It is a great new day for the United States, for the American People and for recognition that we have resumed a role of leadership in our world. Yes, this is in recognition that Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
With an invitation that you read Paul Krugman’s article in today’s New York Times entitled “The Uneducated American” we may expect to face again a question where American school students will be able to watch their President receive and deliver a Nobel Peace Prize address. Perhaps there will be another opportunity for local students to “op-out.”
Perhaps it is also time for schools to look for new educators and principals and superintendents. Is there little wonder why there may be consideration that those in favor of public education feel compelled to “op-out” of supporting schools that no longer support education?
This time, there is no excuse.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
On Tuesday, September 8, 2009, President Barack Obama will address American school children from a classroom at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. He will commend dedicated teachers, compliment supportive parents and charge each student with the responsibility for their studies while telling them that remaining in school will help each realize the opportunities of a good education. He even plans to end the classroom “pep talk” with “God Bless you, and God bless America.” This is a message that may be feared and restricted by school administrators, school board members and concerned parents.
Certainly it is a message to be feared when delivered by a man reared in a single parent household and supported by grandparents. With this background, Barack Obama studied sufficiently enough to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He was the president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. While his words and message may be lost on many educational leaders, most of whom may not fathom the academic rigor of a competitive university or law school, one may only wonder how many young people in our schools may study just a little more, work harder and seek to realize a greater part of that great evolution called the American Dream as the result of his words.
The word appalling should appear foremost in the Tuesday, September 8, 2009 lexicon of educational “leaders” who have dutifully followed the punditry of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and others who claim a victory for conservative America by forcing school districts to decline participation, offer an “opt out” or require “parental consent.” Beyond this, it is more important for conservative America to make a statement by keeping their children out of school or away from this message than allow a Democratic President to tell their children that working hard in school and scholarship will allow them to realize the benefits of a good education.
As school superintendents and educators sort between the apples and oranges drawn in comparisons from similar addresses by Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush that were included in the school curriculums at the time, it is readily apparent that an address to students given by Barack Obama is different. It is considerably different when cloaked in the verbal apology of words that seek to shelter our students from the potential threats of socialization and politicization that President Obama represents. It may not foster the correct image that some may want of an educated person.
At a time when our schools and universities face ever greater challenges to educate individuals for competition in a world economy, President Obama’s message of education is compromised in the convenient naiveté of school administrators. The world economy is blind to political convenience or the sheltered innocence so desired by protective policies. The goal of education for our schools and universities must be to inspire and allow each student to achieve the highest level of learning and accomplishment possible. The critical question continues to be whether our educators and school administrators have the fortitude of character, wisdom and vision to allow that potential. When an address to American school students by our President becomes subject to parental permission slips, the failure of character, wisdom and vision is not found in our children.
As Respectfully As Possible -
Certainly it is a message to be feared when delivered by a man reared in a single parent household and supported by grandparents. With this background, Barack Obama studied sufficiently enough to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. He was the president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. While his words and message may be lost on many educational leaders, most of whom may not fathom the academic rigor of a competitive university or law school, one may only wonder how many young people in our schools may study just a little more, work harder and seek to realize a greater part of that great evolution called the American Dream as the result of his words.
The word appalling should appear foremost in the Tuesday, September 8, 2009 lexicon of educational “leaders” who have dutifully followed the punditry of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and others who claim a victory for conservative America by forcing school districts to decline participation, offer an “opt out” or require “parental consent.” Beyond this, it is more important for conservative America to make a statement by keeping their children out of school or away from this message than allow a Democratic President to tell their children that working hard in school and scholarship will allow them to realize the benefits of a good education.
As school superintendents and educators sort between the apples and oranges drawn in comparisons from similar addresses by Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush that were included in the school curriculums at the time, it is readily apparent that an address to students given by Barack Obama is different. It is considerably different when cloaked in the verbal apology of words that seek to shelter our students from the potential threats of socialization and politicization that President Obama represents. It may not foster the correct image that some may want of an educated person.
At a time when our schools and universities face ever greater challenges to educate individuals for competition in a world economy, President Obama’s message of education is compromised in the convenient naiveté of school administrators. The world economy is blind to political convenience or the sheltered innocence so desired by protective policies. The goal of education for our schools and universities must be to inspire and allow each student to achieve the highest level of learning and accomplishment possible. The critical question continues to be whether our educators and school administrators have the fortitude of character, wisdom and vision to allow that potential. When an address to American school students by our President becomes subject to parental permission slips, the failure of character, wisdom and vision is not found in our children.
As Respectfully As Possible -
Saturday, July 11, 2009
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?
One must wonder how the suggestion that robust debate on critical issues is dependent on a well educated electorate entails a digression into pathological Pavlovian hyperbole. Let me be clear, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are an insult to Republicans and conservatives. Similarly, the engagement in abject idiocy as provided by the growling and barked responses of Mark P. Miller, Loren L. Pace, Lonnie H. Greer and Ryan C. McDonald are the actual plague that threatens critically necessary conservative thought and input into genuine political debate. The bottom line here is that no matter how insulting, reprehensible or ridiculous the attack dogs cannot help themselves.
Mr. Miller finds logical connections between Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the University of Virginia, the government of our founders, and agenda-driven science with the U.N.; a slur of his personal amusement in bumper stickers on foreign cars; innuendo about a control driven agenda; screaming or begging for an insurgent beheading and summary personal conclusions. More, Mr. Miller’s sub-literate meanderings fail to rise to the level of debate. It is possible that Mr. Miller missed his self-prescribed insurgent beheading and simply lobotomized himself.
Loren L. Pace engages in a diatribe of inconsistent references while begging the request for use of primary sources. Apparently, for Loren words like: “Democrat liberalism,” “leftists,” “secular progressives,” “socialistic, left-leaning indoctrination,” and “socialistic tendencies” have meaning beyond antiquated cold war jargon; although, such meanings are only found within his own edification. One must hope that the jargon is a substitute for carefully considered analysis. For Loren, this is considerably absent notwithstanding his extraneous appeals to unsubstantiated conclusions. Sorry Loren, you still missed the primary references, maybe best to stay in cold war politics or just look up ignoratio elenchi in your Latin dictionary.
An alternate dimension or parallel universe is embraced in the Rush and Sean fueled world of Lonnie Greer where the Outer Limits are alive and well at his house in Arcadia, Ohio. In these confines, Lonnie can witness the new socialist state rise from the pre-sophomoric rantings Hannity and Limbaugh. Lonnie is unique in imbecilic ability to accept the insights of two men who failed to complete a year of college against a graduate of Columbia University; a Harvard educated lawyer; President of Harvard Law Review, one of the most cited law reviews in the United States and a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. In this, he suggests that two men who have demonstrated no constitutional comprehension have greater insight than someone who actually read both the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution and graduated from an esteemed law school. Perhaps Lonnie should voice similar criticism of United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Articles Editor Vol. 77; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Editor for 1 year before transfer to Columbia Law School; Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Managing Editor for Vol. 92 and Justice Antonin Scalia, Notes Editor for Volume 73; but, that would just be perceived as absurd or patently stupid. It is far easier for Lonnie to make statements with no idea about what he is saying or restricting himself to facts verifiable in the real world. The return of Star Trek has allowed Lonnie to investigate strange new worlds - by himself. The best suggestion for Lonnie is to seek professional help, add more padding to his walls or volunteer for an interview with a Washington Post Reporter.
For Ryan C. McDonald, we must hope that he does rediscover actual conservatism. Perhaps he may do this by separating political and economic concepts. Present review of our United States government reveals that we continue to enjoy life within the framework of a constitutionally based democratic republic. We elect our representatives in public and popular elections. Socialism refers to a number of theories involving economic organizations of state or cooperative ownership. There is no evidence that the present administration has advocated any such economic alternatives. Private rights and ownership have been preserved even with the infusion of public funds to re-capitalize private enterprise. No gifts were made; although, it is possible that Mr. McDonald would desire significant economic and manufacturing interests fail to remain consistent with the actual failure of Reagan and Bush economics. If we may seek to reclaim our roots, perhaps we need to actually study the words, acts and writings that motivated our founders rather than engage in romantic reminisces of conservative mythology. John Hancock, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, among others, were outlawed revolutionaries and traitors who were subject to hanging by British soldiers. Good conservative roots there for you Ryan.
The challenge continues to be a duty for “We the People” to be responsible for our experience under our constitutional democratic republic, particularly now that it appears – the dogs are out. Here boys! Sit – roll over – beg. Good dogs – don’t bite.
Mr. Miller finds logical connections between Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the University of Virginia, the government of our founders, and agenda-driven science with the U.N.; a slur of his personal amusement in bumper stickers on foreign cars; innuendo about a control driven agenda; screaming or begging for an insurgent beheading and summary personal conclusions. More, Mr. Miller’s sub-literate meanderings fail to rise to the level of debate. It is possible that Mr. Miller missed his self-prescribed insurgent beheading and simply lobotomized himself.
