Monday, October 25, 2010
New Directions
My life has taken drastic new directions this year. I used to sit in my spare time and write different blogs based on my interests and such. I am thus ending active writing on this blog. I will leave it as an archive and link portal. See what new directions my life and writings take at Thought and Memory Blog. Thanks for following, and I hope you will continue at Thought and Memory.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Happy One Month Anniversary
Time For A Boycott!
If you live in the United States and buy fuel at any of these businesses, you are supporting and enabling the company responsible for what is likely the worst oil spill disaster in our history. It is time we stop supporting BP. In fact it is time we say no to big oil and spend our money on alternative energy and fuel technologies.
Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. BP reported today that the small tube they have stuck in one of the leak sites is bringing 5000 barrels of oil a day to the surface to apparently be pumped into tankers and hauled away. They are are still claiming that only 5000 barrels of oil is leaking into the gulf, though most expert estimates are anywhere between 25000 and 80000 barrels per day. It is likely that the oil has reached the Loop Current to carry it into the Atlantic ocean. Tar balls have started washing up in Key West Florida. Test results are likely to confirm that this is from the Deep Horizon spill. A U.S. Energy Information Administration report from October 2009 states that there are 3,464 million barrels in the Gulf of Mexico Federal Offshore Oil Proved Reserves. Hope they figure out how to plug this hole soon.
BP is being allowed to control cleanup operations in the gulf with assistance and some oversight from from the federal government. One month after the spill they have yet to stop the leak tens of thousands of barrels of oil into the sea. BP has dropped more than 500,000 gallons of Corexit 9500 an oil dispersant into the gulf as well. Dispersants break the oil into small droplets that often sink and are allegedly less damaging to the environment. In the Material Data Safety sheet for Corexit 9500 it indicates a low risk to humans and environment. On Thursday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a directive requiring BP to identify and use a less toxic and more effective dispersant from the list of EPA authorized dispersants. Members of the board of directors of BP and Exxon both sit on the board of Nalco the company that manufactures Corexit.
BP has a criminal record and a horrible safety record. BP has two refineries that account for 97 % of all flagrant safety violations found in the refining industry. We the people of the United States subsidize BP and other oil companies to drill our resources which is then sold on the open market for obscene profits. All the while BP fails to protect its to protect its employees and the public. The Federal Minerals Management Service now being broken up failed to collect millions in royalties, failed to regulate the industry properly, and had a more than cozy relationship with the industry. Employees at the Denver MMS office were having sex and sharing cocaine with oil industry employees. MMS employees accepted thousands of dollars in gifts and trips while industry employees accepted billions of dollars in energy contracts Seems to me like we are paying them to rob us. When do we fund our great American innovative spirit and create a new energy economy?
I will not spend my money at any company that sells BP's products. I invite you to do the same. Please sign this petition and pass it on. Let's send the message to the oil companies that we are done with them. Let's tell them that they must adapt to a new energy and fuel economy or go away.
Links:
Deepwater Horizon Response Official Unified Command Home Page
COREXIT ® 9500 (EC9500A) Oil Spill Dispersant: Sales Brochure
COREXIT® EC9500A Material Data Safety Sheet
U.S. Energy Information Administration Federal Offshore Gulf Of Mexico Proved Reserves
EPA: BP Must Use Less Toxic Dispersant
OSHA Report On BP 2005 Texas City Refinery Explosion
2008 Scandal In Denver Minerals Management Office
BP Gas Station Finder: Find Places To Avoid In Your Neighborhood
If you live in the United States and buy fuel at any of these businesses, you are supporting and enabling the company responsible for what is likely the worst oil spill disaster in our history. It is time we stop supporting BP. In fact it is time we say no to big oil and spend our money on alternative energy and fuel technologies.
Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. BP reported today that the small tube they have stuck in one of the leak sites is bringing 5000 barrels of oil a day to the surface to apparently be pumped into tankers and hauled away. They are are still claiming that only 5000 barrels of oil is leaking into the gulf, though most expert estimates are anywhere between 25000 and 80000 barrels per day. It is likely that the oil has reached the Loop Current to carry it into the Atlantic ocean. Tar balls have started washing up in Key West Florida. Test results are likely to confirm that this is from the Deep Horizon spill. A U.S. Energy Information Administration report from October 2009 states that there are 3,464 million barrels in the Gulf of Mexico Federal Offshore Oil Proved Reserves. Hope they figure out how to plug this hole soon.
