Conservative Christian/ Republican politicians often beseech god to lead their way, to show them a sign that they are doing the right thing and guiding events. It stands that god would also warn that you are being a douche.
Eric Cantor recently played a role in the federal debt ceiling negotiations, insisting that millionaires and billionaires shouldn't be taxed, and that only spending cuts were acceptable to him, and was willing to shut down the government to get his way. He advocated cutting things like NPR, Planned Parenthood, the US Geological Survey, the National Weather Service, NASA, and NOAA.
This week a large earthquake hit the east coast. It was a 5.8, and was felt from Georgia, to Illinois, to Rhode Island. The epicenter was in Eric Cantor's congressional district. Do you think he took it as a warning? Keep in mind that the USGS tracks earthquakes and is learning to predict them, potentially saving lives and rebuilding costs.
Within days of the earthquake, Irene, a Category 3 hurricane, will make landfall near his house. The National Weather Service, NOAA, and NASA are all instrumental in predicting the strength and track of these storms, again potentially saving lives and protecting the country.
Has Mr Cantor been reading the signs?
Apparently not. He is now claiming that any money spent on repairs from the hurricane should be accounted for by spending cuts.
I wouldn't stand close to him. At this rate, a bolt of lightning is next. With his spending cuts in place, he'll never see it coming.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Jesus Told Me To
Today Congressman King announced that he is going forward with his hearings about radicalized Muslims in America. It is wrong, short-sighted, stupid, and racist. He seems to think that only Muslims can engage in terrorism, when in fact a belief in ANY mythical being can produce such extreme violence. Anything is permissible if god tells you to do it, right?
Muslims certainly get plenty of attention when something happens, but they are far from the only players in this game. Christians, boasting that 'God is love,' are all too willing to fall into the trap of destroying anyone that doesn't conform to the saved ones game plan.
The blind irony is that the hearings are on the heels of the bombing and shootings in Norway, long presumed a safe country. Yet it wasn't a Muslim that killed scores of people, including children at camp , it was a righteous christian. If that information was too timely to get to Mr King, there are plenty of other examples. It wasn't Muslims that blew up Oklahoma City's Murrah Center, burned down the Branch Davidian complex with children inside, or shot Dr Tiller (in church, no less!).
Welcome to the world of equal opportunity hate. It isn't Islam, or even Christianity, that is to blame. When you believe that your actions will be judged by their righteousness in an afterlife, and that anybody that doesn't believe as you do won't be there, then you have no reason to NOT kill infidels. Blind religious faith, of any stripe, is dangerous.
When was the last time you heard of somebody that tried to start a war in the name of atheism?
The people that attempt to start race wars, or religious wars, always assume that god is on their side, and forget that the other side believes the same thing. The battle isn't between Christians and Muslims; it is between humanity and inhumanity.
Muslims certainly get plenty of attention when something happens, but they are far from the only players in this game. Christians, boasting that 'God is love,' are all too willing to fall into the trap of destroying anyone that doesn't conform to the saved ones game plan.
The blind irony is that the hearings are on the heels of the bombing and shootings in Norway, long presumed a safe country. Yet it wasn't a Muslim that killed scores of people, including children at camp , it was a righteous christian. If that information was too timely to get to Mr King, there are plenty of other examples. It wasn't Muslims that blew up Oklahoma City's Murrah Center, burned down the Branch Davidian complex with children inside, or shot Dr Tiller (in church, no less!).
Welcome to the world of equal opportunity hate. It isn't Islam, or even Christianity, that is to blame. When you believe that your actions will be judged by their righteousness in an afterlife, and that anybody that doesn't believe as you do won't be there, then you have no reason to NOT kill infidels. Blind religious faith, of any stripe, is dangerous.
When was the last time you heard of somebody that tried to start a war in the name of atheism?
The people that attempt to start race wars, or religious wars, always assume that god is on their side, and forget that the other side believes the same thing. The battle isn't between Christians and Muslims; it is between humanity and inhumanity.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Those Lovely Gray Wrinkles
I have been involved with redheads, blondes, auburns, and the gray-haired, but never for those reasons. I gathered my companions based on the content of their cranium, not the color of their hair.
They included a three-term president of Mensa, a National Honor Society scholar, a schoolteacher, someone that leapfrogged high school graduation and was accepted directly to college, and someone that has gone back to school in middle age to become a lawyer, and so far is getting straight As.
No doubt about it, I think smart is sexy.
They included a three-term president of Mensa, a National Honor Society scholar, a schoolteacher, someone that leapfrogged high school graduation and was accepted directly to college, and someone that has gone back to school in middle age to become a lawyer, and so far is getting straight As.
No doubt about it, I think smart is sexy.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Petulant Peacocks
I’ve noticed that I get the same feeling watching Kitchen Nightmares as I do watching House. As I watch these two pissants strutting about, I don’t think ‘what high standards!’ I think ‘what jerks!’
Both people (even though one is fictional) yell, threaten, bully, insult, and act as though they are the chosen one. Both have loyal, rabid fans.
