For my Dad...

My dad took off from the safe world of corporate America and moved to the Philippines and start a buinsess in a third world country that needs his knowledge and skills.

I am inspired every day by his determination and it will work out for him as long as he keeps plugging away and following the buinsses leads that come across his way.

Sometimes I think he wonders what the fuck he's doing. Sometimes the struggle is what makes your life have meaning...





Cheers Dad... I love you!

--------------
Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

McCain's leadership style... run for the hills and let someone else take the fall...

One reason McCain might be attacking Obama in regards to Obama's ability to inspire is that McCain's leadership style is the exact opposite of what one would want from a true leader... NYT's yesterday...

Mr. McCain is known to sign off on big campaign decisions and then to march off his own reservation. Two weeks ago, he publicly disagreed with his own spokeswoman, Jill Hazelbaker, after she used a line of attack against Senator Barack Obama that he had approved after careful strategizing within his campaign. Ms. Hazelbaker raced out of the Virginia campaign headquarters and refused to take Mr. McCain’s calls of apology, aides said, and a plan to have Republican members of Congress use the same critical line about Mr. Obama’s foreign trip fell apart.

That's leadership? Strong Leadership? ON what world. Leadership says I made a mistake... we need to adjust... hanging someone out to dry for your decisions is not leadership... there is a difference...
--------------
Jim Nichols
A Speculative Fiction
www.JimNichols4.com

behaviors Jim needs to do more of...

William Kristol on Tim Russert

Tim showed up one day, looked around, and took a few of us out for a beer. It took me about two minutes of conversation to realize that Tim was far savvier about politics — especially New York Democratic politics — than we at headquarters were, but he was polite and pretended to listen to our observations. In fact, as Tim told me later, he quickly concluded that most of us had no idea what we were doing — which was certainly the case.

I tend to shoot my mouth off... need to not do that... listen to people... learn from people. Ask David Pacini has always taught me... "when someone wants to know your opinion they'll ask you." Telling them what you think won't teach them anything... they'll never here you...

local politics... please come and and show your support...

another youtube IWW

IWW Documentary...

Maybe we start considering our own consumption practices that impact food costs?

World Bank tackles food emergency

World Bank head Robert Zoellick warned that 100 million people in poor countries could be pushed deeper into poverty by spiralling prices.

The crisis has sparked recent food riots in several countries including Haiti, the Philippines and Egypt

I feel sometimes at a loss on how to navigate...

Sometimes I ramble poetical. Sometimes I speak and point more towards the data and empirical side of things. But I often wonder if I travel between the two ways of communicating--the artistic world, and the policy/philosophical world--in an effective manner. Or do I end up creating two many distractions. Some times I feel my artistic/poetic way of just saying what i'm feeling is petty and childish.

On the way out the door my gut fell out from under me and I felt guilty for posting this. It can be read as childish and petty... while it was intended as an attempt to speak of an emotion inside me that I want to be able to express with others who may feel the same way from time to time.

I want people to respect my views, I want to build a network of people with whom I can trust and who can trust me. To navigate this complex world. I don't want people to jump on my blog and have a bad first impression which makes them think I don't have anything productive to say or share.

Even if all I bring is an extra eye keeping up with the Josh Marshall's, Dean Baker's, and Brad Delong's of the world--who are every day teaching me via this wonderous tool--and pass them on to others who may not have the time, inclination, or ability to focus on such things. Then at least that is something.

I guess the question is how do I be true to myself, respectful of others, and coherent in my thinking? How do I build bridges and alliances with many different people from many different perspectives. I think this world is too complex for me to say that there are many important insights to take from people across the spectrum and across human history.

How do I do that, without being a pedantic, verbally assaulting, close minded, and divisive. That kind of crap goes on in politics, and especially prone to go on in the blog world.

I dunno, but I want to get better about being open/receptive/accessible in everything I do--more specifically on this blog.

Does the new media have to stay in the gutter? Or is this one more tool towards a more reflective and wise society?

I hope its the latter--from time to time I feel like I tend to jump the gun and do the former.

Sigh... I guess this is something I grow into learning how to accomplish.

TPMtv: Send in The Clown

I'm reaching the point that I'm going to pull out of personal comments about the Clinton/Obama race... and this nonsense about Michigan and Flordia should get seated at the convention. I'll just start burning down bridges and Nov. is too quickly approaching for that kind of nonsense. I'll keep linking to others who have something of interest to say.