Loren L. Pace engages in a diatribe of inconsistent references while begging the request for use of primary sources. Apparently, for Loren words like: “Democrat liberalism,” “leftists,” “secular progressives,” “socialistic, left-leaning indoctrination,” and “socialistic tendencies” have meaning beyond antiquated cold war jargon; although, such meanings are only found within his own edification. One must hope that the jargon is a substitute for carefully considered analysis. For Loren, this is considerably absent notwithstanding his extraneous appeals to unsubstantiated conclusions. Sorry Loren, you still missed the primary references, maybe best to stay in cold war politics or just look up ignoratio elenchi in your Latin dictionary.
An alternate dimension or parallel universe is embraced in the Rush and Sean fueled world of Lonnie Greer where the Outer Limits are alive and well at his house in Arcadia, Ohio. In these confines, Lonnie can witness the new socialist state rise from the pre-sophomoric rantings Hannity and Limbaugh. Lonnie is unique in imbecilic ability to accept the insights of two men who failed to complete a year of college against a graduate of Columbia University; a Harvard educated lawyer; President of Harvard Law Review, one of the most cited law reviews in the United States and a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. In this, he suggests that two men who have demonstrated no constitutional comprehension have greater insight than someone who actually read both the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution and graduated from an esteemed law school. Perhaps Lonnie should voice similar criticism of United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Articles Editor Vol. 77; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Editor for 1 year before transfer to Columbia Law School; Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Managing Editor for Vol. 92 and Justice Antonin Scalia, Notes Editor for Volume 73; but, that would just be perceived as absurd or patently stupid. It is far easier for Lonnie to make statements with no idea about what he is saying or restricting himself to facts verifiable in the real world. The return of Star Trek has allowed Lonnie to investigate strange new worlds - by himself. The best suggestion for Lonnie is to seek professional help, add more padding to his walls or volunteer for an interview with a Washington Post Reporter.
For Ryan C. McDonald, we must hope that he does rediscover actual conservatism. Perhaps he may do this by separating political and economic concepts. Present review of our United States government reveals that we continue to enjoy life within the framework of a constitutionally based democratic republic. We elect our representatives in public and popular elections. Socialism refers to a number of theories involving economic organizations of state or cooperative ownership. There is no evidence that the present administration has advocated any such economic alternatives. Private rights and ownership have been preserved even with the infusion of public funds to re-capitalize private enterprise. No gifts were made; although, it is possible that Mr. McDonald would desire significant economic and manufacturing interests fail to remain consistent with the actual failure of Reagan and Bush economics. If we may seek to reclaim our roots, perhaps we need to actually study the words, acts and writings that motivated our founders rather than engage in romantic reminisces of conservative mythology. John Hancock, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, among others, were outlawed revolutionaries and traitors who were subject to hanging by British soldiers. Good conservative roots there for you Ryan.
The challenge continues to be a duty for “We the People” to be responsible for our experience under our constitutional democratic republic, particularly now that it appears – the dogs are out. Here boys! Sit – roll over – beg. Good dogs – don’t bite.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dispelling the Myth
The results are in and its time that they are released to the public. Over the past 58 years, “The politics of Democratic presidents have produced more employment and output growth, benefiting poor and middle-class families” while “Republican presidents have tended to focus more on containing inflation, which has negligible effects on real income growth near the bottom of the income distribution but substantial effects at the top.” In addition, the average unemployment rate has averaged almost 2 percentage points less and GNP growth has increased over 1 percentage point more over the same 58 years under Democratic presidents compared to Republican ones. These findings are according to Princeton Economist Larry Bartels (a self proclaimed politically neutral observer who last voted for Regan) from his most recent analysis on the political economy which can be found in his new book Unequal Democracy.
More research by Bartels’s colleague Paul Krugman (a self proclaimed “progressive” whose ideals align with the current Democratic party but more so with the socioeconomic policies of FDR) indicates that since 1973 the top .01% of American’s have seen their incomes increase five times while the median inflation adjusted income of “working class” American’s has not statistically changed by any observable amount despite the fact that the average worker’s productivity has increased by 50%. This means that there has been absolutely no money trickling down from the rich to the poor over the past 40 plus years which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that supply side economics is a myth that was sold to wealthy businessmen who read slanted op-eds in the Wall Street Journal that appealed to their own biases and funded campaigns who in turn implemented policies benefiting their backers.
These facts are important today because it is likely - if not inevitable - that the economy will continue to slide for at least the entirety of President Obama’s first year in office, however it must be kept in mind that these failings are not due to his policies but the failed republican economic policies during the Bush Administration. So it is crucial that the majority of the American people continue to push for current democratic efforts to reinstate a stable welfare state and eliminate the tax breaks for the top 1% of Americans.
by Stephen J. Kostyo
More research by Bartels’s colleague Paul Krugman (a self proclaimed “progressive” whose ideals align with the current Democratic party but more so with the socioeconomic policies of FDR) indicates that since 1973 the top .01% of American’s have seen their incomes increase five times while the median inflation adjusted income of “working class” American’s has not statistically changed by any observable amount despite the fact that the average worker’s productivity has increased by 50%. This means that there has been absolutely no money trickling down from the rich to the poor over the past 40 plus years which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that supply side economics is a myth that was sold to wealthy businessmen who read slanted op-eds in the Wall Street Journal that appealed to their own biases and funded campaigns who in turn implemented policies benefiting their backers.
These facts are important today because it is likely - if not inevitable - that the economy will continue to slide for at least the entirety of President Obama’s first year in office, however it must be kept in mind that these failings are not due to his policies but the failed republican economic policies during the Bush Administration. So it is crucial that the majority of the American people continue to push for current democratic efforts to reinstate a stable welfare state and eliminate the tax breaks for the top 1% of Americans.
by Stephen J. Kostyo
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Robust Debate
There is good reason why the words “We the People” begin the Constitution of the United States. These words evidence the legitimacy of our government in a consent of and from the people governed. It is in this eloquence that we witness the democratic vision of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson in our constitutional democratic republic.
In the words “We the People” there is a critical and constant reminder that the responsibility of government begins with us. As a result, robust debate is not dependent on the media, present administration in Washington or Congress. The debate of critical issues that confront our community, our state and country begin with and depend on - us.
With the responsibility of citizenship, there is a duty vested in each and every citizen to seek, engage and pursue information necessary for robust debate. If we are to seek and find solutions to our present economic challenges; develop renewable alternatives to limited fossil fuel resources; reform our health care system to care for health and achieve the highest level of education possible for each person, then we must force ourselves to step beyond the dog-whistle political punditry of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others who offer unsubstantiated conclusions rather than solutions.
Reference to dog-whistle punditry is not a compliment. It is a frequently used device that seeks acceptance of assumed facts. The term also describes a litany of appeals to assumptions that fail any scrutiny under critical review. At the same time, all too many never question.
If probative thought is sought rather a Pavlovian response, then reference must be demanded for reports from the Congressional Research Service, Council of Economic Advisers; or primary source material. The singular challenging fact is the sources do not exist for the conclusions made by dog-whistle politicos.
For “We the People,” Thomas Jefferson envisioned a university plan so broad, liberal and modern to merit public support and tempt even those from great distances. Jefferson’s proposed university was a place of study at the highest level with the greatest of world renowned scholars. In this “We the People” finds renewed vitality. The success of dog-whistle pundits like Limbaugh and Hannity evidence a failure of “We the People” to live up to the vision of our founders.
Even for “dog-whistle” followers we must hope that the level of inquiry and comprehension may exceed marginal high school acumen and failed college profundity. At the very least, it must rise above success through bombastic self-promotion, situational disregard for truth, gender and sex based bias, homophobia and bigotry. Perhaps we may instill in our children a level of intellectual curiosity or basic ability to think so they may survive one or two college semesters before undertaking leadership of the Republican Party.
In the words “We the People” there is a critical and constant reminder that the responsibility of government begins with us. As a result, robust debate is not dependent on the media, present administration in Washington or Congress. The debate of critical issues that confront our community, our state and country begin with and depend on - us.
With the responsibility of citizenship, there is a duty vested in each and every citizen to seek, engage and pursue information necessary for robust debate. If we are to seek and find solutions to our present economic challenges; develop renewable alternatives to limited fossil fuel resources; reform our health care system to care for health and achieve the highest level of education possible for each person, then we must force ourselves to step beyond the dog-whistle political punditry of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others who offer unsubstantiated conclusions rather than solutions.
Reference to dog-whistle punditry is not a compliment. It is a frequently used device that seeks acceptance of assumed facts. The term also describes a litany of appeals to assumptions that fail any scrutiny under critical review. At the same time, all too many never question.
If probative thought is sought rather a Pavlovian response, then reference must be demanded for reports from the Congressional Research Service, Council of Economic Advisers; or primary source material. The singular challenging fact is the sources do not exist for the conclusions made by dog-whistle politicos.
