http://groups.myspace.com/stophatej
Join our discussions! Get involved with community service, volunteering, and fund raising efforts. Lets make the changes through our actions. Unity we can create the change we need.“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Henceforth LL & P/H)LL & P/H are self-evident truths, not given by the Declaration of Independence but by human nature itself – as stated. These ‘rights’ are ‘self-evident’ in human nature, entailing the existence of a natural 'self-evidentual' causation of these rights; I here put forward that this causation is some innate value within human nature. This value seems to be happiness itself; assuming happiness to mean something like ‘positive and ultimately preferred state of mind in a rational and Sentient being’ (See NOTE 1).To put this value under ethical consideration would mean analyzing any given set of variable actions in any given situation for what action would be best/better, therefore right, or worst/worse, therefore wrong. Furthermore, if we accept that each possessor of this value itself has a ‘right’ to it and has a unique value separated from the whole then there could be no ultimate utilitarian or collective value to this happiness at the expense of one for the other. i.e. To maximize over-all value is ideal, however this value is a right to each individual which implies that maximization of over-all value would not be allowed to come at a sacrifice to an individual’s own rights to their own value (NOTE 2). This would imply a preventative like that of Kant’s Ends and Means principle. Each possessor of this value must necessarily be treated as an end in and of itself and never as a mere means to some other end (NOTE 3).Based upon this theory, could torture or detainee mistreatment ever be a right action?To answer this question we must first note that as far as ethics are concerned there is no national preference. This innate value is capable of being experienced within human nature itself equally among all races, cultures, and national affiliation. LL & P/H are ‘self-evident’ in human nature itself, reflecting that this natural right is only capable of being stolen and not being given by any government/nation or culture. Ergo, if torture is permissible on a foreigner in an ethical situation it would necessarily be permissible on an American in a like ethical situation. Also, if it is right/wrong for a foreign body to torture a U.S. combatant for national security it would also be right/wrong to torture foreign combatant personnel for national security. If my previous ethical considerations are accepted, I do not think any rational patriot would conclude that it is right to torture a U.S. combatant therefore it would follow that it is equally wrong to torture foreign combatants. So let us move forward and only consider what the government defines as ‘unlawful’ enemy combatants.To torture someone who is merely suspected of something (i.e. guilt or innocence unknown) would clearly be unjustifiably treating a possessor of value as a means to another countries’ end. If punishment or torture for information was accepted on those basis’s, it would not respect the others innate rights based on human nature; furthermore if it is done in the name of security the implications would necessarily spiral downward to multiple levels of security including U.S. prisoners suspected being murderers, rapists, kidnappers, and etc – whose guilt, by definition, has not yet been determined. Hence, guilt must be properly established before detainee is treated as if guilty and the detainee must be respectful as ‘end’ in and of him/herself.What if the guilt is already determined? If someone violates the law it is clear that for preventative purposes that individual loses some of their rights. At the same time, to torture someone who merely pick-pocketed would be absurd and obviously wrong – and even a violation of that persons rights despite having lost some rights due to their action. Where, then, exactly is the line in the treatment of people who have lost their rights based upon being guilty? This is an obvious ethical grey area which would require far more writing then here available, but I will discuss one common argument. What about the ‘ticking bomb’ scenario? That is, someone says “I have a bomb in X city but I am not going to tell you where it is”. This scenario is always mentioned by torture supporters but the scenario itself is rarely ever an actuality – instead, it seems more of an excuse to permit torture in other cases for punishment or strategic information seeking. What I will say here is that any treatment of the detainee by a Democracy ought to, in my view, be acceptable by the public. That is to say, all cases of detainee mistreatment, like that of torture, should be video-recorded and documented for the public to later have access to. Lest we error on the wrong side in our treatment, it should also follow that the president him/herself must be present either by video or in person therefore holding direct accountability in the rare and next to non-existent situation of a ‘ticking-bomb’ scenario. I will not here adventure further down this