Last night, Redneck Comedy Theater premiered its latest hit, "A Pit Bull with Lipstick". The show received a standing ovation from the audience, filled with stuffed suits and cowboy hats. The question is how this comedy act will be received by the rest of the country, who typically like a little substance with their sarcasm and insults.
The comical theme of the show seemed to be the insinuation that any thinking person could accept the internal contradiction that the best way to unite the country and "reach across the aisle" is to insult those to whom you are reaching, and ridicule everything that they hold dear.
Some of the memorable one-liners included "There is a time for campaigning, and a time to put country first", as well as the ironic "For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words." Gifted comedians, however, do not inspire with their words unless their sarcasm reflects something approximating the truth.
The slapstick nature of the evening came to a crescendo during the only reference to a topic even approaching substance. A brief discussion of energy policy quickly turned into an audience participation segment, where the plan was summarized as a chant of "drill, baby, drill" filled the theater.
Unfortunately for this play, most viewers not in attendance were left with an uneasy, vaguely nauseated feeling in their gut; this comedy falls flat upon deeper examination because it completely lacks any substance or relationship with what most people instinctively know to be true. For example, the person who was the main object of ridicule in the play is obviously far more talented than the pit bull, her trainer, or their managers. Moreover, the larger national audience is well aware that the Redneck Comedy Theater is an affiliate of the political party that has destroyed the country, and so they know that this is not the party that will save it. Thus the sarcastic nature of the presentation appeared silly as opposed to witty.
Adults who find this Don Rickles style of humor to be childish would be well served to look elsewhere for a more mature approach to discussing the political environment. This is evidenced by the fact that the biggest joke of the night was the notion that the pit bull with lipstick may one day soon be President of the United States.
Dear Editor,
Endless, pointless war, and an overabundance of belligerence promising more.
Environmental destruction and plunder, as the world becomes warmer and warmer.
Ten trillion dollars in national debt, causing skyrocketing inflation and threatening federal bankruptcy.
This is what the Republican Party has bestowed upon the country.
Isn't it time to elect someone intelligent for a change?
Sincerely,
Paul Bailey
Legend has it that while the brave Odysseus was off fighting the Trojan War, his wife Penelope stayed home, fending off suitors, waiting faithfully for her warrior husband to return home. Odysseus eventually returned to Greece and became a great king.Few, however, are familiar with the sordid details of this story.Odysseus did not earn his commission in the Greek army; his father was a famous general, and although Odysseus performed poorly in training, he was elevated through the ranks as a legacy.While in Troy, Odysseus spent very little time fighting; in fact, he was captured very shortly after arriving, and so was unable to help the Greek cause as he sat in jail.Upon returning home to Penelope, Odysseus dumped his adoring wife in order to remarry a young, beautiful, rich heiress who he felt could do much more to further his career.
For the next several years, Odysseus relentlessly used the story of his participation in the Trojan War to solicit prestigious appointments with the aristocracy throughout the land.
In order to ascend to the throne, he clung to those in power while ridiculing a much more talented rival who was beloved by all of the people. However, the powers that be sided with the deceitful Odysseus, and declared to the public that the rival was too "inexperienced" to be king, and so coronated Odysseus.Thereafter, the glory of Greece crumbled, as the inept Odysseus provoked other nations, and implemented inscription to fight many failed wars. The natural resources of the country were plundered by those who had helped Odysseus rise to power, and the wealth of the country was squandered to the point of bankruptcy.
Dear Editor, The recent conflict between Russia and Georgia exposes how truly desperate our position in the world has become. The dreams of global domination, advocated at the end of the twentieth century by the Project for a New American Century and other neoconservative think tanks, have manifested themselves as the nightmares of today. Our dependence on oil has only been exacerbated by the policies of the current administration, as has the severity of our vast national debt. Thus we borrow money from rivals such as Russia and China and build pipelines through foreign lands such as Georgia to feed our addiction. Our army is exhausted and preoccupied in an unwise, unjustified, and unnecessary war. We have no moral, financial, or military leverage to bring to bare when an international crisis arises. In the meantime, policy makers have intentionally censored the results of the majority of the scientific community, postponing our eventual confrontation with the potentially greater pending disaster of climate change. Chest pounding and empty, ill-defined notions of "leadership" will not elevate us out of the pit in which we find ourselves. Only true intelligence, problem solving skills, and the willingness to cooperate with our neighbors abroad can address this situation. Thus I humbly submit that the times require an intellectual in the White House. Rambo should sit this one out. Sincerely, Paul Bailey, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Southern Arkansas University