For “We the People,” Thomas Jefferson envisioned a university plan so broad, liberal and modern to merit public support and tempt even those from great distances. Jefferson’s proposed university was a place of study at the highest level with the greatest of world renowned scholars. In this “We the People” finds renewed vitality. The success of dog-whistle pundits like Limbaugh and Hannity evidence a failure of “We the People” to live up to the vision of our founders.
Even for “dog-whistle” followers we must hope that the level of inquiry and comprehension may exceed marginal high school acumen and failed college profundity. At the very least, it must rise above success through bombastic self-promotion, situational disregard for truth, gender and sex based bias, homophobia and bigotry. Perhaps we may instill in our children a level of intellectual curiosity or basic ability to think so they may survive one or two college semesters before undertaking leadership of the Republican Party.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Fear Again
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
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
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
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Smell of Conservative Values
While growing up on Bell Avenue in Findlay, Ohio during the late 50’s and early 60’s, I witnessed difficult economic times and job layoffs. These were greeted with understanding neighbors borrowing sugar, a cup of flour and trading in children’s clothes. There was a time when the only money my parents had at the end of a month was enough to buy one Sundae at Diesch’s Bros. Ice Cream. It was wonderful. I once witnessed a dinner of Lake Erie perch exchanged for a few Old Dutch beers. Eventually the sugar, flour and clothes were paid back in one way or another and a mutual or shared responsibility was accepted. I believe this was repeated in many neighborhoods. It is what made where we lived then and grew up the very best place and the people there – neighbors.
It might be said that those were far simpler times. Then it seemed the worst thing that a kid could do was to hang from the cat walks at the old Producer’s Stock Yard on East Bigelow and fall into a big pile of whatever was piled up enough to fall into. Of course, by that point, there was no way to credibly deny where you were or what you were doing. You simply had to accept responsibility and fess up. A plea of excuses just did not work because the evidence of what you had fallen into was all too apparent.
A similar result occurs when Congressman Jim Jordan seeks to use the profound wisdom of Winston Churchill to obfuscate his shared responsibility with other Republicans for supporting years of pork spending, deregulatory duplicity and disastrous economic folly. It cannot be said that including billions of dollars in spending disclosed in alternate budgetary amounts, as done to hide Iraq war costs, contributed to a level of economic integrity consistent with our “first principles.” Equally, common sense consistent with our first principles tells us that it is schizophrenic to say that investment in local infrastructure makes sense for flood mitigation while supporting $40 Billion Dollars in stimulus cuts designated for municipal infrastructure improvements. Notwithstanding the denial of partisanship, Mr. Jordan and Congressional Republicans are using their re-found roots as born again conservatives - it is just – politics as usual – but we can smell the difference.
For those now between jobs due to layoffs, plant closings or just work slowdowns, the due time for our economy to return is yesterday not tomorrow. This was a responsibility we had entrusted through voting our conservative values. Our votes for Mr. Jordan are a mistake that we cannot afford to repeat. Congressman John Boehner has become an elected embarrassment. Unfortunately, many of those who espoused such conservative values lied or suffer selective recollection as it appears Mr. Jordan and House Minority Leader John Boehner are now forced to claim. It is wonderful to discuss free market economic theory and the use of tax cuts to achieve future prosperity. I invite tax incentives to promote investment and reward entrepreneurship. Yet a person who is not working and cannot find a job is not rewarded by another tax cut. The fact is that the Bush tax cuts hurt our economy and more cuts at this time will be even more disastrous according to Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Our first principles tell us that the billions of dollars pork’d out during years of undisciplined Congressional spending and purposeful market de-regulation are now the price tag left for “We the People.” If we are to invest again, let us invest our money in ourselves, re-building our communities from our infrastructure up, with flood mitigation, a re-engineered green energy grid and our schools for better educated children. That way some will have the integrity to abide by common sense or our first principles to admit when they have failed. Politicians like Jim Jordan and John Boehner can make any plea for excuses they want cloaked in the fragrant terms of fiscal responsibility; however, the smell remains from where they’ve been. Frankly, the smell of Republican swill is getting worse.
It might be said that those were far simpler times. Then it seemed the worst thing that a kid could do was to hang from the cat walks at the old Producer’s Stock Yard on East Bigelow and fall into a big pile of whatever was piled up enough to fall into. Of course, by that point, there was no way to credibly deny where you were or what you were doing. You simply had to accept responsibility and fess up. A plea of excuses just did not work because the evidence of what you had fallen into was all too apparent.
A similar result occurs when Congressman Jim Jordan seeks to use the profound wisdom of Winston Churchill to obfuscate his shared responsibility with other Republicans for supporting years of pork spending, deregulatory duplicity and disastrous economic folly. It cannot be said that including billions of dollars in spending disclosed in alternate budgetary amounts, as done to hide Iraq war costs, contributed to a level of economic integrity consistent with our “first principles.” Equally, common sense consistent with our first principles tells us that it is schizophrenic to say that investment in local infrastructure makes sense for flood mitigation while supporting $40 Billion Dollars in stimulus cuts designated for municipal infrastructure improvements. Notwithstanding the denial of partisanship, Mr. Jordan and Congressional Republicans are using their re-found roots as born again conservatives - it is just – politics as usual – but we can smell the difference.
For those now between jobs due to layoffs, plant closings or just work slowdowns, the due time for our economy to return is yesterday not tomorrow. This was a responsibility we had entrusted through voting our conservative values. Our votes for Mr. Jordan are a mistake that we cannot afford to repeat. Congressman John Boehner has become an elected embarrassment. Unfortunately, many of those who espoused such conservative values lied or suffer selective recollection as it appears Mr. Jordan and House Minority Leader John Boehner are now forced to claim. It is wonderful to discuss free market economic theory and the use of tax cuts to achieve future prosperity. I invite tax incentives to promote investment and reward entrepreneurship. Yet a person who is not working and cannot find a job is not rewarded by another tax cut. The fact is that the Bush tax cuts hurt our economy and more cuts at this time will be even more disastrous according to Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Our first principles tell us that the billions of dollars pork’d out during years of undisciplined Congressional spending and purposeful market de-regulation are now the price tag left for “We the People.” If we are to invest again, let us invest our money in ourselves, re-building our communities from our infrastructure up, with flood mitigation, a re-engineered green energy grid and our schools for better educated children. That way some will have the integrity to abide by common sense or our first principles to admit when they have failed. Politicians like Jim Jordan and John Boehner can make any plea for excuses they want cloaked in the fragrant terms of fiscal responsibility; however, the smell remains from where they’ve been. Frankly, the smell of Republican swill is getting worse.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Message of Hope
As I began traveling door to door for the Barack Obama campaign, meeting Americans who were undercut by our country’s failed economic policies, I realized how important it was that Obama’s proposals be implemented to give these people a chance to achieve the American Dream. Unfortunately, during the course of this election and sadly even after its conclusion, the editorial pages of The Courier have reflected the divisive and often false opinions existing in our city.
Instead of listening to Senator John McCain properly denounce unfounded rumors about Barack Obama being a Muslim, many in Findlay refused to believe. Many also refuse to believe that Democrats want to reduce the number of abortions because when Senator Obama released a plan to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in the United States, many of my fellow Pro-Life Obama supporters were considered “baby killers” by those in Findlay.
Then, little was said about John McCain’s plan to tax employer based health care as income and to comparatively insure 11.2 million fewer Americans; while Barack Obama’s proposal to lower the cost of health care premiums, with a provision allowing citizens to keep their current plans and doctors was equivocated to socialism.
And, while comprehensive reports indicated that not only would John McCain’s tax plan leave working middle class Findlay-ites paying more in taxes than under Obama’s plan, but eventually everyone would have to pay for the estimated 5.6 trillion more dollars John McCain’s economic plan (compared to Obama’s) would add to the national debt; opinions in Findlay stated that Obama would raise their taxes when his plan effectively reduced taxes for a majority of them.
Furthermore, the idea that “Barack Obama does not support Israel” is simply false. I recently attended the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Summit in Chicago where Barack Obama’s foreign policy advisor received a standing ovation from the most Pro-Israel audience you could imagine.
Let’s learn from our encounter with the Washington Post and construct opinions based on facts. And finally, let’s hope that President Obama will end the divisive partisanship evidenced in this paper’s recent opinions and reach across the aisle to serve a plurality of interests and restore our image as a world leader.
Stephen J. Kostyo
Instead of listening to Senator John McCain properly denounce unfounded rumors about Barack Obama being a Muslim, many in Findlay refused to believe. Many also refuse to believe that Democrats want to reduce the number of abortions because when Senator Obama released a plan to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies in the United States, many of my fellow Pro-Life Obama supporters were considered “baby killers” by those in Findlay.
Then, little was said about John McCain’s plan to tax employer based health care as income and to comparatively insure 11.2 million fewer Americans; while Barack Obama’s proposal to lower the cost of health care premiums, with a provision allowing citizens to keep their current plans and doctors was equivocated to socialism.