grey area, since for the purpose of this article in will be clear that the Bush administration included torture and mistreatments on mere suspects, suspects who never obtained proper legal consideration. The detainees’ own ends were disregarded and they were treated as mere means for another end (read The Dark Side by Jane Mayer).In addition to this, it is also important to note that degradation of humanity often increases the tendency for radicalization within any given society. For example, if we want to start race riots merely degrading and lynching a black citizen would likely spark the radicalization required for such riots. To occupy a country and to conduct mistreatment of detainees would most definitely have a similar effect; if terrorists are created by hatred and by radicalization then indeed such steps as torture or any general mistreatment of humanity would drastically increase the number of terrorists; the supposed purpose of torturing, for national security, would in fact worsen national security.The policies of the Bush administration undertook torture and mistreatment upon suspects as explained in ‘The Dark Side’ by Jane Mayer. We have herein shown how mistreatment/torture of suspects is clearly unethical. Ethics would demand an investigation of their actions; the Bush administration are suspects themselves and should be treated properly as ends, however to deny a full and proper investigation would be to put our political system above our ethics and laws.The good news? Obama: "My view is also that nobody’s above the law and, if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen. But that, generally speaking, I’m more interested in looking forward than I am in looking backwards." (News conference, feb. 9 2009)NOTE 1: ‘Preferred’ may or may not be a rational or known preference; in most cases it is a conceivable preference that one would only truly know if one was all-wise and all-knowing. For example: Jane ‘prefers’ to marry John. John later repeatedly abuses Jane. Jane would not have preferred to marry John had she been all-wise. Ultimate preference here would be defined as what one’s state of mind would ultimately prefer from an idealized all-wise and all-knowing point of view.NOTE 2: Example - John wants to satisfy his sexual urges with Jane but is not interested in a commited relationship. Jane wants a committed relationship. It would be wrong to give Jane the impression of marriage merely to satisfy those urges because that would mean that John is seeking to maximize his own value at the sacrifice of Jane’s right to her value which is wrong, no matter the over-all maximium level of happiness or unhappiness produced.NOTE 3: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kant for more info on Kant’s ends and means principle.Read ‘The Dark Side’ by Jane Mayer
Dear everyone,Next time your child is diagnosed with diabetes and your health premium goes up;Or s/he is denied care because it was a 'pre-existing condition';Or that you re-mortgage your home to cover the medical expenses of your spouses heart surgery, or breast cancer treatment;That you declare bankruptcy because you maxed out your credit cards paying for your medical needs -
Don't blame your insurer for being a weasel, taking your money for years when you are healthy and then denying you treatment. Insures are a for-profit corporations that do what they can to maximize their profits.Don't blame your employer for not being able to afford a provider who will cover your health needs in sickness as well as health.Don't blame yourself for not being rich enough to afford the care you and your family need.
- Blame the Republican leadership who would rather see you die of a curable disease than support the President's reform;
- Blame it on the Republicans and Democrats who oppose publicly funded elections so that they can continue flying in corporate jets;
- Blame the legislators who value their prospects at high-paying lobbying positions more than they value the life of your child;
- Blame it on the media that prefer an "expose" of our President's fake Kenyan birth certificate, or Michael Jackson's Dr., than raise controversy talking about health care;
- Blame your Governor for not raising hell in Washington when your State can not afford to pay for basic services.
It is time to trust our civic instinct saying "health care is a right", our right! We pay taxes, taxes fund research, build hospitals, underwrite corporate research and development. We paid for it - we own it.
We are being lied to. And it is time to stop believing the lies. Canadians, French, British, Germans, get BETTER care for LESS money. Making a profit from sickness is illegal in those countries and should be illegal here.
Enough! Grow up! And lets have a grown up discussion about health care. Let's finally fix it.
http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/08/03/a-house-of-support-for-health-care-reform/
The republican premise: The atmosphere is too large for us to have an effect; it’s practically infinite.
The republican premise: The oceans are a great “sink” that absorbs carbon dioxide, so we don’t have to worry about atmospheric carbon emissions.