Those fans are mostly female for both shows. I keep trying to make something of that statistic, but I can’t decide what it means. Do men have such strong egos that they are resistant to watching someone else’s? Are women so programmed to desire authority that they think think this is just robust alpha-male behavior? Is watching these programs equivalent to staying in an abusive relationship?
I read a study that examined why women stay with violent, dangerous, motorcycle gang types. The women reported that they felt that they would be protected there. Is this just a sanitized version of that?
I also wonder if part of my distaste is simple jealousy. Who wouldn’t want want to act like a spoiled child, not be concerned with other people, not be careful about phrasing things well or pissing off somebody in authority, and still be hailed as a saviour? That part is just as galling to me: that the people are so thankful that they were treated so poorly. It isn’t tough love; there is no love involved. Merely a small ego that wishes it were big.
That’s what Dr Phil (another obnoxious blowhard) would say. People that yell at the slightest provocation, feel the need to belittle others, don’t allow others to have dissenting opinions, instantly insult, and sulk when they don’t get their way know that they are unimportant and are trying to make themselves look important.
I think they just look sad.
Both people (even though one is fictional) yell, threaten, bully, insult, and act as though they are the chosen one. Both have loyal, rabid fans.
Those fans are mostly female for both shows. I keep trying to make something of that statistic, but I can’t decide what it means. Do men have such strong egos that they are resistant to watching someone else’s? Are women so programmed to desire authority that they think think this is just robust alpha-male behavior? Is watching these programs equivalent to staying in an abusive relationship?
I read a study that examined why women stay with violent, dangerous, motorcycle gang types. The women reported that they felt that they would be protected there. Is this just a sanitized version of that?
I also wonder if part of my distaste is simple jealousy. Who wouldn’t want want to act like a spoiled child, not be concerned with other people, not be careful about phrasing things well or pissing off somebody in authority, and still be hailed as a saviour? That part is just as galling to me: that the people are so thankful that they were treated so poorly. It isn’t tough love; there is no love involved. Merely a small ego that wishes it were big.
That’s what Dr Phil (another obnoxious blowhard) would say. People that yell at the slightest provocation, feel the need to belittle others, don’t allow others to have dissenting opinions, instantly insult, and sulk when they don’t get their way know that they are unimportant and are trying to make themselves look important.
I think they just look sad.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Fire Across the Middle East
There have been public uprisings across the Middle East lately, as crowds gather to protest their living conditions, political process, and call for their long-time leaders to step down.
It started in Egypt, then moved to Bahrain and Libya, with pundits and analysts extolling that just about any country over there was vulnerable.
I've heard some people claim that this spontaneous call for democracy is a justification for Bush jr's invasion of Iraq, since this is what his (eventual) stated goal was, and they were inspired by him.
This argument seems to have two main problems with it. The first country to feel the fire was Egypt. When the president offered partial concessions, the crowds insisted that it wasn't enough and they wanted the military to assume power.
When the protests started, the newscasters made the point that Egypt was our closest ally in the Middle East. Is this what we wanted for our friend? To kick him out of office with a military coup?
The second issue with attributing these protests to Bush is one of timing. If these are motivated by the American military might, why didn't they happen in 2003 when we ran the invasion? Why didn't they happen in 2004 when we enforced law by giving Saddam Hussein a trial rather than summarily executing him? Why didn't they happen in 2006 when he was finally executed? Why not when elections were held in Iraq, or when we withdrew troops, thinking that they would be available to support protestors in other countries?
Why now, two years after Bush has left office?
If anything, I think this proves just how misbegotten, wrong-headed and wasteful the invasion was. These protests are getting results, even to the point of removing leaders that had been in power for decades, and they have been largely peaceful. No invasion, outside-enacted regime change, or specious rationales required.
It started in Egypt, then moved to Bahrain and Libya, with pundits and analysts extolling that just about any country over there was vulnerable.
I've heard some people claim that this spontaneous call for democracy is a justification for Bush jr's invasion of Iraq, since this is what his (eventual) stated goal was, and they were inspired by him.
This argument seems to have two main problems with it. The first country to feel the fire was Egypt. When the president offered partial concessions, the crowds insisted that it wasn't enough and they wanted the military to assume power.
When the protests started, the newscasters made the point that Egypt was our closest ally in the Middle East. Is this what we wanted for our friend? To kick him out of office with a military coup?
The second issue with attributing these protests to Bush is one of timing. If these are motivated by the American military might, why didn't they happen in 2003 when we ran the invasion? Why didn't they happen in 2004 when we enforced law by giving Saddam Hussein a trial rather than summarily executing him? Why didn't they happen in 2006 when he was finally executed? Why not when elections were held in Iraq, or when we withdrew troops, thinking that they would be available to support protestors in other countries?
Why now, two years after Bush has left office?
