Time to gather the women and children, circle the wagons and batten down the hatches – we are in for a big one. You can bet that everything will hit the fan this time around. So -
Be afraid. Then, be more afraid because Jim Jordan and Bob Latta, Ohio 4th and 5th Congressional District Representatives, want you to be fearful that “cap-and-trade” in the Waxman-Markey Bill (The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009) will cost jobs, increase energy costs, constitute an energy tax and drive manufacturing plants overseas to counties with lower environmental regulations. In response, it appears that Jordan and Latta propose – nothing – nada – zilch – zippo - only that they have “beliefs” and “feelings” based on hack studies from think tanks and pseudo-scientific reports funded by oil and coal industries. Such leadership should create fear – a fear that these do nothing politicians will – do nothing.
The fact is every part of their beliefs and feelings depends on the continued illiteracy of their constituents or that most are just too lazy to read the legislative draft of The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Heck, if that is too much, one may just read the U.S. House of Representatives “Discussion Draft Summary” of the Act.
The Waxman-Markey “Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” is designed to create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance American energy independence and reduce global warming. The Act has four parts: (1) clean energy in fuels, vehicles and an efficient electrical grid; (2) the promotion of energy efficiency through all economic sectors like building, appliances; transportation and industry; (3) limits on the emission of heat-trapping pollutants that contribute to “global warming;” and (4) a transition provision that protects United States consumers and industries while promoting green energy jobs in the adjustment to a green – clean – energy economy.
Hum – reading the Act or U.S. House “Discussion Draft” one can only wonder what Jordan or Latta are using as an authoritative legislative reference for their beliefs and feelings. Their statements of Ohio jobs lost, relocated manufacturing plants, sky-rocketing energy costs and tables without food are unsubstantiated conclusive fear mongering about the choice of putting food on the table or paying energy bills. The very best thing each citizen can and should do is – READ THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFT.
The Jordan – Latta objection to the Waxman-Markey “Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009” that carbon taxes are better than cap and trade is just wrong. Paul Krugman, the 2008 Nobel Prize winner for Economics, states: “In principle, emission taxes and tradable emission permits are equally effective at limiting pollution. In practice, cap and trade has some major advantages, especially for achieving effective international cooperation.” Krugman: “The Perfect, the Good, the Planet” New York Times Op-Ed May 18, 2009. Waxman-Markey gives viable incentives for power industry polluters to reduce their emissions so they can sell excess permits issued by the government. The appeal for this is based on the fact that similar efforts have worked in the control of acid rain.
While Jordan and Latta believe that jobs will be lost. One must pause in quiet reflection to ponder what these legislative wizards have done to invite new clean energy jobs, or any jobs for that matter, into their districts. Nothing. The conclusion made that: “Any new jobs created will not even come close to compensating for jobs lost to this energy plan.” is mistaken. It is a conclusion made when doing nothing results in the same – nothing. It must be said that creating jobs requires action, strong and decisive action by entrepreneurs and business leaders who take action. There is no wallowing in the constraints of beliefs and feelings as those who see doing nothing as strong decisive action. Real business leaders share one great trait – they act.
If Jordan or Latta wish to be taken seriously perhaps they can seek to assist or simply foster establishing green energy jobs in the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts. There are profound and serious movements within major cities, on progressive college and university campuses and in schools to take steps toward greening their cities, campuses and schools. Perhaps the leaders of these movements have realized that doing nothing now will cost the citizens of Ohio and our country far more that working to build renewable energy sources and a smart electrical grid; build and renovate homes and businesses for greater energy efficiency; limit pollutants while protecting consumers and industry. Someone has to do this – sounds like – jobs.
The fact is that Jordan and Latta just do not get it. What they do know is that if you are afraid, you will need them to protect you. Who knows and they do not care from what – only that you react in fear. The protection we need is by demanding that we in the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts seek to lead in business, education, jobs and training necessary to build our economy, rebuild our businesses and refurbish our factories. At one time women did cut wood in Findlay, Ohio; then we discovered how to use our resources and abilities to compliment our communities, invite business and entrepreneurship. That time has come again in a new format. Fear can only guarantee our failure.
John F. Kostyo
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Look Over There!
On the counter as you entered our kitchen was a beautiful bone china cookie jar. It was a precious heirloom from my grandmother’s house. That cookie jar was even more precious when it was filled with my mother’s cookies. Of course, mom had rules that prohibited free cookie access. As a result, my sisters and I engaged in conspiratorial raids of that cookie jar.
The raids were well orchestrated collaborations with the single purpose of relieving the jar of its cookies. This included a location survey to determine the whereabouts of “mom.” Then one sister would distract “mom” while another sister or I raided the cookie jar. The distraction worked best when it completely encompassed my mother’s attention to provide sufficient time for a full cookie jar raid. When mom got close to the kitchen during a raid – the call line was: “Hey mom, look over there!” This made sure mom was looking anywhere but where the actual raid was taking place.
