a writer. Does a kid at 14 actually understand Henry Miller. Should a kid at 14 understand Henry Miller. Why are my questions ending in a period. Did it again--sigh...

I keep thinking about my place within a lineage of people. I sometimes think about the fact that I'm here because all of my ancestors survived long enough to reproduce. That's strange. And its a very very long time. That kind of historical span is like reflecting on space--as Douglas Adams said, its big, unimaginably big.

Here I am. Speck O dust. Well a compound of proteins, water, errr other things too--atoms and void and Epicurus would say.

One of these days all of this--the world, as in Wittgensteins "my world"--will make sense. Or maybe it won't. But maybe just maybe right before I die, I'll chuckle and go, "oh, I get it now."

I'm going to work now... [actually i'm going to go put on my boots...]

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Jim Nichols
Under the Name of Reason
www.JimNichols4.com

Good Government/Open Government-- My obligation to voters...

 

The question of why I decided to become Chairman of the Democratic Party--within a certain range of voters this is becoming a very common for me to be getting--so i'm going to spend some time on that issue.  As I've mentioned 1 reason is just generational.  I came of age politically with the Bush Administration.   But I'll continue to give examples as I go along so that people have a better understanding of my political leanings and determining factors regarding my policy preferences.

I believe in open government and therefore I'm intrigued by this concept of being a legislator that "thinks outloud," using blogging and twitter to crowd source, open up my own thinking, random questions I still have unanswered, and the things that i'm reading/are influencing me.  Voters are then able to help persuade me/influence my policy priorities and agenda via email/comments/tweets with their own research/findings.  That is at its core what this is about--not political power, not putting my reelection above true representation, but a dialogue and debate over good, pragmatic, policy rather than ideology.  

I have an inherent distrust of government so open government is one of my priorities--thinking outloud, and in public; might be a little messy or seem strange to some voters; but I think open government is at its core one of the most important goals and priorities we as citizens should have.

Here's another recent example...  Republicans over the past decade have prioritized political power over good policy (see reason 1 above)

THE GOP REVERSAL ON INDIVIDUAL MANDATES....

In many cases, Republican lawmakers asked Democratic leaders to make specific concessions on health care reform. When Dems like Max Baucus agreed, the GOP balked anyway.

But there are other areas in which Democrats simply embrace policy ideas endorsed, or even created by, the right. For quite a while, conservatives liked the idea of giving an Independent Medicare Advisory Council more power to determine what the program should pay for. It's a straightforward, money-saving measure. When the Obama administration agreed, Republicans decided they didn't like their own idea anymore.

The same thing is happening with an individual mandate, which Republicans trashed during the first day of Senate Finance Committee debate yesterday.

Advocates of a coverage mandate say it is needed to ensure that young, healthy people get insurance and contribute to the system. They say this will ease costs associated with an influx of less-healthy people who are expected to get coverage under the Baucus legislation.

Republicans, who are trying to slow Democratic efforts to pass a health overhaul by the end of the year, rushed to criticize the proposal.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Finance Committee's senior Republican, said the mandate is among the reasons that he couldn't support the bill despite months of negotiations with Mr. Baucus. "Individuals should maintain their freedom to chose health-care coverage, or not," he said.

"This bill is a stunning assault on liberty," said Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Senate's second-ranking Republican.

 

 

That's pretty strong rhetoric under any circumstances, but it's especially striking since the GOP used to think individual mandates were fine. Indeed, Sam Stein noted yesterday that the idea was "once considered so non-controversial that it was endorsed by several major Republican officials."

As recently as a month ago, Chuck Grassley, the same senator bashing the idea of a mandate yesterday, announced that the way to get universal coverage is "through an individual mandate." He told Nightly Business report, "That's individual responsibility, and even Republicans believe in individual responsibility." Earlier this year, Grassley told Fox News that there wasn't "anything wrong" with mandates even if some may view them "as an infringement upon individual freedom."

Now, apparently, he disagrees with himself. There's a lot of that going around.

Congressional Republicans could probably save themselves a lot of trouble by simply saying, "Whatever Democrats are for, we're against," in response to every question.

 

Posted via web from Jim Nichols for GA State House

Just so you know A Speculative Fiction is back in action...

The writer/musician in me has been itching to get out--a few have been telling me its time to get back in the game.

I've decided the Politically Correct police will love using some of my art to say i'm not competent for a part time (in reality full time) job that pays McDonalds wages because than can take x y and z that is coming often quite raw from the human all too human side of me. Ahh thats life--I for one and sick of the manufactured manipulative--poll driven politics. I truly believe others are as well. Those with Statist/Authoritarian leanings love to attack artists--as artists are the first line of defence for free expression and a flourishing open society.

Sigh... I'll suck it up and take it like a man.

So this blog is going live again with some of my music, poems, and writings.

I will work to separate the three worlds I circle in--art, philosophy, and politics. As each sets different norms, standards, and practices. But we're all adults. Some aspects of the human experience--that is often expressed through art--aren't necessarily fit for the young ones.

If you want to stick to politics feel free to sign up for RSS feed or sign up for the emails at http://jimn2010.blogspot.com/

For those who just want my philosophy, as well as more indepth political and social commentary you can stick to http://underthenameofreason.blogspot.com/

For those who want a little bit of everything including my music, photography, spoken word, poetry, journaling, and random oddities... you can stay here. oi.
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Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

Assorted Jelly Beans - "No Time" Kung Fu Records