If anything, I think this proves just how misbegotten, wrong-headed and wasteful the invasion was. These protests are getting results, even to the point of removing leaders that had been in power for decades, and they have been largely peaceful. No invasion, outside-enacted regime change, or specious rationales required.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Left Right out
A new slate of congresspeople has just been sworn in. They campaigned on the idea that the government is too big, and has overreached, doing things that it doesn't have the legal authority to do. they claim to be firm followers of the Constitution, view it as sacrosanct, and read it out loud on the floor of Congress to remind everyone how sincere they are about this.
But they didn't.
It is curious that people who claim to want to follow the Original Intent of the drafters of the Constitution didn't actually read the original draft. They read the current version, amendments and repeals included. Even they realized that talk about how blacks only couldn't as 3/5ths of a person, that slavery was legal, and only white males were citizens might cost them votes.
Fair enough. And intelligent enough.
But doesn't that leave them in a fairly hypocritical position? How can they claim to want to follow the original meaning of the Constitution while admitting that it has been shaped and improved over time?
The flash point for this Originalism is the health care laws that got passed. Some claim that there is nothing that allows the government to do such a thing. Yet I think the phrases "provide for the common defense" and "promote the general welfare" are intentionally vague, and cover a lot of ground.
But they didn't.
It is curious that people who claim to want to follow the Original Intent of the drafters of the Constitution didn't actually read the original draft. They read the current version, amendments and repeals included. Even they realized that talk about how blacks only couldn't as 3/5ths of a person, that slavery was legal, and only white males were citizens might cost them votes.
Fair enough. And intelligent enough.
But doesn't that leave them in a fairly hypocritical position? How can they claim to want to follow the original meaning of the Constitution while admitting that it has been shaped and improved over time?
The flash point for this Originalism is the health care laws that got passed. Some claim that there is nothing that allows the government to do such a thing. Yet I think the phrases "provide for the common defense" and "promote the general welfare" are intentionally vague, and cover a lot of ground.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Natural Drug
I've recently moved someplace renowned for its bad weather. Or rather, for its lack of boring, pleasantly mild, nondescript indistinguishable weather.
During the summer it got hot enough to make you avoid the outdoors. Not unusual.
But the winter...
The winter weather is boisterous, playful, changing, vivid, and challenging. It gets cold enough for your fingers to hurt simply walking from the car to the apartment; winds howl down the plains, sliding along the ice; the snow piles up so rapidly that they don't even try to clear the roads down to pavement, and you have to learn to include sliding as part of turning corners; any ventilation crack is enough to make ice build up inside your window where the temperatures meet.
It isn't easy.
It's challenging.
It's invigorating.
I love being outside in weather like this. It gets my heart beating to be buffeted by winds, where I have to turn my back to the wind to catch my breath. It lifts my spirits to see the sky clogged with fat, fluffy flakes that keep coming, hour after hour, and the wind curls them into graceful drifts. I like seeing the dark, crystalline sky full of sparkling stars. I welcome the prickling in my nose as the hairs freeze, and my cheeks getting stiff and hard to move.
I enjoy nature. Give me a good hike in the woods, an outcropping over a lake to look from, the view from a mountain, a meandering day in a National Park. Now add in the danger that if you lay down, you could die. I've been on ski mountains, cold wind pulling at my clothes. But this is even better; despite being within walking distance of houses and civilization, there is a closer connection to nature. You are more directly involved than a minute or two sliding down the ski run.
With all the ways humans have tried to tame, eliminate, curb, and derail weather, it is refreshing to be in a place where they build tunnels between buildings, and raises bridges to allow ice floes to pass underneath. It makes you feel more alive than an illicit drug.
During the summer it got hot enough to make you avoid the outdoors. Not unusual.
But the winter...
The winter weather is boisterous, playful, changing, vivid, and challenging. It gets cold enough for your fingers to hurt simply walking from the car to the apartment; winds howl down the plains, sliding along the ice; the snow piles up so rapidly that they don't even try to clear the roads down to pavement, and you have to learn to include sliding as part of turning corners; any ventilation crack is enough to make ice build up inside your window where the temperatures meet.
It isn't easy.
It's challenging.
It's invigorating.
I love being outside in weather like this. It gets my heart beating to be buffeted by winds, where I have to turn my back to the wind to catch my breath. It lifts my spirits to see the sky clogged with fat, fluffy flakes that keep coming, hour after hour, and the wind curls them into graceful drifts. I like seeing the dark, crystalline sky full of sparkling stars. I welcome the prickling in my nose as the hairs freeze, and my cheeks getting stiff and hard to move.
I enjoy nature. Give me a good hike in the woods, an outcropping over a lake to look from, the view from a mountain, a meandering day in a National Park. Now add in the danger that if you lay down, you could die. I've been on ski mountains, cold wind pulling at my clothes. But this is even better; despite being within walking distance of houses and civilization, there is a closer connection to nature. You are more directly involved than a minute or two sliding down the ski run.
With all the ways humans have tried to tame, eliminate, curb, and derail weather, it is refreshing to be in a place where they build tunnels between buildings, and raises bridges to allow ice floes to pass underneath. It makes you feel more alive than an illicit drug.
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