BP is being allowed to control cleanup operations in the gulf with assistance and some oversight from from the federal government. One month after the spill they have yet to stop the leak tens of thousands of barrels of oil into the sea. BP has dropped more than 500,000 gallons of Corexit 9500 an oil dispersant into the gulf as well. Dispersants break the oil into small droplets that often sink and are allegedly less damaging to the environment. In the Material Data Safety sheet for Corexit 9500 it indicates a low risk to humans and environment. On Thursday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a directive requiring BP to identify and use a less toxic and more effective dispersant from the list of EPA authorized dispersants. Members of the board of directors of BP and Exxon both sit on the board of Nalco the company that manufactures Corexit.
BP has a criminal record and a horrible safety record. BP has two refineries that account for 97 % of all flagrant safety violations found in the refining industry. We the people of the United States subsidize BP and other oil companies to drill our resources which is then sold on the open market for obscene profits. All the while BP fails to protect its to protect its employees and the public. The Federal Minerals Management Service now being broken up failed to collect millions in royalties, failed to regulate the industry properly, and had a more than cozy relationship with the industry. Employees at the Denver MMS office were having sex and sharing cocaine with oil industry employees. MMS employees accepted thousands of dollars in gifts and trips while industry employees accepted billions of dollars in energy contracts Seems to me like we are paying them to rob us. When do we fund our great American innovative spirit and create a new energy economy?
I will not spend my money at any company that sells BP's products. I invite you to do the same. Please sign this petition and pass it on. Let's send the message to the oil companies that we are done with them. Let's tell them that they must adapt to a new energy and fuel economy or go away.
Links:
Deepwater Horizon Response Official Unified Command Home Page
COREXIT ® 9500 (EC9500A) Oil Spill Dispersant: Sales Brochure
COREXIT® EC9500A Material Data Safety Sheet
U.S. Energy Information Administration Federal Offshore Gulf Of Mexico Proved Reserves
EPA: BP Must Use Less Toxic Dispersant
OSHA Report On BP 2005 Texas City Refinery Explosion
2008 Scandal In Denver Minerals Management Office
BP Gas Station Finder: Find Places To Avoid In Your Neighborhood
Friday, March 26, 2010
Health Care Reform Passes.
I wanted to write and share the great news I am sure you have already heard. Health care reform is law. This is a historical day for our country. No longer can the insurance companies abuse the citizens of this nation for profit. This has essentially been the point of the entire health care battle.
For far too long have the Insurance companies been allowed to drop coverage for getting sick. For far too long they have been able to exclude people from coverage for being born sick. 32 million more people will have insurance coverage. This is not a government take over of health care. It is a government fix to a huge budgetary and public health problem facing the people of this nation. This reform saves the government 138 billion dollars over ten years, and $1.2 trillion over 20 years according to the non partisan Congressional Budgeting Office. This bill also helps seniors on Medicare who will now pay less for prescriptions with the closing of the donut hole gap in coverage. Seniors will now have preventative care at no cost to them with Medicare. This bill provides significant tax breaks for small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees. This reform is expected to create 2.5 million jobs over ten years due to reduction of health care costs to businesses.
This battle for health care has shown just how dysfunctional and powerful the special interest have become, and how entrenched they have become in Washington. The Republicans and some Democrats have been absolute obstructionists simply for political purposes. Many are well paid by health insurance and other special interests. They were elected to do the work of the people. Yet they chose to vote no. They chose to let another 45,000 people die this year due to a lack of health coverage. The chose to let millions more live one illness away from bankruptcy. They chose to support insurance company profits over their constituents well being. Fortunately 60 Senators and 219 Representatives had the courage to pass this reform.
The Republicans continued to drag their feet in the Senate, using more stall tactics to slow the reconciliation bill of fixes that the House of Representatives demanded from the Senate in order to pass the Senates bill. It is an exercise in futility. Many are now vowing repeal. There are several state attorney generals that are suing merely to score political points from their far right base. Again an exercise in futility. By some accounts, this bill that passed is more conservative than the compromise bill the Republicans offered in 1994 during Bill Clinton's try at health care reform, and the one that Nixon tried to get passed in his first term. My thought is that if one has an employee that refuses to do their job, one fires them. It is time for these obstructionists to be voted out of office.