But I have too much anger with the Democratic Party and those who sat down and did nothing after 9/11 gave Bush some coat-tails to run conservative policy down this road we're now on. With no opposition party in sight our country has become quite a sorry state.

There is rotten wood in this party. We're rebuilding; I can tell you that because I'm meeting and working every day very inspiring and talented people who are just as dedicated to taking on conservative policy as I am. We will turn the tide it just takes time and a lot of hard work.

TPM find #2
For Reason before she was against it?

Not sure quite what it means. But TPM Reader JB dug up this passage from a December 2006 article in the Times about what then seemed the likely prospect that a women and a black man would be competitive candidates in the 2008 Democratic primaries ...

“All evidence is that a white female has an advantage over a black male — for reasons of our cultural heritage,” said the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the civil rights leader who ran for president in 1984 and 1988. Still, he said, for African-American and female candidates, “It’s easier — emphatically so.”
Ms. Ferraro offered a similar sentiment. “I think it’s more realistic for a woman than it is for an African-American,” said Ms. Ferraro. “There is a certain amount of racism that exists in the United States — whether it’s conscious or not it’s true.”

“Women are 51 percent of the population,” she added.

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.

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.

Flu Shot...

Ecnomist Alex Tabarrock just got his flu shot

People who have the flu spread the virus so getting a flu shot not only reduces the probability that I will get the flu it reduces the probability that you will get the flu. In the language of economics the flu shot creates an external benefit, a benefit to other people not captured by the person who paid the costs of getting the shot. The external benefits of a flu shot can be quite large. Under some conditions each person who is vaccinated reduces the expected number of other people who get the flu by 1.5.

Since a large fraction of the benefits of the flu shot, perhaps even a majority of the benefits, go to other people and not to the person paying the costs, the number of people who get a flu shot in the United States is well below the efficient level. I only got the shot because, as you well know, I'm altruistic. I care about you. But do send your checks, that will help.

In lieu of a check I'm thinking of having some buttons made up to encourage people to get their shot. Here are some possible slogans:

Kiss me, I'm vaccinated.
Take one for the herd!
Get a flu shot. The life you save may not be your own.
Madison Avenue here I come!

Of course, we know from the Coase Theorem that there is an alternative approach. We could charge people who do not get their flu shots. (Thus, if you haven't had a shot you must still must send me a check.) Or to reduce transaction costs we could fine people who get the flu. I kind of like that last one. (But what to do about the 36,000 a year who die from the flu - charge their estates?)

When are humans going to catch up to technology

I sometimes get the feeling my Dad and I are trying to do the same thing in different forums. He's working the energy market in the Philippines, i'm working the political scene and social justice movement in Georgia.

I just titled this post... When are people going to catch up to technology. But then I rewrote it. When are humans... human beings. The people that care, feel, hurt, and love. People... randomized automatons. They already plug into tv, vapid consumerism, and such. They are already on board with technology, but like technology they don't care...

I'm weary of leaning on carelessness as a solution. Vain narcissistic randomness and careless revelry is not going to fix anything, only be a release. My dad works in the energy Field. His business, is something I know next to nothing about. But he's in it for the right reasons. He wants markets to work FOR people, not just blind profit. Blind profit hurts human beings. He wants to use technology to make his little detailed sector of expertise work for humans.

I want to use technology to make my little sector of expertise policy wonkishness and political theory work for humans.

We're both trying hard to use technology to help. I struggle to make it work. I think he goes through the same struggles. I look to his recent post Journalist Interviews and Blogs and think if we keep at this it might just work!

We might just be the generation that helps human beings use technology. Not to eradicate cultures, bomb a city, or suck another dollar out of labor. But break free information, giving the informed and wise a way to network, communicate, and the tools to make those ventures beneficial to everyone in society.

I think my Dad may take it too far...

I may begin declining phone interviews much more frequently. I prefer to be in the open, on the record, and unfiltered - although I realize there will be need for exceptions at times. The on-line conversations are much more robust.