I will admit I was not a ‘die hard’ Obama fan. Until the last minute I wavered between Barack Obama and Ralph Nader, and donated equally to both campaigns (boohoo me). But it was always apparent that Obama is a centrist Democrat, and a political realist. On the other hand, there was something appealing about his clarity of thought, and expression, about his demeanor that at once conveyed the confidence of a seasoned politician combined with honesty, principles, and a conscience, rarely seen in mainstream politics any more.So now Barack Obama is president, and it is a new day – no doubt. Lets face it, anything after George W would have been an improvement, even McCain-Palin (well, maybe Palin not so much). But seriously, policies are changing, and for the better. Not all of them, not all at once. But there’s an obvious commitment to the environment, to workers rights, to civil rights, to government transparency. All good.So what’s the problem?First, Obama is now President (I said that). Then can he still be a community leader? Are ‘Yes we can’ activists a grassroots organization, or astroturf ? What does it mean that Organizing for America activist are walking around “selling” the President’s healthcare reform – which polls show that the majority of us don’t want. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Shouldn’t Organizing for America be organizing communities to pressure the White House and Congress to do what we elected them to do – single payer system, like in ALL other developed countries.When Obama says that transitioning to single payer is not realistic, is he telling us to to be his Minute Wo/Men? Or is he telling us to go out there and make it real? Second, some outrage has been voiced around Obama announcing that the perpetrators of torture will not be prosecuted (someone stop the extradition of John Demjanjuk!). But someone needs to be prosecuted. The line in the sand needs to be drawn - that is why we ousted the Republicans, that is what was meant by "change we can believe in".Third, why are only the crackpots on the Right having protest Tea Parties? Why aren’t the left, the center, workers, labor unions, out there saying that - with all due respect to the complexity of toxic assets, our homes, our jobs, are not toxic. That We the Tax Payers need to be bailed out.Why aren’t WE out there saying that the priorities are reversed. That jobs can be created directly through government investment, and not via banks lending the money (maybe), to someone else who (maybe) will hire workers, (maybe) with benefits. And anyway – if the government opened a few banks, or just used a few of those banks taken over by the FDIC, to start lending money at Fed interest rates, wouldn’t that generate competition and force the intransigent, bailed out, banks to lend money?
The principle of ‘No Taxation Without Representation’ should actually inspire the Left. We pay our taxes, and believe that we should, and yet somehow forget to demand adequate representation.Are we being co-opted?
Anyone in the Southeastern part of Michigan with an interest in health care reform in this country should plan to attend the health care forum being sponsored by the OFA team from Districts 7 and 15 this coming Tuesday, April 14th. It will be attended by Congressman John Dingell along with a number of other local officials. The press release is below and a flyer for the event can be found HERE.Chris Savage--------------------------------------New Grassroots Coalition and Congressman Dingell Hold Local Health Care Forum
For more information contact:Tad Wysor, 734/883-3225 or tadwysor@gmail.comLynne Schwartz, 646/842-1360 or Lynnes1@gmail.com
A broad new group of Obama campaign volunteers believes that everyday people and community leaders need to take more responsibility for winning on key issues essential to the economic turnaround both here in Michigan and across the nation - issues like health care reform -- and is acting on it. The local "Organizing for America (OFA)" Coalition sees its upcoming Health Care Forum with 15th Congressman John Dingell (Tuesday April 14, 6:30-8:00pm at Brown Chapel AME Church in Ypsilanti) as one of the in critical ways in which local people can play an active and effective role in this major upcoming national debate.
"It's no secret that Michigan continues to bear the brunt of our struggling national economy. Our broken health care system is a huge part of the problem and fixing it will be a key factor in the Michigan's economic revival" said Lynne Schwartz, 15th District OFA leader. "It's very hopeful that so many are joining together in effective new ways, including working with a major Washington figure on health care like Congressman Dingell."
The OFA Coalition is encouraging residents, students, unions, people of faith, small business owners, heath care providers, not for profit service organizations, elected officials, and other health care stakeholders to attend and become a part of making the Forum...and ultimately the campaign to reform health care and revive the economy...a success.
The forum is the second major public meeting organized by the new OFA Coalition. In March, 85 people filled First Congregational Church in Ypsilanti, during which three local State Representatives (Alma Wheeler Smith, Rebekah Warren, and Pam Byrnes) committed to support the Coalition's efforts to follow and influence the large influx of economic stimulus dollars into the area as the Obama Administration's economic recovery plans unfold.