There is a small minority on the far right fringe of American politics, who is being extremely vocal and violent and they are being whipped up by these same far right politicians as well as media personalities like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Since health care reform passed a number of offices of Democrats around the country have been vandalized by wing nuts who think they speak for the rest of us. Things are likely to get ugly over the next few months as these wing-nuts gear up for their "revolution." It is my belief that we will see more acts of domestic terrorism over the next few months. April 19th is especially significant in American history. April 19, 1775 beheld the battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution. This also the day of the tragedy in Waco in 1993. It was also April 19, 1995 when Timothy McVey bombed The Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
I ask my friends who are on the right of the political spectrum, please do not endorse this insanity. Form a new party. Those who are left in Washington want only one thing. Absolute dictatorial theocratic power. They care not for the American people nor those of you who voted for them. They care about the hundreds of thousands of dollars they get from special interests. They care about holding on to power, despite scandal, and criminal behavior. The entire Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has been subpoenaed in a possible election fraud case involving Nevada Senator John Ensign and possibly others. The Republican Party is dying. We need those on the right in the dialog of American politics. What we don't need are those who would seek violence for dislike of our president. We don't need those who would seek violence because their narrow vision for America includes only them. We don't need those who rail against a mostly successful stimulus package and voted against it, but get excited for a campaign photo op at a project in their district funded by stimulus money. It is time for the hypocrisy to leave Washington. Please get involved and bring some moderation to the politics. As an independent voter, a post I saw on Twitter says it best, "Democrats, the party that gets s@%t done."
Next up on the list of Congress-Do's for the American people is financial and corporate reform. It is time to reign in the to big to fail banks and the wall street firms that drove our economy to the brink of depression. Anybody in Congress or other political office needs to hear that you support strong financial regulation and bank reform. It is time they heard from you about supporting the public financing of elections. If we want fair elections we have to pay for them. If we continue we will lose more and more freedom to those who have the money to buy the power. The Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the right of free speech and effectively said that they may spend as much as they like in elections. The corporations do not have our interests in mind. They care only for shareholder profit at whatever expense to people and the environment.
We still have much work to do to take back this country from lobbyist and special interests. We have much work to do to rebuild our infrastructure and refresh our military strength. Our country has been mismanaged by politics for far too long. Health care reform is what the change we voted for looks like. Hopefully we won't have to fight so hard for it on every thing that needs to be done.
Follow this link to read:
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
Pass it on.
Have a great day.
For far too long have the Insurance companies been allowed to drop coverage for getting sick. For far too long they have been able to exclude people from coverage for being born sick. 32 million more people will have insurance coverage. This is not a government take over of health care. It is a government fix to a huge budgetary and public health problem facing the people of this nation. This reform saves the government 138 billion dollars over ten years, and $1.2 trillion over 20 years according to the non partisan Congressional Budgeting Office. This bill also helps seniors on Medicare who will now pay less for prescriptions with the closing of the donut hole gap in coverage. Seniors will now have preventative care at no cost to them with Medicare. This bill provides significant tax breaks for small businesses that provide health insurance for their employees. This reform is expected to create 2.5 million jobs over ten years due to reduction of health care costs to businesses.
This battle for health care has shown just how dysfunctional and powerful the special interest have become, and how entrenched they have become in Washington. The Republicans and some Democrats have been absolute obstructionists simply for political purposes. Many are well paid by health insurance and other special interests. They were elected to do the work of the people. Yet they chose to vote no. They chose to let another 45,000 people die this year due to a lack of health coverage. The chose to let millions more live one illness away from bankruptcy. They chose to support insurance company profits over their constituents well being. Fortunately 60 Senators and 219 Representatives had the courage to pass this reform.
The Republicans continued to drag their feet in the Senate, using more stall tactics to slow the reconciliation bill of fixes that the House of Representatives demanded from the Senate in order to pass the Senates bill. It is an exercise in futility. Many are now vowing repeal. There are several state attorney generals that are suing merely to score political points from their far right base. Again an exercise in futility. By some accounts, this bill that passed is more conservative than the compromise bill the Republicans offered in 1994 during Bill Clinton's try at health care reform, and the one that Nixon tried to get passed in his first term. My thought is that if one has an employee that refuses to do their job, one fires them. It is time for these obstructionists to be voted out of office.