Technology, is a tool for humans. And human beings deal in and thrive off of personal relationships. Insider games, and elitism, are the things that are eradicated by the openness of the internet. But that doesn't replace personal relationships. Relationships with neighbors, economists, reporters. Whatever your goal is, people are that which stands in your way. The questions is how to make people humans. And you do that by talking, listening, and having a cup of coffee. Blog posts, online comments, social networks. For all of their perks, will never sit across from another person, look them in the eye and say "yeah, I give a shit too....."

Highly complex society's suck the life out of humans. They lose attachment to what counts. THe soul I guess is what poets would call it. And you don't relate to people, teach people, lead people.... if you negate that which we are trying to save. At least we that get it. And know they may be few and far between. But many times I think thats an illusion too... But forget that for a moment. How does one live? Together or alone?

I vote for together.

update with a quote from "No Paradise" by Anti-Flag that I was listening to as I wrote without realizing it speaks to what i'm talking about....

We want the truth
It isn't going to be no paradise
Forget the claims
Oh no
We need to take the world back now
We need to take control right now

Promises of a better tomorrow
Promises bought on borrowed dollars
No disaster ever looked so great
So while I say
As old men delivered that league of terror; war
We ask ourselves what are we dying for?

So all the kids are sick and tired of the news today
Sick and tired of all your lies
We want the truth
It isn't going to be no paradise
Forget the claims
Oh no
We need to take the world back now
We need to take control right now

There is some blue haired 15 teen year old singing those words today. But there is also a political activist in his late 20's and a energy consultant in the Philippines living those same words today as well.

This is the kind of substance I like in candidate speeches...

That's the soul of the American Dream. It is what draws people from around the world to our shores; it is what has sustained the optimism of the American people; and it is what has helped build the wealthiest nation in history.

But if you go out and talk to people around this country, they'll tell you, they still believe in the American Dream – they just think it's out of reach.

It's hard to call it the American Dream when fewer than a third of Americans thinks life will be better for their children than it is for them.

It's understandable that they feel that way. For the last 20 years, about half of America's economic growth has gone to the top 1 percent.

Today, the top 300,000 Americans now make more than the bottom 150 million put together.

Productivity is up but median income is down. People are making more, while they're making less. Men in their 30s today earn less in real dollars than the men did 30 years ago. More and more women have gone to work, and now married couples with children are working an average of 10 hours a week more than their parents did. Working families with breadwinners in their 40s are almost three times more likely to fall in to poverty than they were a generation ago.

What does all this mean in real terms? It means that our system rewards wealth, not work.

The gap between CEOs and the average worker is out of sight – today, the average CEO makes 400 times what the average worker makes.

Our tax system has been rewritten by George Bush to favor the wealthy and shift the burden to working families. That is simply wrong – and even those who benefit the most from our current system know that it is wrong.

Warren Buffett once complained that his receptionist loses more of her income in payroll taxes than he does. He called it "class welfare," and he meant welfare for the rich.

The candidate is John Edwards

On Libby (all Via TPM which was on Libby way back before your grandmas Dem. presidential candidate thought Libby was good press)

Fitzgerald Statement on Libby

We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not comment on the exercise of that prerogative.

We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as “excessive.” The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing.

Although the President’s decision eliminates Mr. Libby’s sentence of imprisonment, Mr. Libby remains convicted by a jury of serious felonies, and we will continue to seek to preserve those convictions through the appeals process.

SurveyUSA has released a poll done quickly tonight, measuring public reaction to the Libby commutation. The results among those respondents familiar with the case:

• 60% say the prison sentence should have been left in place.

• 21% agree with the commutation.

• 17% say Libby should have been pardoned entirely.

Among respondents, 55% were familiar with the case. And 40% of Republicans said the prison sentence should have been kept in place, along with 77% of Democrats and 56% of independents. The margin of error was 3.4%.

From Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT):

“The President’s muted words and deeds in the aftermath of this conviction pale in comparison to what he said before the investigation was launched.
"The President has the constitutional power to do this. But accountability has been in short supply in the Bush Administration, and this commutation fits that pattern. It is emblematic of a White House that sees itself as being above the law."

Matt Drudge sums up the Republican media strategy.

Human Rights Monitor denied access to US Jail (New Tag's: Human Rights, Leadership by example)

U.N. Official Says He’s Been Denied Access to U.S. Immigrant Jails

A United Nations human rights official said he was barred from visiting an immigration detention center in New Jersey yesterday. It was the second time he was denied access to an American immigration jail on a weeklong monitoring tour.