Newt Gingrich, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, GOP poet laureate Mike Huckabee, Michael Steele and the choir of Republican Pundits are on a cookie jar raid. Well, actually – they are more focused on the “Look over there!” part with a hope that we forget entirely about the cookies or jar. All they need to do is keep focus on the distraction – any distraction, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Whoever or whatever the distraction is – the answer Newt, John, Mitch, Mike, Michael and their minions offer is that it is not George W. Bush, Dick Cheney or anyone from the dishonored Bush Administration. Listen closely: “Look over there!” Anywhere! Forget the cookie jar.
Before we sold our souls to politics, political parties and rabid punditry, the United States was a democratic republic established by revolutionary founders under a Constitution. We lived in one nation under God who gave us moral strength in a home of the brave and land of the free. Our respect for “the rule of law” was a guiding light, a source of pride that blended with a sense of moral strength and patriotic furor. It was our defense of freedom, the blood of our founders, the greatest generation, our value for the rights of others, our respect for human dignity - all that made our country a land where laws and moral strength blended into a free and proud people. These are the actual cookies in the jar of democracy. Cookies so valued that we cannot live without them – even if we forget them for a moment.
Let’s deal with it straight up. Waterboarding is torture as a matter of fact and as a matter of law. There is no moral exemption. It is straight out illegal – a crime. It is a crime that does not survive the “good information” exemption. If you consider what someone may say during torture, truth appears secondary at best. It is a crime even when there may be some thought that torturing a terrorist who may be responsible for thousands of lost lives may be sold as morally just. It is not. This compromise cannot be accepted. There is no party excuse.
The point is we, the people of the United States, as a country that survives on the moral strength and blind justice of its laws and Constitution with no person above the law, cannot excuse torture. Nor can we protect those who chose to abandon our great history, our Constitution, our laws, our moral strength to allow torture. The choir of Republican Pundits are far more interested in politics than truth, the moral strength in the character of the American people or actual respect for our laws. If we keep listening, perhaps we will all end up just tossing our cookies. “Look over there!”
John F. Kostyo
The raids were well orchestrated collaborations with the single purpose of relieving the jar of its cookies. This included a location survey to determine the whereabouts of “mom.” Then one sister would distract “mom” while another sister or I raided the cookie jar. The distraction worked best when it completely encompassed my mother’s attention to provide sufficient time for a full cookie jar raid. When mom got close to the kitchen during a raid – the call line was: “Hey mom, look over there!” This made sure mom was looking anywhere but where the actual raid was taking place.
Newt Gingrich, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, GOP poet laureate Mike Huckabee, Michael Steele and the choir of Republican Pundits are on a cookie jar raid. Well, actually – they are more focused on the “Look over there!” part with a hope that we forget entirely about the cookies or jar. All they need to do is keep focus on the distraction – any distraction, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Whoever or whatever the distraction is – the answer Newt, John, Mitch, Mike, Michael and their minions offer is that it is not George W. Bush, Dick Cheney or anyone from the dishonored Bush Administration. Listen closely: “Look over there!” Anywhere! Forget the cookie jar.
Before we sold our souls to politics, political parties and rabid punditry, the United States was a democratic republic established by revolutionary founders under a Constitution. We lived in one nation under God who gave us moral strength in a home of the brave and land of the free. Our respect for “the rule of law” was a guiding light, a source of pride that blended with a sense of moral strength and patriotic furor. It was our defense of freedom, the blood of our founders, the greatest generation, our value for the rights of others, our respect for human dignity - all that made our country a land where laws and moral strength blended into a free and proud people. These are the actual cookies in the jar of democracy. Cookies so valued that we cannot live without them – even if we forget them for a moment.
Let’s deal with it straight up. Waterboarding is torture as a matter of fact and as a matter of law. There is no moral exemption. It is straight out illegal – a crime. It is a crime that does not survive the “good information” exemption. If you consider what someone may say during torture, truth appears secondary at best. It is a crime even when there may be some thought that torturing a terrorist who may be responsible for thousands of lost lives may be sold as morally just. It is not. This compromise cannot be accepted. There is no party excuse.
The point is we, the people of the United States, as a country that survives on the moral strength and blind justice of its laws and Constitution with no person above the law, cannot excuse torture. Nor can we protect those who chose to abandon our great history, our Constitution, our laws, our moral strength to allow torture. The choir of Republican Pundits are far more interested in politics than truth, the moral strength in the character of the American people or actual respect for our laws. If we keep listening, perhaps we will all end up just tossing our cookies. “Look over there!”
John F. Kostyo
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