There is a small minority on the far right fringe of American politics, who is being extremely vocal and violent and they are being whipped up by these same far right politicians as well as media personalities like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. Since health care reform passed a number of offices of Democrats around the country have been vandalized by wing nuts who think they speak for the rest of us. Things are likely to get ugly over the next few months as these wing-nuts gear up for their "revolution." It is my belief that we will see more acts of domestic terrorism over the next few months. April 19th is especially significant in American history. April 19, 1775 beheld the battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolution. This also the day of the tragedy in Waco in 1993. It was also April 19, 1995 when Timothy McVey bombed The Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
I ask my friends who are on the right of the political spectrum, please do not endorse this insanity. Form a new party. Those who are left in Washington want only one thing. Absolute dictatorial theocratic power. They care not for the American people nor those of you who voted for them. They care about the hundreds of thousands of dollars they get from special interests. They care about holding on to power, despite scandal, and criminal behavior. The entire Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has been subpoenaed in a possible election fraud case involving Nevada Senator John Ensign and possibly others. The Republican Party is dying. We need those on the right in the dialog of American politics. What we don't need are those who would seek violence for dislike of our president. We don't need those who would seek violence because their narrow vision for America includes only them. We don't need those who rail against a mostly successful stimulus package and voted against it, but get excited for a campaign photo op at a project in their district funded by stimulus money. It is time for the hypocrisy to leave Washington. Please get involved and bring some moderation to the politics. As an independent voter, a post I saw on Twitter says it best, "Democrats, the party that gets s@%t done."
Next up on the list of Congress-Do's for the American people is financial and corporate reform. It is time to reign in the to big to fail banks and the wall street firms that drove our economy to the brink of depression. Anybody in Congress or other political office needs to hear that you support strong financial regulation and bank reform. It is time they heard from you about supporting the public financing of elections. If we want fair elections we have to pay for them. If we continue we will lose more and more freedom to those who have the money to buy the power. The Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the right of free speech and effectively said that they may spend as much as they like in elections. The corporations do not have our interests in mind. They care only for shareholder profit at whatever expense to people and the environment.
We still have much work to do to take back this country from lobbyist and special interests. We have much work to do to rebuild our infrastructure and refresh our military strength. Our country has been mismanaged by politics for far too long. Health care reform is what the change we voted for looks like. Hopefully we won't have to fight so hard for it on every thing that needs to be done.
Follow this link to read:
10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
Pass it on.
Have a great day.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Mississippi High School Cancels Prom Because Same Sex Couple Planned To Attend.
Think Progress is reporting that a high school in Mississippi is cancelling its prom after request from a student to bring her same sex partner. Read at http://bit.ly/bhiG89 and then write a letter to the school district asking them to reconsider their policy and reverse their decision.
Contact Email Address for Itawomba Agricultural High School: dthomas@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Contact Email Address for Itawomba Agricultural High School: dthomas@itawamba.k12.ms.us
Glenn Beck Attacks Me.
Glenn Beck is dangerous. He is working to undermine the fabric of our democracy with his brand of hate and lunacy. Pass it on.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
To The People Of Iran
To those who seek and struggle for freedom from a repressive and brutal regime in Iran, know that the world stands with you. We are paying attention to your struggles, and we stand in solidarity with you. We see your suffering and your martyrs such as Neda. We see when you stand for the right of free expression, and the right to speak out against injustice in your country. We stand with you. When you stand against rape and torture of your fellow citizens, we see your struggle. We stand with you.
There is nothing more we in the west want right now than a sane government in Tehran. Those in power have shown their true colors. They are brutal dictators. They are rapists, and they are torturers. They are guilty of crimes against humanity. They are liars, and a threat to the entire world. To the police apparatus of Iran, you must take the side of the people or you are just as guilty as the leadership of these atrocities committed in the name of holding on to power by the fraud Ahmadinejad. It is time for the regime of Iran, and all other regimes of the world, to take notice that the people of the world stand for freedom without oppression.
To the People of Free Persia, Many blessings.
Rev. Jeremy Cook
USA
There is nothing more we in the west want right now than a sane government in Tehran. Those in power have shown their true colors. They are brutal dictators. They are rapists, and they are torturers. They are guilty of crimes against humanity. They are liars, and a threat to the entire world. To the police apparatus of Iran, you must take the side of the people or you are just as guilty as the leadership of these atrocities committed in the name of holding on to power by the fraud Ahmadinejad. It is time for the regime of Iran, and all other regimes of the world, to take notice that the people of the world stand for freedom without oppression.
To the People of Free Persia, Many blessings.
Rev. Jeremy Cook
USA
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Letter to Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Bennet,
I appreciate your reply to my letter concerning campaign finance reform. Thank you for taking the time to write me back. I am a supporter of changing the way we finance campaigns, however I don't believe the current bills go far enough to remove special interest influence from elections, or from Washington.
In your letter you say "Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support."