The group, many of whom were key volunteers last year in the Obama campaign's grassroots organizing operation throughout the area, are now working closely with the national Organizing for America (OFA) organization. The OFA Coalition believes that this is the logical continuation of the unprecedented grassroots-oriented campaign last year that saw huge numbers of people becoming more active and aware. The local OFA Coalition is committed to supporting the major policy changes and initiatives in health care, education, and energy that are key to the Obama Administration's economic recovery plans.
The OFA Coalition volunteers intend for events like this Health Care Forum to be a important way to show how a wide range of people -- both those who supported Obama and those who didn't -- can participate more effectively in government decisions at all levels. "The Health Care Forum is another chance for many of us to meet our neighbors and remember we're not alone in this crisis. Together, we'll to hear from Mr. Dingell, a national health care leader, and share with him the vital concerns of the community regarding this critical issue." said Tad Wysor, 15th district OFA leader.
With all the media and public brouhaha around TARP, Stimulus packages, corporate malfeasance, socialism, and all, it seem to my “lay person’s” (i.e., lacking a Harvard degree in economics) eyes, that the public discussion is ignoring some crucial points. 1. Military spending and Pentagon contractors. I know it’s too much to expect that the US, even under Obama, significantly reduce military spending. I also realize that while there's something conceptually wrong with an army that doesn’t cook for and clean up after itself, it is highly unlikely that Pentagon contracting will be rolled-back any time soon. But can't contractors be forced to adhere to the countries labor laws? Require that as much as reasonably possible they hire and purchase American? At least that way the gazillions of tax-payer dollars will return to the economy, and not contribute to further inequality around the world (with the inevitable security difficulties that arise from this).2. Propping up the auto manufacturers by providing cheap loans to increase car sales. Haven't cars done enough to harm the environment? Didn’t Obama, and all of us who supported him, commit to working to reduce green house gases? Any bailout money to the automobile industry should ONLY go into public transport. All the "alternatives" (e.g., hybrids, electric vehicles) are just a means of maintaining our dependence on some form of destructive energy. And puhleez don’t tell me that we can fire up the grid with wind power, that coal can be “clean”, or that somehow nuclear waste can be sent into space (how? more nuclear waste?). This whole car thing needs to end. We need to bring back neighborhood grocers, suburbs should have local shopping areas (read - small business). We need to wean ourselves from “family packs” of goods that end up in the garbage, or even worse - in our stuffed bellies.That is change!3. What happened to healthcare being a Right?
I suggest we even call it a "freedom": the freedom to be healthy, disease free. The public discussion on healthcare should go beyond the crippling costs to individuals and businesses. Part of the reason the cost is crippling is because there is an insurance company, often a for-profit or publicly traded-company, standing between patients and their doctors. Healthcare will never be cheap. But no one should be allowed to profit from mediating between patients and doctors.Please – go watch “Sicko” again. 4. Do we need, can we afford, economic growth? Economists say that we need growth to keep people at work: The population increases, the potential work force increase, and so - more jobs are needed. OK – so first, how about measuring growth as the number of jobs created in the economy, not wealth. Perhaps even do some fancy math to factor in wages and benefits. I bet a smart economist can figure it out. (While they’re at it, perhaps standardize how inflation is reported to include the price of food, rent and fuel – always!)Second, the planet is telling us we need to shrink. We need to consume less. That will be at the expense of jobs. So – we should all get a living wage, and work a 30 hr weak. Guess what? that’s good for families! May reduce crime, mental illness, and other maladies of our over-stressed society.5. No more profiting from debt!We keep hearing that all this meltdown is due to people, companies, banks, taking on debt they could not afford. There’s a simple reason for this – debt makes money. However well it is regulated, the concept of usury as a means for profit is both morally wrong (I think it’s in the Bible), and economically shortsighted. The moment a company makes more money off people not paying their debt than paying it, it has a financial interest in creating unaffordable debt. Add to that sinking wages, reduced benefits, and rising healthcare costs, and you set up the economy to tank (next round 2020).So, as much as it is upsetting to see the fat cats at AIG get bonuses they really do not deserve let’s keep our focus on real issues:Real change is: a living wage for all; universal healthcare (no more debt due to medical costs); free, high quality public education (no more college loan debt); higher interest rates on debt as well as savings; put federal limits on interest rates; and tax the hell out of companies that profit from debt.