And, while comprehensive reports indicated that not only would John McCain’s tax plan leave working middle class Findlay-ites paying more in taxes than under Obama’s plan, but eventually everyone would have to pay for the estimated 5.6 trillion more dollars John McCain’s economic plan (compared to Obama’s) would add to the national debt; opinions in Findlay stated that Obama would raise their taxes when his plan effectively reduced taxes for a majority of them.
Furthermore, the idea that “Barack Obama does not support Israel” is simply false. I recently attended the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Summit in Chicago where Barack Obama’s foreign policy advisor received a standing ovation from the most Pro-Israel audience you could imagine.
Let’s learn from our encounter with the Washington Post and construct opinions based on facts. And finally, let’s hope that President Obama will end the divisive partisanship evidenced in this paper’s recent opinions and reach across the aisle to serve a plurality of interests and restore our image as a world leader.
Stephen J. Kostyo
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The New Ohio Economy - Green
As the State of Ohio continues to lose its once great business and skilled manufacturing base, little has been proposed by our leading politicos about directing Ohio toward the future. I suggest that we address this future by taking a leadership role in “green” economic initiatives and manufacturing. This can be accomplished on a local and state level by calling upon and supporting existing Ohio businesses to engage in a coordinated establishment for the production of “green energy” components. These components can be utilized throughout the United States and exported for greater environmental stewardship.
It may be suggested that a business capable of fabricating vehicle parts and accessories may readily be re-tooled for the production of components for wind turbines, solar panel grids or harness wave energies. Equally, a manufacturer of wiring harness for vehicles or aeronautic use may well adapt to wiring harnesses for other efficient energy conversions. Certainly these tasks will take the efforts of many people who will require a level of skill and pay beyond that of minimum wage. The addition of skilled workers and infusion of long term capital will substantially advance our local or state economies.
Reference can be made to fundamental economic models that demonstrate when there is an increase in technology such as a more reliable and less expensive form of energy, the relative wealth of the effected community increases; wages increase and often there is an increase in employment. Try to think of Findlay, Ohio in the days of the natural gas boom around 1885. The discovery of natural gas deposits let to national marketing efforts advertising free gass with business leaders trying to "boom" the town. It may be noted that during such times overall business productivity increases causing either an increase in building capital and an increase of skilled workers into the community. This is a business model that we should welcome because the benefits are plentiful and the investment gives the prospect for a profitable return to our community.
I suggest that the State of Ohio can use funds collected from its businesses to create the future for business in our state, namely: the approximate 15 Billion Dollar residual Workers’ Compensation Fund. While made less by a lack of earnings on rare coins, off-shore hedge funds and disastrous economic failures of the present administration, significant funds remain that can be loaned to manufacturers to re-tool and build the factories where the components of green energy around the world can find their home in northwestern Ohio.
Many of our families, parents or grandparents work the ground to support and provide security for their families. We too can we begin to create the foundation for the next green economy. It is time that we begin to build the industrial and manufacturing base that will support the individuals, families, our communities and our state with the economic and political security necessary to preserve and continue the freedoms we enjoy. Now, if we could just find a few politicos with the vision and fortitude to open this path, I believe we can build our future from the ground up through adaptation and innovation. It is time to re-vitalize Ohio.
It may be suggested that a business capable of fabricating vehicle parts and accessories may readily be re-tooled for the production of components for wind turbines, solar panel grids or harness wave energies. Equally, a manufacturer of wiring harness for vehicles or aeronautic use may well adapt to wiring harnesses for other efficient energy conversions. Certainly these tasks will take the efforts of many people who will require a level of skill and pay beyond that of minimum wage. The addition of skilled workers and infusion of long term capital will substantially advance our local or state economies.
Reference can be made to fundamental economic models that demonstrate when there is an increase in technology such as a more reliable and less expensive form of energy, the relative wealth of the effected community increases; wages increase and often there is an increase in employment. Try to think of Findlay, Ohio in the days of the natural gas boom around 1885. The discovery of natural gas deposits let to national marketing efforts advertising free gass with business leaders trying to "boom" the town. It may be noted that during such times overall business productivity increases causing either an increase in building capital and an increase of skilled workers into the community. This is a business model that we should welcome because the benefits are plentiful and the investment gives the prospect for a profitable return to our community.
I suggest that the State of Ohio can use funds collected from its businesses to create the future for business in our state, namely: the approximate 15 Billion Dollar residual Workers’ Compensation Fund. While made less by a lack of earnings on rare coins, off-shore hedge funds and disastrous economic failures of the present administration, significant funds remain that can be loaned to manufacturers to re-tool and build the factories where the components of green energy around the world can find their home in northwestern Ohio.
Many of our families, parents or grandparents work the ground to support and provide security for their families. We too can we begin to create the foundation for the next green economy. It is time that we begin to build the industrial and manufacturing base that will support the individuals, families, our communities and our state with the economic and political security necessary to preserve and continue the freedoms we enjoy. Now, if we could just find a few politicos with the vision and fortitude to open this path, I believe we can build our future from the ground up through adaptation and innovation. It is time to re-vitalize Ohio.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Efficient City and County Government
On the evening of September 24, 2008, George W. Bush stated the United States economy is in “a serious financial crisis.” To this he added “America could slip into a financial panic . . . More banks could fail, including some in your community. The stock market could drop even more . . . . And if you own a business or a farm, you would find it harder and more expensive to get credit. More businesses would close their doors, and millions of American could lose their jobs.” [President’s Address to Nation, 9:01 PM EST September 24, 2008].
On September 25, 2008, Washington Mutual (WaMu), the nation’s largest savings and loan was seized by federal regulators and brokered in an emergency sale to JPMorgan Chase. This is the biggest bank failure in the history of the world and a big wrench into the gears of free market economic theory.
So – on September 25, 2008, our visionary Commissioners found an infamous date to impose two “emergency” sales taxes on the citizens of Hancock County. County politicos cannot wait for new offices. And it must be stressed that a token part of the sales tax increase may go to flood mitigation. In what some may described as a “smart move” is revealed a – government first – mentality that places buildings before people. Those who question Commissioner vision are challenged to obtain and review audits. The pretense of an audit begs the question of actual leadership.
Perhaps it is time of for our county and city leaders to consider consolidating overlapping city and county departments to provide more cost effective and efficient services to the citizens of Findlay and Hancock County. It may be suggested that for far too long Ohio citizens have paid a tax premium to maintain an antiquated and redundant system of townships, villages, municipal corporations and county governments. It is possible to preserve the identity of political subdivisions without duplicating cost inefficiencies entailed in the preservation of overlapping departments and service providers.
The good people of our townships, villages, cities and county deserve an efficient delivery of services to preserve their roads, infrastructure and human service needs. It is possible to consolidate and save tax dollars while making consolidated departments more linear in service to citizens. The point is not that government should be run like a business. The point is that the way government is run is the business of people not the preservation of inefficient divisions that redundantly hinder the delivery of services to people.
On September 25, 2008, Washington Mutual (WaMu), the nation’s largest savings and loan was seized by federal regulators and brokered in an emergency sale to JPMorgan Chase. This is the biggest bank failure in the history of the world and a big wrench into the gears of free market economic theory.
So – on September 25, 2008, our visionary Commissioners found an infamous date to impose two “emergency” sales taxes on the citizens of Hancock County. County politicos cannot wait for new offices. And it must be stressed that a token part of the sales tax increase may go to flood mitigation. In what some may described as a “smart move” is revealed a – government first – mentality that places buildings before people. Those who question Commissioner vision are challenged to obtain and review audits. The pretense of an audit begs the question of actual leadership.
Perhaps it is time of for our county and city leaders to consider consolidating overlapping city and county departments to provide more cost effective and efficient services to the citizens of Findlay and Hancock County. It may be suggested that for far too long Ohio citizens have paid a tax premium to maintain an antiquated and redundant system of townships, villages, municipal corporations and county governments. It is possible to preserve the identity of political subdivisions without duplicating cost inefficiencies entailed in the preservation of overlapping departments and service providers.
The good people of our townships, villages, cities and county deserve an efficient delivery of services to preserve their roads, infrastructure and human service needs. It is possible to consolidate and save tax dollars while making consolidated departments more linear in service to citizens. The point is not that government should be run like a business. The point is that the way government is run is the business of people not the preservation of inefficient divisions that redundantly hinder the delivery of services to people.
Monday, September 29, 2008
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
The nature of our government established in The United States Constitution is always important and relevant. Of equal note is the fact that the form of government established by our Founders is and was truly remarkable.
I wish to suggest that our Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic. We enjoy an indivisible union of 50 sovereign states. We enjoy a democracy for the reason that people govern themselves. It is representative in that people choose elected officials by free and secret ballot. And of course, it is a republic because the government derives its power and legitimacy from the people governed, not a monarchy.