I appreciate your reply to my letter concerning campaign finance reform. Thank you for taking the time to write me back. I am a supporter of changing the way we finance campaigns, however I don't believe the current bills go far enough to remove special interest influence from elections, or from Washington.
In your letter you say "Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support."
My reply is this. First the problem of corruption from private fundraising is serious. Those who say it isn't are most likely involved in the corruption we are talking about. Second, my tax money goes to support wars and policies, that I do not support. My tax dollars go to pay politicians I do not support a salary. If we truly want to have a government of the people and for the people, we will remove money from the equation.
As I said in my previous letter we have laws to regulate influence peddling when we should have laws against what in most other contexts would be a felony. It is time to change this. Failure to do so is failure for this country.
When I look at Washington today I see an ineffective government that can't get things done. Where is health care reform? We haven't closed Gitmo. We have no accountability for torture committed in our name. We are still losing valuable members of the military to don't ask, don't tell. The banks are still doing their business as usual at the expense of the people of this country. AIG owes taxpayers $185 billion, and they are paying out over $100 million in bonuses to the same people who drove the economy to the brink of collapse. This is unacceptable.
The process of making laws is broken and we must now have super majorities to get business done in this country. It is time for a complete overhaul of Congress. If this can't be done, then maybe we do need to go to the streets.
I was also disappointed to get an invitation to see the President as a fundraiser for you at a thousand dollars a pop for the first reception and $15000 for the second one. Sorry sir, I don't have that kind of money. I can barely pay my mortgage to Bank Of Amerika and can't get them to work with me to rearrange my loan to reduce the payment. It made me smile to see Ken Lewis and BoA charged with fraud today.
Senator, I hope you haven't drank the water in Washington, but it appears you have. If you and your fellow almost super majority can't get it done soon it is going to be a rough election campaign. Good luck with that. Please sir I implore you to do the work of the people and tell the corporations and the special interests, that we are not for sale.
Thank you,
Rev. Jeremy Cook
Senator Bennet's reply to my letter.
Here is the reply I received from Senator Bennet regarding campaign finance reform. I am amazed at how he didn't even have the decency to acknowledge lobbyist reform.
| hide details Jan 27 (9 days ago) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Jeremy:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fair Elections Now Act of 2009 (S. 752). I
appreciate hearing from you.
Let me begin by saying that I am open to re-evaluating our current campaign finance
laws. I believe any changes to existing laws must strive to promote fairness,
transparency, and integrity in our federal election process.
As you may know, S. 752 was introduced by Senator Durbin and would amend the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to allow House and Senate candidates
the choice to run for office through publically funded campaigns. Through a mixture of
base subsidies, matching funds, and broadcast vouchers, the only limit to funding would
be the number of individual $100 contributions that the public funding would match with
$400 dollars, donated per election within the district or state.
Critics of current campaign finance laws believe that the ever growing costs of running a
campaign and the resulting reliance on wealthy donors, groups and committees to
finance campaigns have undermined the integrity and transparency of the electoral
system. Those wishing to reform campaign finance laws with efforts such as S. 752 claim
the candidates would be freed from constant fundraising and be able to better focus on
the needs of the people they seek to represent. Supporters maintain that by replacing
private funds with public money, the corrupting influence of large private contributions
could be lessened somewhat.
Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support.
Currently, S. 752, the Fair Elections Now Act, has been referred to the Senate Committee
on Rules and Administration. Although I am not a member of this Committee, should this
legislation reach the full Senate I will keep your thoughts in mind.
I value the input of fellow Coloradans in considering the wide variety of important issues
and legislative initiatives that come before the Senate. I hope you will continue to inform
me of your thoughts and concerns.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator, I invite you to visit my
website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Fair Elections Now Act of 2009 (S. 752). I
appreciate hearing from you.
Let me begin by saying that I am open to re-evaluating our current campaign finance
laws. I believe any changes to existing laws must strive to promote fairness,
transparency, and integrity in our federal election process.
As you may know, S. 752 was introduced by Senator Durbin and would amend the
Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (FECA) to allow House and Senate candidates
the choice to run for office through publically funded campaigns. Through a mixture of
base subsidies, matching funds, and broadcast vouchers, the only limit to funding would
be the number of individual $100 contributions that the public funding would match with
$400 dollars, donated per election within the district or state.