On Saturday, July 26, 2008, citizens of Hot Springs, Arkansas, participated in a Platform Meeting. This is a synopsis of the positions discussed in our meeting, followed by positions submitted separately by various Obama supporters. Consensus PositionsAgricultureThe global food distribution system faces serious problems in the upcoming years. Large corporations buy land from local farmers in countries around the globe, leaving the populations helpless to produce their own food in future generations, causing poverty and starvation. The types of food mass produced on the resulting corporate farms are selected for profit as opposed to nutrition. This food must then be transported to those who have the money to buy it, unnecessarily using limited energy resources. We wish to produce healthier food, reinvigorate rural areas, and eliminate wasted transportation costs, by encouraging local food distribution.We wish to help cool our cities by encouraging urban farms, building gardens on the roofs of existing high rises, and designing future buildings with terraces to be used for local food production.We support the elimination of subsidies to large corporate farms, and the use of antitrust law, where possible, to break up agricultural monopolies.While we understand the absolute necessity of renewable energy, we must ensure that its production does not significantly impact the production of food.Energy and the EnvironmentNobel laureate Al Gore has challenged the nation:"America must commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and other clean sources within 10 years."Our group unanimously and vigorously endorses the Gore Challenge.We must invest in affordable public transportation and carbon-free personal transportation. We must eliminate subsidies to and tax loopholes for oil and coal companies.We support investment in easily accessible and safe bicycle lanes, eliminating carbon exhaust as well as enhancing fitness.We must address the wastefulness of our society. As we fill our own landfills, we ship spent electronic devices overseas to pollute third world countries. Our nation needs to move away from this disgraceful practice.We support investment in recycling programs in urban, suburban, and rural communities.We support the Use It or Loose It approach to oil leases, and oppose granting additional drilling leases in ecologically sensitive areas at this time.Media ReformA prerequisite for a healthy democracy is the dissemination of accurate information reflecting multiple points of view. The recent consolidation of news sources poses a serious danger to this critical need.We support the use of antitrust law to break up existing media monopolies.We support the reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine.Constitutional RespectThe legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our government should honor, respect, and actively promote the Bill of Rights and all constitutional guarantees.TerrorismOur government must produce, publish, and advertise a DEFINITION of the word TERRORISM prior to using it in any public communication.Additional Positions (submitted separately)Animal CrueltyWe support the prevention of animal abuse and cruelty, which often is a precursor to the abuse of humans.Women's RightsWe support the Equal Rights Amendment, which states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."RetirementWe are committed to preserving Social Security. It is a compact across the generations that has helped tens of millions of Americans live their retirement years in dignity instead of poverty.We oppose privatizing Social Security or raising the retirement age. Because the massive deficits under the Bush Administration have raided hundreds of billions of dollars from Social Security, the most important step we can take to strengthen Social Security is to restore fiscal responsibility.EducationWe are committed to enhancing support for the education of all children, from pre-kindergarten through college. Better education breeds economic growth.ImmigrationWe are committed to finalizing comprehensive immigration reform. We recognize the positive contributions to our economy and culture which have come from new members to our society. There is much to learn and nothing to fear from those who may initially seem foreign.
National Debt
We support a constitutional amendment requiring that the federal budget be balanced. Our astronomical national debt is destroying our economy, and needs to be eliminated as soon as possible through a completely redesigned progressive tax code, whereafter tax rates are AUTOMATICALLY linked to spending.
Military Spending
We spend vastly more money on weapons systems than any other country in the world, while our national debt sky-rockets. By forming strong alliances and cutting waste, we should be able to dramatically cut our military spending.
Since most people are employed, unemployment is not an issue with immediate impact. We can reduce our driving to compensate for rising gasoline prices. But everyone has to eat.Six months ago, I could buy a week's groceries in a $100 trip to WalMart. Now, buying generic instead of brand products, the same amount of food just cost $160.Inflation is the number one economic issue. And this is where Barack Obama should hit McCain hard, and counter the typical "democrats increase taxes" canard.The argument is a bit long, but eventually clear. Republican administrations increase the national debt dramatically. Democratic administrations do not. This has been the pattern for the last forty years; easily understandable graphs clearly show this, and John McCain promises to continue the pattern, should he be elected.
Graph of Debt by Administration: ZFacts
Complaints that federal spending is out of control are tempered by viewing spending as a percentage of GDP.
Site with Debt Information: MarkTAW
The national debt leads to the dollar falling vis a vis foreign currencies, such as the yen and euro. Since we are in a global economy, this leads directly to inflation in the United States. This also explains most of the increase in the price of a barrel of oil.The primary prerequisite for reducing inflation is reduction in the national debt. We must raise taxes on the rich to balance the budget. Taxes on the middle class will not be raised.Repeat this argument incessantly for the next five months; it will sink in, its truth will become apparent, and Barack Obama will carry the working class vote easily.Recall how Ross Perot won twenty per cent of the vote nationally on the single issue of reducing the national debt.Laundry lists of government programs to help the less well off obscure these basic facts, and open the campaign up for Republican attack. Sticking to the topic of raising taxes only on the rich to balance the budget will focus the campaign, and preempt the Republican counter-argument.Sticking to negotiation over belligerence has already worked in the foreign policy debate. This approach to the economic discussion is analogous.
As we view the current state of the country and the world, we see many problems. A short list of those issues about which we have heard discussion in the campaign includes the Iraq War, the economy, health care, job losses, racial animosity, the cost and quality of education, America's standing in the world, religious animosity, details regarding specific proposals to make certain individuals lives easier. and government corruption. These are all important issues, and they are interelated. There are many more topics we could add to this list, both general and specific.