If we were to retrace the path of our founders, it might be discovered they understood the concept of “polis” or political things from the Greek city-state form of social organization. In the Platonic dialogues around 365 B.C. and Aristotle at about 322 B.C., Greek philosophers examined the conditions for people to take a rational and critical view of the relation between individual and collective society. Aristotle sought to inject “man” as a species of animal that possesses intelligence as found in collaborative groups to become a political animal. In the “polis” Aristotle insisted on political virtue and man-made laws that make up a constitution for the polis by using the word “politeia” which is the same word that Plato used in the title of his dialogue called the Republic.
In the course of that examination Aristotle and other philosophers noted that in the Greek city-states examined deliberations took place in face-to-face discussions among the people “demos.” Man-made laws “politeia” applied in city-states not ruled by monarchs. A republic, interchangeable with “politeia,” became a state where the people “demos” directly impact their government. Through man-made laws “politeia” the people “demos” ruled “kratos” themselves. Hence, people “demos” ruled “kratos” political organization “politeia” can be viewed as a demos + kratos (democratic) politeia (republic).
Our founders enjoyed the great virtue of classical studies that included Greek, Latin, Machiavelli’s The Prince, Grotius’ Law of War and Peace, Hobbes Leviathan, Locke’s Of Civil Government and some - The Bible. It is unfortunate that our Founders did not have the benefit of The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Julia Ward Howe 1861) or the Pledge of Allegiance (Francis Bellamy 1892) as their guide in 1787. Still, I have great faith that they realized what they were doing. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.
I wish to suggest that our Constitution establishes a federal democratic republic. We enjoy an indivisible union of 50 sovereign states. We enjoy a democracy for the reason that people govern themselves. It is representative in that people choose elected officials by free and secret ballot. And of course, it is a republic because the government derives its power and legitimacy from the people governed, not a monarchy.
If we were to retrace the path of our founders, it might be discovered they understood the concept of “polis” or political things from the Greek city-state form of social organization. In the Platonic dialogues around 365 B.C. and Aristotle at about 322 B.C., Greek philosophers examined the conditions for people to take a rational and critical view of the relation between individual and collective society. Aristotle sought to inject “man” as a species of animal that possesses intelligence as found in collaborative groups to become a political animal. In the “polis” Aristotle insisted on political virtue and man-made laws that make up a constitution for the polis by using the word “politeia” which is the same word that Plato used in the title of his dialogue called the Republic.
In the course of that examination Aristotle and other philosophers noted that in the Greek city-states examined deliberations took place in face-to-face discussions among the people “demos.” Man-made laws “politeia” applied in city-states not ruled by monarchs. A republic, interchangeable with “politeia,” became a state where the people “demos” directly impact their government. Through man-made laws “politeia” the people “demos” ruled “kratos” themselves. Hence, people “demos” ruled “kratos” political organization “politeia” can be viewed as a demos + kratos (democratic) politeia (republic).
Our founders enjoyed the great virtue of classical studies that included Greek, Latin, Machiavelli’s The Prince, Grotius’ Law of War and Peace, Hobbes Leviathan, Locke’s Of Civil Government and some - The Bible. It is unfortunate that our Founders did not have the benefit of The Battle Hymn of the Republic (Julia Ward Howe 1861) or the Pledge of Allegiance (Francis Bellamy 1892) as their guide in 1787. Still, I have great faith that they realized what they were doing. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.
Monday, September 15, 2008
We the People - Tax Time Again
Our founders chose the words “We the People . . .” to establish the foundation of our democratic republic. The word “we” refers equally to all people. Our founders believed that all government begins and remains with the people.
“We the People” are the foundation of government. Without this, those we elected would hold some power above us as the people governed. American Independence was declared and the American Revolution was fought to forever end the subjugation of people to the government. When any part of our government presumes a voice superior to the people governed, “we the people” have the obligation to raise our voices. This is called – Democracy.
It is proper to question the decisions of our elected few to use a sales tax increase to fund prospective budget shortfalls and buildings when the Labor Department reports 605,000 jobs lost in 2008 with serious losses in manufacturing, housing, finance and other economic sectors. At this time of record foreclosures, consumers may not be buying much when challenged to cope with increased costs for housing, food and gasoline. This is particularly true for many families, farmers and our seniors on fixed incomes. Yet our county government must be immune.
At a time of declining sales, a sales tax increase for buildings is unlikely to inspire a counter-cyclical increase in spending. More it is a distraction from focusing on the essentials necessary to serve the people of Findlay, Hancock County and those who live within the Blanchard River watershed. A tax cannot be accepted as a substitute for long term leadership.
Flood mitigation is a priority for the people of our community. The preservation of services is also essential. There are no easy solutions. There are responsible steps we can take as a community. I believe we must use these challenges to become a better, more unified community where we use our very best attributes to invite increased sales and revenues in Hancock County, Ohio.
I believe that we – the Findlay/Hancock County community - must so assemble and present our resources – including the lowest sales tax rates in Ohio – to make the City of Findlay and the wonderful villages in our County as the place where the people of our state come to shop - for less. Why not? This will increase sales tax revenues while keeping our taxes low. It depends on where “We the People” fit into the plan of democracy as viewed by our local politicos.
“We the People” are the foundation of government. Without this, those we elected would hold some power above us as the people governed. American Independence was declared and the American Revolution was fought to forever end the subjugation of people to the government. When any part of our government presumes a voice superior to the people governed, “we the people” have the obligation to raise our voices. This is called – Democracy.
It is proper to question the decisions of our elected few to use a sales tax increase to fund prospective budget shortfalls and buildings when the Labor Department reports 605,000 jobs lost in 2008 with serious losses in manufacturing, housing, finance and other economic sectors. At this time of record foreclosures, consumers may not be buying much when challenged to cope with increased costs for housing, food and gasoline. This is particularly true for many families, farmers and our seniors on fixed incomes. Yet our county government must be immune.
At a time of declining sales, a sales tax increase for buildings is unlikely to inspire a counter-cyclical increase in spending. More it is a distraction from focusing on the essentials necessary to serve the people of Findlay, Hancock County and those who live within the Blanchard River watershed. A tax cannot be accepted as a substitute for long term leadership.
Flood mitigation is a priority for the people of our community. The preservation of services is also essential. There are no easy solutions. There are responsible steps we can take as a community. I believe we must use these challenges to become a better, more unified community where we use our very best attributes to invite increased sales and revenues in Hancock County, Ohio.
I believe that we – the Findlay/Hancock County community - must so assemble and present our resources – including the lowest sales tax rates in Ohio – to make the City of Findlay and the wonderful villages in our County as the place where the people of our state come to shop - for less. Why not? This will increase sales tax revenues while keeping our taxes low. It depends on where “We the People” fit into the plan of democracy as viewed by our local politicos.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Ohio Deserves Better From Candidates
It is time we held political campaigns to principles consistent with our interests as the voting public. That is what we should expect of ourselves, but
Now, we know better. Through tactics xeroxed out of Karl Rove’s playbook, we have reminded ourselves that real politics is played upon the fears, prejudices, and the latent bigotry that shadows our past and threatens to condemn our future. On March 4, 2008, far too many Ohio votes were based on a politic of fear at 3 am; jobs lost through NAFTA and the fiction of executive leadership. We somehow mistake the direction of our fears and faults as the direction of leadership. In this, we are uncomfortably reminded that what is necessary to succeed politically is to call upon the perverse propensities of a negative campaign. In the aftermath, voters are left used rather than energized and renewed in a unity of patriotic vision. Of course, candidates move on.
There remains a part of our voting consciousness that derives pleasure in the toxic spew of politicos who may carelessly poison the great wellspring of a new generation inspired after years of irresponsible divisiveness. It is all too apparent that some politicians will do nearly anything to win a nomination even if an attack made now may be redirected more destructively in the fall. Ohio voters are challenged to find one meaningfully addressed issue in the wake of the all the appearances, speeches and challenges for substance that filled primary campaigns in the state. We lost the great ideals and optimism many once found in the 2008 Presidential campaigns. Once again, we have stripped away the thin veil of innocence held at the forefront of campaigns to revealed the truth that we are no more than what we may aspire to be and while we do, we can be made less by words. We are made less when reminded that we are at times the people we would wish not to be.
Is it not fair to ask who may have lost in the divisive attacks that so repulse parts of the electorate that they chose to vote against rather than for a candidate. We are promised that each and every one of us must now plan to be exposed to a “fuller vetting process.” Perhaps we in the electorate have been vetted enough and it is time to separate leadership from division, direction rather than destruction and vision from vetting. Must we now expect candidates to follow principles of attack as a substitute for political leadership. Politics without a continuous focus on solving issues becomes distorted into a stark reminder that dividing voters means victory. The politicos move on, promises are made and left without substance, and the voting electorate is left divided. We learn that politicos promise much, attack what is promised and solve nothing.