Critics of current campaign finance laws believe that the ever growing costs of running a
campaign and the resulting reliance on wealthy donors, groups and committees to
finance campaigns have undermined the integrity and transparency of the electoral
system. Those wishing to reform campaign finance laws with efforts such as S. 752 claim
the candidates would be freed from constant fundraising and be able to better focus on
the needs of the people they seek to represent. Supporters maintain that by replacing
private funds with public money, the corrupting influence of large private contributions
could be lessened somewhat.
Opponents of public financing question whether real or apparent corruption from private
fundraising is as serious a problem as critics claim. They argue that public financing would
be an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars and would allocate taxpayer dollars to
candidates they do not support.
Currently, S. 752, the Fair Elections Now Act, has been referred to the Senate Committee
on Rules and Administration. Although I am not a member of this Committee, should this
legislation reach the full Senate I will keep your thoughts in mind.
I value the input of fellow Coloradans in considering the wide variety of important issues
and legislative initiatives that come before the Senate. I hope you will continue to inform
me of your thoughts and concerns.
For more information about my priorities as a U.S. Senator, I invite you to visit my
website at http://bennet.senate.gov/. Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennet
United States Senator
Friday, January 22, 2010
An Open Letter To Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Bennet,
I am writing to ask you to speak out for and sponsor legislation to reform campaign finance. Now is the time to speak up for public funding of elections. Now is the time to remove the corruption of lobbyist money from Washington.
Sir, I must ask why we have laws to regulate the buying and selling of influence in Congress. Shouldn't influence peddling be banned? Now is the time!
I am disheartened by the fact that on your contact form under message topic, you do not have a choice for campaign finance and election reform. I am also disappointed when I look you up on www.opensecrets.org.
Senator, the only way we can remove the stranglehold of the corporations and war fascists is to completely remove the influence of money from elections and Congress. It's the least Congress can do since you can't seem to get things done for the people. We are still waiting for comprehensive health care reform, wall street regulation, and the closing of Gitmo. We still haven't been able to seek justice for those who our country has wronged with torture and illegal detention.
Sir, I strongly urge you to take a strong public stand against this new form of corporate feudalism. I signed your petition to take a stand. If we fail in this then we may have to go to the streets.
Thank You,
Rev. Jeremy Cook
http://world-freedom-advocate.blogspot.com/
This letter was sent directly to Senator Bennet from USA.Gov on 22 January 2010
Senator Bennet's petition: www.BennetForColorado.com/
I am writing to ask you to speak out for and sponsor legislation to reform campaign finance. Now is the time to speak up for public funding of elections. Now is the time to remove the corruption of lobbyist money from Washington.
Sir, I must ask why we have laws to regulate the buying and selling of influence in Congress. Shouldn't influence peddling be banned? Now is the time!
I am disheartened by the fact that on your contact form under message topic, you do not have a choice for campaign finance and election reform. I am also disappointed when I look you up on www.opensecrets.org.
Senator, the only way we can remove the stranglehold of the corporations and war fascists is to completely remove the influence of money from elections and Congress. It's the least Congress can do since you can't seem to get things done for the people. We are still waiting for comprehensive health care reform, wall street regulation, and the closing of Gitmo. We still haven't been able to seek justice for those who our country has wronged with torture and illegal detention.
Sir, I strongly urge you to take a strong public stand against this new form of corporate feudalism. I signed your petition to take a stand. If we fail in this then we may have to go to the streets.
Thank You,
Rev. Jeremy Cook
http://world-freedom-advocate.blogspot.com/
This letter was sent directly to Senator Bennet from USA.Gov on 22 January 2010
Senator Bennet's petition: www.BennetForColorado.com/
Thursday, January 21, 2010
For Sale: The American People!
Wow, the Supreme Court just stuck it to the American People today when they ruled that corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money in election campaigns. The 5-4 decision effectively gave corporations the power to buy Congress. The court ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as citizens. We should all be concerned by this. The people have been sold to the corporations. Welcome back feudalism.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Massachusetts
Below is an email I received from Mitch Stewart at Organizing for America. It is a donation request, but I couldn't help myself and my reply follows.
On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 7:09 PM, Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com
_________________________________________________________________________
Mitch,
On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 7:09 PM, Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com
Jeremy --
Yesterday's disappointing election results show deep discontent with the pace of change. I know the OFA community and the President share that frustration.
We also saw what we knew to be true all along: Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way.
We could have simply sought to do things that were easy, that wouldn't stir up controversy. But changes that aren't controversial rarely solve the problem.
