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By now you have probably heard about the recent Supreme Court ruling that frees corporations to spend unlimited amounts on independent efforts to support political candidates.

An already tattered and ineffective campaign finance system just got worse.  People with any sense of the problem corporations pose to the existence of a basic democratic order are outraged.

Two efforts to amend the Constitution to limit corporate “rights” have already popped up, Free Speech for People and Move to Amend.  Both are extremely crucial starting points, but is it enough?

Continue reading Corporations versus Democracy

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WHAT REALLY HAPPENED ON TUESDAY?

Thanks to greenmassgroup for providing a counter to the spin that the defeat of Martha Coakley represents a sudden turn to the right by Massachusetts voters.  The reality is this:  The progressive voters who turned out in 2008 to endorse Barack Obama’s message of hope stayed home, or cast votes for Brown to protest the health care monstrosity that Congress is on the verge of passing.  Coakley’s defeat was a long overdue revolt of progressives against Democrats, not a sign of conversion to Republicanism.

This  view is backed up by a poll taken by Research 2000 which showed that 18 percent of people who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, supported Scott Brown in the Senate race.  Of that group an overwhelming majority – 82 percent – favored a public option health plan, while just 14 percent oppose it.  Of those who stayed home, 86 percent support a public option, while just seven percent oppose it.   They didn’t turn conservative.  They just turned against the Democrats.

Continue reading Now is the Time to Stand Up for Your Values
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Weeks like this are hog heaven for political junkies, and a downright paradise for the punditocrary, who’ll get at least two weeks’ paychecks for spinning out the endless whys and hows of the decline and fall we witnessed tonight. No reason we can’t play at What It All Means.

Me, … I’m not sure. And we’ve doubtless all drawn different lessons. My guess is that they all have some value as Greens switch into election gear, and I’m interested in what conclusions you’ve drawn.

I don’t yet have a cogent argument to advance, so consider these ramblings and an invitation to a response.

What’s the Matter With Kans–err, Massachusetts?

The election was a mandate…

Continue reading Mr. Brown Goes to Washington

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   Yesterday, the people of Massachusetts were unable and unwilling to elect a democrat to the U.S. senate. I am aghast and perplexed, wondering what their motive for electing a republican to the U.S. senate might be: More of their tax money going to invasions and occupations? More tax money going to corporate bail-outs? More of their wages going to utility, insurance and credit companies, which have the prospect, now, of remaining under-regulated?

    Did these deluded voters think killing more civilians in foreign countries will bring them cheaper gasoline?

Republicanism is a disease of the spirit. It is a coagulation of all that is worst in humankind; violence, greed, rashness, selfishness, ignorance, exclusivism, racism, classism and indulgence. It is the state religion of a nation ruled by cowardice and violence. Killing populations of civilians with a large army, air force and navy to steal their natural resources can only be done by a people who are spiritually immature and immoral.

Continue reading Spiritual Sickness of a Nation
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Need I say, the recent U.S. Senate election shows that this is a year of opportunity to win in some state-house Senate and House districts.

I urge there to be a few, say 5+ effective (that is, playing to win) campaigns in likely districts, and to be the alternative to the Republicans. By not playing at that level, the Green/Rainbow party can only look on from the sidelines.

A state senator need only be a resident of a district at the time of election.

Continue reading Opportunity knocks for Green Rainbow
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The same arguments that Scott Brown used against “Obamacare” in his successful bid for US Senate should be used to repeal Chapter 58 here in Massachusetts. Is it a surprise that the people who have been living and breathing the trial run for “Obamacare” don’t like it? In what other industrialized democracy would voters accept the system that we have?

There’s some hyprocisy in Brown’s being FOR the chapter 58 at the state level and AGAINST “Obamacare” at the national level.

Continue reading It was indeed about “Obamacare”

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Weeks like this are hog heaven for political junkies, and a downright paradise for the Punditry, who’ll get at least two weeks’ paychecks for spinning out the endless whys and hows of the decline and fall we witnessed tonight. No reason we can’t play. Though I think, as Mike Heichmann points out in a comment appended to the post below, we’re probably going to be more interested in figuring out What It All Means. For us.

Me, I’m not sure. And…

Continue reading Mr. Brown Goes to Washington

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I want to share some of my thoughts on this recent phenomenon.  I had the pleasure of joining a protest against a Carbon Trading Summit in NYC this past week.  The Reverend Billy Talen (recent Green Party mayoral candidate for New York City) was on hand to speak the good word as well as a motley crew of activists, scientists, youth, and engaged bystanders.  The protest did not make a big splash, as far as I know, but just participating in these kinds of events can be an empowering and educative experience.  Now on to those jerks we were protesting…

Continue reading A Little about Climate Justice
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I wasn’t going to vote today. I was lukewarm on a few different options that I was considering:

1) Write in a candidate I believe in – the clearest statement my vote could make.

2) Vote for Joe Kennedy – support a third party anti-war, anti-corporate-duopoly candidate

3) Vote for Martha Coakley – keep the Senate seat out of the hands of a regressive/oppressive Republican.

But leading up to today I felt stronger and stronger about throwing in with the largest bloc of Massachusetts residents — those who won’t be voting at all.

Then along came the pleas from friends. Now, I’m not moved by the inside-the-box thinking that accompanies these pleas. But today I’m making a swap. While my heart wants to stand in solidarity with the people of the world that the corporate duopoly is ravaging, and raise my voice against this brutal and unjust system instead of tacitly supporting it, I’ve made another decision — a somewhat crass political decision. I asked one of my Coakley-appealing-friends to cast their vote in November for the Green-Rainbow Party candidate for governor, no matter what impact that vote might have on a precious Democratic victory. The result is that today I will begrudgingly vote for the Democratic Party candidate for US Senator.

Continue reading Vote, Then Organize
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