Perhaps we will have leadership again, the kind of leadership that seeks more actual jobs in Ohio not words that remind us of jobs lost; control of utility rate increases rather than the mere recognition of increased costs; support for our teachers and better education for our children; proposals for meaningful legislation to address the mounting tragedy of home foreclosures or programs that establish additional grants of funds to assure warmth for those who face ever harsher winter weather without heat. Is it possible to remember now whether these issues were addressed? Perhaps fear adds a level of warmth to a child of unemployed parents shivering without heat in a home subject to foreclosure. Perhaps we again need a leadership that can direct a unified political party and assist the legislature to focus on serving the people of this state rather than use them for the prurient purposes of political pandering. Perhaps we now need leaders less smeared by the remnants of divisive words silently endorsed with a healing brought by reaching out to others with open hands focused on service.
We must rise above the words and divisive manipulation of political candidates. We must rise above the threat of our own fears to live meaningful lives in service to our families, our communities and our country. It is shameful that we have to endure the message of our politicians and it is us who must now rise above it. Perhaps there is a thought that we will all just forget and consider politics as usual as – politics as usual. I chose to hope for a light in each of us that calls us to a higher aspiration. Would we not all be better people for it?
Now, we know better. Through tactics xeroxed out of Karl Rove’s playbook, we have reminded ourselves that real politics is played upon the fears, prejudices, and the latent bigotry that shadows our past and threatens to condemn our future. On March 4, 2008, far too many Ohio votes were based on a politic of fear at 3 am; jobs lost through NAFTA and the fiction of executive leadership. We somehow mistake the direction of our fears and faults as the direction of leadership. In this, we are uncomfortably reminded that what is necessary to succeed politically is to call upon the perverse propensities of a negative campaign. In the aftermath, voters are left used rather than energized and renewed in a unity of patriotic vision. Of course, candidates move on.
There remains a part of our voting consciousness that derives pleasure in the toxic spew of politicos who may carelessly poison the great wellspring of a new generation inspired after years of irresponsible divisiveness. It is all too apparent that some politicians will do nearly anything to win a nomination even if an attack made now may be redirected more destructively in the fall. Ohio voters are challenged to find one meaningfully addressed issue in the wake of the all the appearances, speeches and challenges for substance that filled primary campaigns in the state. We lost the great ideals and optimism many once found in the 2008 Presidential campaigns. Once again, we have stripped away the thin veil of innocence held at the forefront of campaigns to revealed the truth that we are no more than what we may aspire to be and while we do, we can be made less by words. We are made less when reminded that we are at times the people we would wish not to be.
Is it not fair to ask who may have lost in the divisive attacks that so repulse parts of the electorate that they chose to vote against rather than for a candidate. We are promised that each and every one of us must now plan to be exposed to a “fuller vetting process.” Perhaps we in the electorate have been vetted enough and it is time to separate leadership from division, direction rather than destruction and vision from vetting. Must we now expect candidates to follow principles of attack as a substitute for political leadership. Politics without a continuous focus on solving issues becomes distorted into a stark reminder that dividing voters means victory. The politicos move on, promises are made and left without substance, and the voting electorate is left divided. We learn that politicos promise much, attack what is promised and solve nothing.
Perhaps we will have leadership again, the kind of leadership that seeks more actual jobs in Ohio not words that remind us of jobs lost; control of utility rate increases rather than the mere recognition of increased costs; support for our teachers and better education for our children; proposals for meaningful legislation to address the mounting tragedy of home foreclosures or programs that establish additional grants of funds to assure warmth for those who face ever harsher winter weather without heat. Is it possible to remember now whether these issues were addressed? Perhaps fear adds a level of warmth to a child of unemployed parents shivering without heat in a home subject to foreclosure. Perhaps we again need a leadership that can direct a unified political party and assist the legislature to focus on serving the people of this state rather than use them for the prurient purposes of political pandering. Perhaps we now need leaders less smeared by the remnants of divisive words silently endorsed with a healing brought by reaching out to others with open hands focused on service.
We must rise above the words and divisive manipulation of political candidates. We must rise above the threat of our own fears to live meaningful lives in service to our families, our communities and our country. It is shameful that we have to endure the message of our politicians and it is us who must now rise above it. Perhaps there is a thought that we will all just forget and consider politics as usual as – politics as usual. I chose to hope for a light in each of us that calls us to a higher aspiration. Would we not all be better people for it?
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Stephen Kostyo - Obama Campaign Work
Senator Barack Obama first inspired me, like many others, through his genuine charisma and great vision for the future of our country. This motivated me to study his policies and plans for our future. I enthusiastically saw the vision of what we can do for our country through his leadership. I then volunteered to help with his campaign in South Carolina over my winter break from college. While in South Carolina, other Obama volunteers, who included people of every nationality, creed and economic background, welcomed me and we became a great team.
At the Charleston Obama office, people volunteered themselves creating an energetic force of unity and purpose. The office included a very religious woman making phone calls from the front; a man who had flown in from Germany sealing envelopes for mailings; a young black man telling others about what brought him to volunteer; an old white man who came in at first to make a financial contribution; and a young French woman who spoke very little English was making posters. All as a blend of unity asking others to join in supporting Barack Obama’s Campaign.
While walking through Charleston handing out Obama campaign literature, I encountered a group of four older men on a rather run down street corner who stopped me and made sure they signed supporter cards. At the same time, they shared with me the stories of their family roots. On the other end of the scale, was a wealthy family with a long history of military service to our country and who took in volunteers like me with warm hospitality. All to support their friend, Barack Obama.
Now at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, I am part of the next chapter of the Obama Campaign. We have registered record numbers of students to vote in the primary on March 4, many have already voted. I am a witness to the fact that Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign is more than “just words.” For me and many, many others, it is a new and strong awakening of our American Spirit. I invite you to join me on March 4 to restore our American values by voting for Barack Obama. Yes We Can!
At the Charleston Obama office, people volunteered themselves creating an energetic force of unity and purpose. The office included a very religious woman making phone calls from the front; a man who had flown in from Germany sealing envelopes for mailings; a young black man telling others about what brought him to volunteer; an old white man who came in at first to make a financial contribution; and a young French woman who spoke very little English was making posters. All as a blend of unity asking others to join in supporting Barack Obama’s Campaign.
While walking through Charleston handing out Obama campaign literature, I encountered a group of four older men on a rather run down street corner who stopped me and made sure they signed supporter cards. At the same time, they shared with me the stories of their family roots. On the other end of the scale, was a wealthy family with a long history of military service to our country and who took in volunteers like me with warm hospitality. All to support their friend, Barack Obama.
Now at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, I am part of the next chapter of the Obama Campaign. We have registered record numbers of students to vote in the primary on March 4, many have already voted. I am a witness to the fact that Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign is more than “just words.” For me and many, many others, it is a new and strong awakening of our American Spirit. I invite you to join me on March 4 to restore our American values by voting for Barack Obama. Yes We Can!
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Democratic Visions
In a grotesque display of political pandering, Cliff Hite used the December 7 Republican luncheon to reveal the pretense of his purpose as our State Representative, raising money. The question each voter must ask themselves is how this perversion of our democratic vision results in representing people living in Alger, Dunkirk, Findlay, Kenton, New Knoxville, Ada, Fostoria, Forest and the many towns and villages between. It does not.
On the very same page that touted Hite’s rantings, The Courier reported that Ohio leads the nation in home foreclosures. Perhaps Mr. Hite believes it is appropriate to celebrate politics and fund raising while the Republican legislature buries its collective head from the results of its leadership.
Perhaps Mr. Hite could responsibly propose a plan where funds held for investment by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and other Ohio state agencies – money from Ohio for Ohioans – is re-invested to support Ohio home ownership. If Ohio is to return to long term economic stability, that stability must start at the kitchen table for all Ohio citizens.
Perhaps Mr. Hite could evidence his leadership in efforts to reduce our taxes by proposing a reduction in state taxes added to each gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel. This may help families and fixed income seniors who save every penny to make ends meet to better make ends meet. It may also help family farmers, family farms and those engaged in trucking. In this way Mr. Hite could pay more attention to reducing taxes for living people rather than bantering about eliminating “the death tax.” It seems those living may appreciate the reduction more.
Through the vast reaches of his insightful leadership, perhaps Mr. Hite could team with U.S. Representative Jordan to spearhead a comprehensive plan spanning Wyandot, Hancock and Putnam Counties to control flooding of the Blanchard River. This would preserve the prospective investment of $90,000,000 in a new Findlay business sector. It might also spare the presently existing business district and those living in the flood zone from many more millions in property losses from another flood. Then again, it might be helpful if both representatives invested greater effort in pursuing funds to help people still trying to recover from the August flood and government red tape.
The fact there are so many possibilities that Mr. Hite cannot envision makes his pandering for money all the more disconcerting. Perhaps if he found a way to serve the needs of people living in the 76th District, his service alone would merit the financial reward he demands. For some, it may come down to money; for others, it matters more what can be done for people first.
On the very same page that touted Hite’s rantings, The Courier reported that Ohio leads the nation in home foreclosures. Perhaps Mr. Hite believes it is appropriate to celebrate politics and fund raising while the Republican legislature buries its collective head from the results of its leadership.