Our country continues to face the same fundamental challenges it faced yesterday. Our health care system still needs reform. Wall Street still needs to be held accountable. We still need to create good jobs. And we still need to continue building a clean energy economy.
The President isn't walking away from these challenges. In fact, his determination and resolve are only stronger. We must match that commitment with our own.
But it won't be easy. Real change never is. For that reason, I am grateful you're part of this fight with us.
Thank you,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
_________________________________________________________________________
Mitch,
I appreciate the letter and the fight the President is facing. I am disappointed at the state of politics in this nation. As my family and I do our yearly review and set our goals and resolutions, we find that we are really no better off than we were a year ago. I have had to take my dog to the vet twice in the last week. I have had to get new glasses and have significant dental work in the last couple of months. I have more dental work coming. I have insurance, but it is a high deductible plan. I am still broke.
I am late on my mortgage for the first time in nine months. We dug out on our own, because Bank of Amerika won't work with us to lower our interest rate. I haven't had a pay raise in four years. With rising benefit costs, I am taking home less pay than 4 years ago. We have been wavering on whether to walk away from our mortgage and let Bank of Amerika suck it up.
I am becoming disillusioned with the whole corrupt political process in this country. Our government has become so divided that we can't get anything done except help the people of Haiti. When the fuck do we help those out at home. Don't get me wrong my family has made donations to help Haiti, but there is a big problem with homeless here in Colorado Springs. The local news portrays the homeless as criminals who are beneath human dignity. When I drive by the homeless camps in town, I see families in tents as well as the more traditional stereotype of homelessness. Many of these folks are veterans who have served this country honorably only to slip through the cracks to be dishonored. Our local idiot representative Doug Lamborn politicizes the homeless problem in Colorado Springs and uses it to argue against health care and the rest of the President's agenda. When I asked Mr. Lamborn at a town hall meeting recently how much money he had taken from the insurance and health care sectors, he replied that he wasn't sure, and didn't have exact numbers, but figured it was around $5000. I am sure he would not be surprised to know that it was nearly $200,000.
I read comments all over online from tea baggers who are just as deluded as the politicians who think they will be able to hold power and influence if they continue to not do the business of the American people. Every issue that is debated in Washington is influenced by millions of dollars of lobby money and other kickbacks. We have rules to regulate the buying of influence in Congress and other offices, when we should have laws disallowing such practices. When do the American people crawl out from under the weight of the greed mongers and corporate robber barons who are polluting, poisoning, killing, and robbing this country.
The criminals in Washington are not just the Republicans, but Democrats as well. As long as money changes hands to help people get elected and/or get votes in Congress, we the people will still be fucked. As long as the money continues to change hands from corporations, industries, and other lobbying groups to politicians and other officials, then we will never get meaningful health care reform, climate protection, or economic stability. I have only a high school education, and I can see that the math doesn't add up.
Mitch, I urge you to urge the President to call for lobby and election reform in Washington. If the President uses his platform to call for removing the corrupting influence of money from the election process and the lawmaking process, I believe the rest of the elected riff raff will have to fall in line. I am sure this would be highly unpopular with said riff raff. I am sure those who have the most to say also have the most to lose. This needs to happen soon in this country or there will be dire consequences. As I often say, I am getting my rock collection ready. Want to see my Palestinian impression?
Look, I am no angel. I made many mistakes in my life, including a couple of felonies. I did my time, and live with the stigma of being an ex-con. This is my cross to bear. I have since put my life together and worked to become a productive member of society. I am proud to be an American, and I want to have hope for this country, but it ebbs a little each day. While my family and I struggle each day to survive and do right, the corporations and their elected puppets get away with murder. It is time for this to end.
Thank you,
World Freedom Advocate Blog
Wodhof Urban Farmstead Blog
On Twitter: @Ravenlaughing
One can reason with ignorance, but it is futile to argue with stupidity.
Wodhof Urban Farmstead Blog
On Twitter: @Ravenlaughing
One can reason with ignorance, but it is futile to argue with stupidity.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Decriminalize Common Sense Blog Is Now World Freedom Advocate
I'm excited to announce that I am changing the name of this blog. For several months now I have been searching for a new name for this blog. As I sit and watch the Iranian people stand up against their dictatorship for freedom and the same universal rights we some times take for granted, I was inspired with this new name. I want people in the United States to speak up to their elected officials, but I firmly believe we should be showing our support to those who want to bring freedom and democracy to their countries. I believe it is our duty to support the people of Iran as they struggle for freedom. Only they can bring us a stable Iran that wants to play nice in the world once again. Remember we believe that the current regime in Iran is on track to making nuclear weapons. With a free and democratic Iran this scenario is likely to change. We must support a free and democratic Iran/Persia. These people want their universal right to expression and to peacefully petition their government. The in turn are given violence and brutality. It is time for the theocracy in Iran to fall.