Last week, I blogged about a public forum to be held in Ypsilanti, Michigan to discuss the Stimulus Package, called "Where's All That Stimulus Money Going?" The event, sponsored by the OFA Coalition of Congressional Districts 7 & 15, was held last Sunday and was a big success. Below is our press release from the event.
Chris Savage
chrissavage123@sbcglobal.net
The Districts 7 & 15 Organizing for America (OFA) Coalition is sponsoring a public forum, this Sunday, March 22nd. Come help us fill the room for our Coalition's first Ypsi/Ann Arbor Community Forum: "Where's All That Stimulus Money Going?"
This is a community forum on on how we can make the Reinvestment Act work for Michigan and our communities! Amid frightening economic times, the Obama Administration's economic recovery plan is beginning to pump large amounts of much-needed investment into our state and region. Help us start making sure it gets spent quickly and well!
Community Forum: "Where's All That Stimulus Money Going?" Sunday evening, March 22nd, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.First Congregational United Church of Christ, 218 N. Adams St, Ypsilanti
There will be presentations on creating jobs, making college affordable and improving schools, reducing foreclosures, real improvements in public transportation, green energy and jobs, and good healthcare for everyone.State Representatives Alma Wheeler Smith and Rebekah Warren will answer questions about how Lansing can help us monitor the dollars. Let's keep the momentum going! For more information and to RSVP HERE. You may also call Tad Wysor at 734-883-3225
Chris Savagechrissavage123@sbcglobal.net
On Saturday, March 14, our group met at the Foggy Bottom Coffee House in Dexter, Michigan. At that very productive meeting, we developed our final mission statement draft, heard a proposal from Andrea to put out periodic one page information sheets on actions people can take to improve their environment, discussed putting together a new blog, and listened to a very comprehensive analysis of the Stimulus Package from a "green energy/green jobs" perspective. Details can be found in the minutes which can be found HERE.
The draft mission statement is now visible in the description for this group. Please have a look at it and send me your comments if you think changes should be made to improve it. The email address for this group is WashtenawCountyAreaGreenTeam@groups.barackobama.com. Sending an email to this address will send it to all members of the Green Team. Note: you must be a team member to use this email address. Comments are being received through Saturday, March 22. Thanks!
Chris
If you’re reading this now, chances are you’ve already heard dozens of pitches trying to get you to volunteer for the Obama campaign. If you’ve already volunteered - we thank you. This is a grassroots, “bottom-up” campaign, and your help is why we’ve been able to come this far. But, it’s not over yet.
Even if you’ve volunteered before - or if you’ve always wanted to help out but never had the time - today is the day! Since Barack announced his candidacy for president on May 2, 2007, everything we’ve done has been in preparation for today - which is why it’s so important to not give up now. We need your help! Sign up to help out today at a Campaign for Change Get out the vote location near you, the most important day of the election here.
Michigan! This is our moment; this is our time! Get out and vote - and then volunteer - and tonight, we’ll celebrate victory. Don’t delay, volunteer today!
John McCain's campaign has as recently as yesterday said that they believe that students won't turn out to vote. Today is our day to prove them wrong and show America that young voters do matter. Our opponent and the media believe that young voters won’t show up - that we don’t care about the election, and are too lazy, too unwilling, or too unmotivated to actually get out and vote.But today, we’ll prove them wrong.
Today is the day to turn the page on eight years of failed Bush policies that have seen our middle class shrink, economy worsen, and college move out of reach for more and more people. Today is the day to make your voice heard! What happens today will determine the direction we want our country to move in. Decades from now, your children will ask you what you did today. Do you want to be part of the moment that changed America - or do you want to stay home, and just hope for the best?
Our moment is now. Get out and vote - bring your roommate, your friends, anyone you can think of. After you vote, help us get out the vote on this critical day - sign up to help get out the vote on your campus today!
YOU'RE INVITED to theMichigan Democratic Party'sELECTION NIGHT EVENTat theDetroit Renaissance Center
Finish up canvass and phone bank shifts as the polls close and then join the Michigan Democratic Party to watch the election returns and celebrate the work we have done together to get out the vote for change.
Guests will include Governor Jennifer Granholm, Lt. Governor John Cherry, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Judge Diane Marie Hathaway, Speaker Andy Dillon, MDP Chair Mark Brewer.