Perhaps Mr. Hite could responsibly propose a plan where funds held for investment by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and other Ohio state agencies – money from Ohio for Ohioans – is re-invested to support Ohio home ownership. If Ohio is to return to long term economic stability, that stability must start at the kitchen table for all Ohio citizens.
Perhaps Mr. Hite could evidence his leadership in efforts to reduce our taxes by proposing a reduction in state taxes added to each gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel. This may help families and fixed income seniors who save every penny to make ends meet to better make ends meet. It may also help family farmers, family farms and those engaged in trucking. In this way Mr. Hite could pay more attention to reducing taxes for living people rather than bantering about eliminating “the death tax.” It seems those living may appreciate the reduction more.
Through the vast reaches of his insightful leadership, perhaps Mr. Hite could team with U.S. Representative Jordan to spearhead a comprehensive plan spanning Wyandot, Hancock and Putnam Counties to control flooding of the Blanchard River. This would preserve the prospective investment of $90,000,000 in a new Findlay business sector. It might also spare the presently existing business district and those living in the flood zone from many more millions in property losses from another flood. Then again, it might be helpful if both representatives invested greater effort in pursuing funds to help people still trying to recover from the August flood and government red tape.
The fact there are so many possibilities that Mr. Hite cannot envision makes his pandering for money all the more disconcerting. Perhaps if he found a way to serve the needs of people living in the 76th District, his service alone would merit the financial reward he demands. For some, it may come down to money; for others, it matters more what can be done for people first.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Global Warming - with Stephen J. Kostyo
The fact the citizens of planet earth are emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere at an alarming rate are now beyond valid dispute. The Noble Prize awarded Al Gore and a group of highly respected scientists is considerate recognition that global warming is a planetary emergency that demands our attention and action. The continued burning of coal and natural gases contributes to global warming, depletes our natural recourses and results in the dependence of the United States on other nations for scarce energy resources. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases make breathing harmful in big cities and will jeopardize our living environments to an even greater extent unless we immediately change our current energy dependent lifestyles.
The issues of reducing greenhouse gases and global climate change were the primary focus of The Kyoto Protocol. This is a treaty negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997. In form, it is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change where countries that ratify the protocol commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emission of the gases. The treaty expires in 2012. Talks have begun on a future treaty to succeed it. Unfortunately, the United States has not ratified this treaty.
The primary reason the United States has failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol must be attributed to the well funded realm of junk science. Critically deficient pseudo-scientific garbage concocted by scientists for sale, the term “junk science” is used to describe the use of these sophistic “studies” that claim to challenge or obfuscate the facts and causes of global warming. It is well established that energy companies have invested millions of dollars in such studies with the singular purpose of confusing the general public. In ultimate terms, this investment sacrifices truth for short term gains recognized in reduced oversight and regulation. In other words, the public good is sacrificed for private gain.
The Kyoto Protocol accomplished the goal of pinpointing the threat of chlorofluorocarbon emissions around the world. It showed that when a global problem arises we can take care of it. Unfortunately, neoconservative political influences in the United States have prevented ratification and compliance with Kyoto’s caps on carbon dioxide emissions. Fortunately, many cities and states have implemented Kyoto’s standards and we are beginning to see uniform collaboration to address this crisis. An effective way to stop the increase of greenhouse gasses is to hold companies who emit the greenhouse gasses accountable. There are large public companies that have established policies to cutting emissions, lower waste and recycle materials while saving money in the process. Progressive energy saving and recycling plans as those employed in many states set the example for other states and companies to follow.
Some people may not conserve energy in small amounts because they do not believe their efforts are worthwhile. It must be recognized that every action makes a difference and there are plenty of opportunities. For example, I recently noticed there were no recycling containers in McDonalds’ restaurants, so I simply carried my recyclable trash back to my dorm where it could be recycled. Energy conservation is as easy as adjusting the thermostat up or down two degrees depending on the season. If this is done consistently, these small measures would save vast amounts of resources and energy. The great result about conserving resources is that nearly all the time simple conservations save money. In fact, almost every family could save money if they knew how to operate their homes more energy efficiently.
By purchasing slightly more expensive energy efficient light bulbs home owners may save money in the long run and reduce their harmful emissions. Stereotypically, we believe that big coal burning industries are the main contributors to global warming, when actually fluorescent light bulbs in homes combine to produce as many greenhouse gasses as factories. Imagine all the phone books, junk mail, credit reports, and other items that can accessed electronically without actually using paper and eliminated. As a public, we need to inform ourselves about these measures among others that they can implement in everyday life to make a significant difference. Conservation can be found in simple things like not letting the water facet run while brushing your teeth saving water now essential to parts of our country that never before had such concerns. It is a matter of recognition and effort.
The effects of global warming are more far reaching than extreme storms, loss of land, and loss of wildlife; the main concern is for our fellow human beings. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all people are created equal.” As a nation we must also evolve as a people who work to advance this concept. Conservation allows more people to enjoy the earth’s resources equally.
It is time we make the concerted effort. The world will not end in our lifetime even if we do not change the course of past actions. At the same time, we should take the responsibility to promote a better quality of life for one another. We cannot continue to ignore caring about the environment. There is too much progress that can be made and every little bit does count. We can start a new era where global warming refers to our hearts instead of our environment.
This week, try to organize more people to make small concerted efforts to improve the environment and conserve our resources. It may simply be taking a responsible role in recycling. It starts with your decision to save the essential resources for living so everyone will have the chance to live in a healthier world climate. The world is what you do.
The issues of reducing greenhouse gases and global climate change were the primary focus of The Kyoto Protocol. This is a treaty negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997. In form, it is an agreement made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change where countries that ratify the protocol commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emission of the gases. The treaty expires in 2012. Talks have begun on a future treaty to succeed it. Unfortunately, the United States has not ratified this treaty.
The primary reason the United States has failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol must be attributed to the well funded realm of junk science. Critically deficient pseudo-scientific garbage concocted by scientists for sale, the term “junk science” is used to describe the use of these sophistic “studies” that claim to challenge or obfuscate the facts and causes of global warming. It is well established that energy companies have invested millions of dollars in such studies with the singular purpose of confusing the general public. In ultimate terms, this investment sacrifices truth for short term gains recognized in reduced oversight and regulation. In other words, the public good is sacrificed for private gain.
The Kyoto Protocol accomplished the goal of pinpointing the threat of chlorofluorocarbon emissions around the world. It showed that when a global problem arises we can take care of it. Unfortunately, neoconservative political influences in the United States have prevented ratification and compliance with Kyoto’s caps on carbon dioxide emissions. Fortunately, many cities and states have implemented Kyoto’s standards and we are beginning to see uniform collaboration to address this crisis. An effective way to stop the increase of greenhouse gasses is to hold companies who emit the greenhouse gasses accountable. There are large public companies that have established policies to cutting emissions, lower waste and recycle materials while saving money in the process. Progressive energy saving and recycling plans as those employed in many states set the example for other states and companies to follow.
Some people may not conserve energy in small amounts because they do not believe their efforts are worthwhile. It must be recognized that every action makes a difference and there are plenty of opportunities. For example, I recently noticed there were no recycling containers in McDonalds’ restaurants, so I simply carried my recyclable trash back to my dorm where it could be recycled. Energy conservation is as easy as adjusting the thermostat up or down two degrees depending on the season. If this is done consistently, these small measures would save vast amounts of resources and energy. The great result about conserving resources is that nearly all the time simple conservations save money. In fact, almost every family could save money if they knew how to operate their homes more energy efficiently.
By purchasing slightly more expensive energy efficient light bulbs home owners may save money in the long run and reduce their harmful emissions. Stereotypically, we believe that big coal burning industries are the main contributors to global warming, when actually fluorescent light bulbs in homes combine to produce as many greenhouse gasses as factories. Imagine all the phone books, junk mail, credit reports, and other items that can accessed electronically without actually using paper and eliminated. As a public, we need to inform ourselves about these measures among others that they can implement in everyday life to make a significant difference. Conservation can be found in simple things like not letting the water facet run while brushing your teeth saving water now essential to parts of our country that never before had such concerns. It is a matter of recognition and effort.
The effects of global warming are more far reaching than extreme storms, loss of land, and loss of wildlife; the main concern is for our fellow human beings. Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “all people are created equal.” As a nation we must also evolve as a people who work to advance this concept. Conservation allows more people to enjoy the earth’s resources equally.
It is time we make the concerted effort. The world will not end in our lifetime even if we do not change the course of past actions. At the same time, we should take the responsibility to promote a better quality of life for one another. We cannot continue to ignore caring about the environment. There is too much progress that can be made and every little bit does count. We can start a new era where global warming refers to our hearts instead of our environment.
This week, try to organize more people to make small concerted efforts to improve the environment and conserve our resources. It may simply be taking a responsible role in recycling. It starts with your decision to save the essential resources for living so everyone will have the chance to live in a healthier world climate. The world is what you do.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
SCHIP - Caring for Others
The saying goes: “Be nice to your children because they will choose your rest home.” I suggest we should pay greater attention to the health care of our children because as a generation, our care will pass to them. Our care for others is not some postulated political equation. With parents caring for children, as with parents caring for parents, there is a deep and abiding moral value found in our consideration and care for others. I believe this is an American value.