This is the inspiration for the new name. I look to post links and ways to interact with freedom lovers, freedom fighters, and world governments and other advocacy groups. Please stay tuned and visit regularly.
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This is the inspiration for the new name. I look to post links and ways to interact with freedom lovers, freedom fighters, and world governments and other advocacy groups. Please stay tuned and visit regularly.
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Friday, December 25, 2009
Heavy Metal In Bagdhad
This hour and a half documentary about Baghdad's only heavy metal group is a moving piece that gives us American civilians a look at what life is really like in Iraq right now. If you are a fan of heavy metal, this is a must see movie.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Keith Olbermann Special Comment On Health Care Reform
Please take the time to watch this very important piece by Keith Olbermann of MSNBC. I have written an open letter to the President which is in the following post. Please take the time to write your elected officials and express your thoughts about meaningful health care reform and other much needed reform.
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
To see how much money your elected officials take in from special interests, please visit OpenSecrets.org and follow the links to find your elected officials. You might be surprised at what you find.
An Open Letter To President Obama
Mr President,
I am writing to urge you to speak out publicly against the current form of the Senate health care reform bill. I cannot support a health care bill that provides a mandate without an affordable option such as the much promised public option, a Medicare buy in, or being single payer. With that said I also cannot support candidates who have helped to sell this country out to the corporate interests, and the health insurance industry.
Please sir do the right thing and push for meaningful reform and let the fools in congress who wish to kill health care reform do so and then put it squarely on their shoulders. You were elected on a promise of meaningful change, and I am starting to lose hope, but I will continue to support those who stand strong in the face of corporate and political interests to do what is right for the United States of America and its people. Please do not simply accept a bill for the sake of passing a bill. If it takes time to do what is right that is fine, but please do not accept mediocrity in health care reform.
Respectfully,
Rev. Jeremy Cook
Sent To President Obama via http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ on 16 December 2009.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Rep. Doug Lamborn Has Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Colorado Springs.
I went to a health care centered town hall by tea bagging Colorado 5th district Rep. Doug Lamborn(R). As promised by Mr. Lamborn's congressional website, the town hall meeting was a spirited mix of scared seniors ready to be scared some more, and the more vocal progressives, ready to call Mr. Lamborn out for his lies.
I was fortunate enough to be called to ask representative Lamborn a question. So I asked a two part question: A. Why does he continue to quote the now discredited Price Waterhouse Coopers report, and B. How much money has he taken from health industry & insurance lobbyist. Rep Lamborn answered that he didn't know that the PWC report was discredited. Secondly he said he didn't think that he had taken that much from health and insurance interests, " maybe a few thousand dollars."
I think Mr. Lamborn would be interested to know that he has taken more than $200,000 in money from health and insurance industries. The health sector has donated $44,000 to Mr. Lamborn during his political career. The finance, insurance, and real estate sector has given $159,000 during Mr. Lamborn's political career. It is no wonder Mr Lamborn that you are against reform. You have been paid for by the big industry.
One thing I can say for sure is that it is going to be a long day at the Country Buffet. The large majority of the audience was seniors who couldn't believe that free speech should apply to people like me because I was calling out the lies they were being told by an elected leader, who has been paid to tell these lies.
It is time to call out the traitors in Washington, whether they be Republican or Democrat. If you take money from the health and insurance lobby to derail and lie about health reform, then you work for the insurance companies and not the American people. It is time Mr. Lamborn for you to step down. You have refused to call down the violent rhetoric of the tea baggers. You refuse to call down the violent rhetoric of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.
It is time for a health care reform for the American people, with a strong and robust public option that provides competition to Mr. Lamborn's insurance bosses. It is time for Mr Lamborn and his colleagues to do what is best for America and resign. By your lies you have shown your intent toward serving the American people. You will rule by who pays you the most. It is ironic that your views and your donors coincide Mr. Lamborn.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
$214 Billion in Obama's Stimulus Money Is Still Out There: 10 Ways You Can Benefit from It
Click here to see if you might qualify for any of these programs, and the follow the resource links to apply.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Quite Possibly The First Case Of Avian Tea-Bagging!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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I Am An Ordained Minister Of The Universal Life Church
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