To sort through this, we need to step back and identify, how have these problems arisen, how do we address them, and how do we prioritize?
In this regard, I would like to state what I think should be our three main priorities for problems to solve, why I choose these, and how to remove the obsticles to the solutions. My choices for priorities are based on the premise that those issues which have the highest priorites are those which create a better world for my children, their descendents, and those with whom they will live.
If you agree that this is the motivation which overrides all others, then step back with me and consider the following list of issues which, if we do not address them immediately, our children's chances are greatly reduced; we list priorities for our nation and the world.
1) We need to stop killing each other, and learn to accept each other, on a global scale. This seems obvious, but is not even discussed in a meaningful way politically. The United States has, at this point in time, the unique opportunity in history to nearly eliminate war. The first step in doing this is to reject and denounce war itself. We should not, under any circumstances, ever start a war. We should use our military extremely sparingly, only for the purpose of preventing the continuation of wars. We should apologize to the rest of the world for the twenty or thirty coups we have instigated in other countries over the last fifty years. We should triple our dedication to the United Nations.
If the current level of global conflict continues, it will escalate, and it seems inevitable that a nuclear incident will eventually occur. This could end the world. The way to prevent this is through discussion, getting to know and understand each other; some say that famiarity breeds contempt, but this is extremely cynical and usually false. It is fear of the unknown (together with greed) which leads to anger, hatred, and violence.
This point of view isn't naive; it is essential.
2) We need to address the climate crisis. All the evidence points to the conclusion that global warming is real, caused by humans, and will eventually devastate human civilization. It is not only carbon emissions that are involved in this issue; we are using and abusing the worlds resources at a rate which far exceeds the planets ability to regenerate.
An excellent book in this regard is Jared Diamond's COLLAPSE. He discusses, for example, Easter Island, where after they cut down every tree, they had no way to produce any more food, and resorted to cannabilism. This is a microcosm of what we are doing on a global scale.
3) Why is the economy so poor? Why is inflation so high? I believe the core cause is the astronomical national debt, which has nearly doubled under the Bush administration. We spend more on interest on the national debt than we do invading other countries. If 30-40% of each paycheck of a family went to paying just the interest on their credit cards, their first priority (after not killing each other and not destroying their home) would be to try to pay off the debt to reduce the interest. But instead, our country just keeps increasing this debt with the so-called "budget deficit". Note: if the deficit decreases (but is still positive), the national debt still increases.
We are saddling our children and their children with an unscalable mountain of debt. This must stop; if it doesn't, inflation will become hyper-inflation, and our entire economy will completely collapse.
So, of my top three priorities, we have two global ones (finding peace and saving the planet), and one national one (reducing the debt). These are the issues on which, in my view, responsible parents should base their political decisions.
Next we ask why these problems are not addressed, and are not discussed, by the current political process. Because whatever is preventing us from addressing these issues must be swept away.
The answer is that these problems are caused by the greed of those who have a vested interest in not fixing them, and that these same people have more influence in our government than do ordinary people.
Eisenhower warned of the military industrial complex in his prophetic end of term address. Military contractors make vast sums of money on the business of war. Ending war is the last thing they want. The American people pay them billions of dollars, and with that money, they turn around and lobby Congress to give them even more money.
The oil industry has made record profits ever since the Iraq war began. The plans for this war were laid out by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and other members of the Project for a New American Century in a paper published at the end of Clinton's second term. These "patriots" wrote a plan for global military domination by the United States (you can still read these paper at their web site), designed to capture the world's remaining oil resourses. The power of the oil lobby was verified by the fact we invaded Iraq, and it worked for them. Naturally, they do not want alternative energy options; it would reduce their power and their profits.
This administration borrowed from our children and grandchildren, and gave the money to those who were already wealthy. The corporate lobbyest/Washington insider oligarchy short sightedly has maximized their profits while killing people, destroying the planet, and doubling the national debt. And I am supposed to care whether or not someone wears a flag pin.
Why do we continue to let this happen? The main stream media (MSM) also has a vested interest in the status quo. They made huge profits off the Iraq war; they are owned by larger corporations which seek quarterly profits at the expense of the long term prosperity of people worldwide. Truth can not be found in the MSM; they echo distractions which ask us not to look at our real problems, because if we did, we would vote for our own interests and against that which will make an additional dollar for a CEO.
Barack Obama is the last man standing in the Presidential race who recognizes that we must change the underlying power structure in order to make progress on any of the important dangers facing us. I believe that McCain and Clinton also see these things; they just do not care. They are already compromised far beyond their ability to return to reality.
I have read Barack Obama's books. He is an excellent writer. His is also very genuine and thoughtful. He attempts to see things from every perspective, and to empathisize with each person's point of view. He is clearly highly intelligent and kind.
In this election, we have the opportunity to reject the entrenched power structure represented by McCain and Clinton. But more, we are blessed to have the opportunity of electing a truely good person and inspirational leader while we reject them.