When our care for others, particularly low-income children living in the United States without health coverage, is combined with the highly charged realm of political hyperbole we all too often end up focusing on the jargon. Of course, this refers to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Possibly, rather than continue its bantered politico jousting, Congress may find that by changing the underlying funding mechanism for the program, SCHIP may continue to serve its original purpose covering the health care costs for low-income children while addressing the vast increase in the number and needs of low-income children. Much to their detriment, low-income children have not learned the socio-philosophical economic restraints to government referenced health care. These children just need medical care.
In its original 1997 form, SCHIP was enacted as a block grant program with a fixed annual funding level. The purpose of SCHIP was to help states pay for health coverage for uninsured children in families whose income is above levels that would allow them to be eligible for the state’s Medicaid programs as of March 31, 1997.
SCHIP has been a success; however, as a block grant program, it fails by design to address the escalating costs and needs of eligible low-income children. Congress did not anticipate the dramatic increase in health care costs and children in need over the last decade. At some point, SCHIP must be considered in the larger answer that our country must find to address our health care systems.
Common sense might suggest that if we responsibly address the health needs of low-income children now, these children may become healthier adults costing our health care systems less. Then they may contribute to our economic system; and, pay the taxes necessary to fund the Bush Administration’s adventure in Iraq and immense increase in our debt to China.
When our care for others, particularly low-income children living in the United States without health coverage, is combined with the highly charged realm of political hyperbole we all too often end up focusing on the jargon. Of course, this refers to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Possibly, rather than continue its bantered politico jousting, Congress may find that by changing the underlying funding mechanism for the program, SCHIP may continue to serve its original purpose covering the health care costs for low-income children while addressing the vast increase in the number and needs of low-income children. Much to their detriment, low-income children have not learned the socio-philosophical economic restraints to government referenced health care. These children just need medical care.
In its original 1997 form, SCHIP was enacted as a block grant program with a fixed annual funding level. The purpose of SCHIP was to help states pay for health coverage for uninsured children in families whose income is above levels that would allow them to be eligible for the state’s Medicaid programs as of March 31, 1997.
SCHIP has been a success; however, as a block grant program, it fails by design to address the escalating costs and needs of eligible low-income children. Congress did not anticipate the dramatic increase in health care costs and children in need over the last decade. At some point, SCHIP must be considered in the larger answer that our country must find to address our health care systems.
Common sense might suggest that if we responsibly address the health needs of low-income children now, these children may become healthier adults costing our health care systems less. Then they may contribute to our economic system; and, pay the taxes necessary to fund the Bush Administration’s adventure in Iraq and immense increase in our debt to China.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
National Security at Home
Our “national security” is a critical part of our daily concerns. The words “national security” must be more than political jargon to solicit our patriotic consent to foreign military actions rather than address the actual security of American citizens living in the United States. It is simple foolishness to believe the security of our nation is singularly dependent on evasively defined military missions in Middle East countries. Our “national security” is compromised by the failure of Congress and the Administration to responsibly identify and address threats to our individual security within the United States or effectively enforce our immigration laws.
The question we must ask is whether our “security” focused leaders have taken sufficient steps to prevent 19 more terrorists from entering our country and engaging in another attack. The 19 al Qaeda operatives had passports, visas and at least two were traceable from State Department INS TIPOFF watch lists. Each of the 19 operatives violated immigration laws while in the United States. None of these 19 operatives were stopped.
Each day thousands of illegal aliens enter the United States from Mexico or Canada without passports or visas. An estimated 12 million or more illegal aliens now living and work in the United States. In this number there is a subtle source for terror. “Terror” as in the execution of three Newark college students, forced to kneel against a wall and shot at close range by Jose Carranza, an illegal alien from Peru. The three students were victimized by the failure of state and federal tracking even after Carranza was indicted twice this year on 31 counts surrounding the sexual assault of a child and a bar fight. In New Jersey local authorities are not required to check immigration status of upon criminal arrests. What happened to national security for these three students?
Within the past week, the United States opened its borders to allow Mexican-domiciled trucks full access to our national highways. We must wonder where the priority of our national security is found in this action. Is this simply a policy choice of cheap goods and labor over the security of United States citizens? With millions of illegal aliens violating our borders each year from Mexico, allowing Mexican-domiciled trucks within our borders will merely provide the prospective for more comfortable travel accommodations.
Without control of our borders, the concept of national security is a political illusion. Without strong and comprehensive programs to secure our national borders, engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan will serve only as a distraction. It is unfortunate that our attention spans do not permit us to pay attention to illegal aliens within our country as potential terrorists.
The question we must ask is whether our “security” focused leaders have taken sufficient steps to prevent 19 more terrorists from entering our country and engaging in another attack. The 19 al Qaeda operatives had passports, visas and at least two were traceable from State Department INS TIPOFF watch lists. Each of the 19 operatives violated immigration laws while in the United States. None of these 19 operatives were stopped.
Each day thousands of illegal aliens enter the United States from Mexico or Canada without passports or visas. An estimated 12 million or more illegal aliens now living and work in the United States. In this number there is a subtle source for terror. “Terror” as in the execution of three Newark college students, forced to kneel against a wall and shot at close range by Jose Carranza, an illegal alien from Peru. The three students were victimized by the failure of state and federal tracking even after Carranza was indicted twice this year on 31 counts surrounding the sexual assault of a child and a bar fight. In New Jersey local authorities are not required to check immigration status of upon criminal arrests. What happened to national security for these three students?
Within the past week, the United States opened its borders to allow Mexican-domiciled trucks full access to our national highways. We must wonder where the priority of our national security is found in this action. Is this simply a policy choice of cheap goods and labor over the security of United States citizens? With millions of illegal aliens violating our borders each year from Mexico, allowing Mexican-domiciled trucks within our borders will merely provide the prospective for more comfortable travel accommodations.
Without control of our borders, the concept of national security is a political illusion. Without strong and comprehensive programs to secure our national borders, engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan will serve only as a distraction. It is unfortunate that our attention spans do not permit us to pay attention to illegal aliens within our country as potential terrorists.
Friday, August 10, 2007
We the People . . .
With the prospect that the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis will result in months of investigation and controversy, we are uncomfortably reminded that we live in a democratic republic. This means that there is an even more uncomfortable answer to the responsibility of possible design, inspection and repair failures in our aging national infrastructure of which the I-35 Bridge is a catastrophic example. The answer is not found in an individual politician or political party; worse, the answer is in the starting point of our democracy – “We the People."
In the Preamble of the United States Constitution are the words “We the People of the United States . . .” Through these simple words the purpose and parameters of our government are established in the Constitution. It is “We the People” who form our government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty. While politicos bask in the clouded realms of verbal sophistry, legislative tweaking and analytic obfuscation overshadowed by hours of commentary, pseudo-expert explanations, theorizations, debate and the morass of fault finding, “We the People” suffer the final consequence of representative failures. When any part of our representative government fails us, we fail ourselves. “We the People” are responsible for our democracy.
It is unfortunate that events as the I-35 bridge collapse blur among the many other concerns and failures to address critical issues such as the health care, education, economic and security interests of Americans. In a democratic republic, we trust that our values are invested to serve the needs of the people; however, when there is a failure to address the formative basis of our government, the failure is our own if we are to accept responsibility in our democracy. We must accept the responsible to preserve our democracy by engagement in the democratic process.
Our elected representatives are responsible to “We the People.” If the democracy we share does not match the democracy that serves us, we can only look to ourselves for the answer. “We the People” must come first in the thought of democratic government. For far too long our politics have been given priority over our interests, but then we are responsible for that as well.
In the Preamble of the United States Constitution are the words “We the People of the United States . . .” Through these simple words the purpose and parameters of our government are established in the Constitution. It is “We the People” who form our government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty. While politicos bask in the clouded realms of verbal sophistry, legislative tweaking and analytic obfuscation overshadowed by hours of commentary, pseudo-expert explanations, theorizations, debate and the morass of fault finding, “We the People” suffer the final consequence of representative failures. When any part of our representative government fails us, we fail ourselves. “We the People” are responsible for our democracy.
It is unfortunate that events as the I-35 bridge collapse blur among the many other concerns and failures to address critical issues such as the health care, education, economic and security interests of Americans. In a democratic republic, we trust that our values are invested to serve the needs of the people; however, when there is a failure to address the formative basis of our government, the failure is our own if we are to accept responsibility in our democracy. We must accept the responsible to preserve our democracy by engagement in the democratic process.
Our elected representatives are responsible to “We the People.” If the democracy we share does not match the democracy that serves us, we can only look to ourselves for the answer. “We the People” must come first in the thought of democratic government. For far too long our politics have been given priority over our interests, but then we are responsible for that as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
