What the Inauguration Meant to Me

Many of my postings revolve around an informed and involved citizenry, and our founding documents: The Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Following these themes, here are a few excerpts from President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address that resonate with me:

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.  On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.  

The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history. 

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.  Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man.  Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake.

Recall that earlier generations ... understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.  Instead they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

Our challenges may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old.  These things are true.  They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. 

This is the price and the promise of citizenship."  

The Legacy

George W. Bush leaves office on January 20 as one of the most vilified presidents in American history. He is responsible for the condition the country is in.

Here is Bush's legacy, in part:

He took the nation to a war of choice under false pretenses. He violated his oath to defend the Constitution by illegally spying on Americans, and by kidnapping and imprisoning men without charges or a speedy trial. He embraced torture as an interrogation tactic and turned the world's champion of human dignity into an outlaw nation. He watched as a major American city went under water. He was at the helm as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression took hold. He squandered a unique opportunity to unite the country and even the world behind a shared agenda after 9/11. He subverted science in order to champion ideology. And he deliberately politicized the federal government, leaving behind a broken government.

I have heard the lame rationalization that "He prevented another attack."  Bunk.  The only attack that we know of for sure is the one he failed (though he had been warned) to prevent. And since when do the terrorists operate on a schedule?  The two most recent foreign attacks on our soil were in 1993 and 2001.   

Finally, as we remember this laundry list of failures, let's not forget the lockstep culpability of the Republican members of Congress.  For six years, they watched these rotted seeds being planted and did nothing as the plant grew.  They did it because they let loyalty to party trump responsibility to the nation. 

Why People Vote Republican

Given the dismal failure of the Republicans over the past eight years, you would expect the voters to send them a loud and clear message.

Yet the Republican presidential candidate received 46% nationally, 56% in Texas, and 70% in my county.

Why?

Through the years, I've listened to co-workers, friends and family explain their reasons.  Here are the top five from that group.  (There are more and other reasons, but these are the top five from the people around me.)

1. I was raised Republican.  OK ... but don't you have a mind and free will of your own?

2. The federal government is evil.  OK ... but the founder of the Republican party (Lincoln) waged a civil war to keep the country together, and establish the supremacy of the federal law over state law.

3. The desire to establish a theocratic totalitarian state.  OK ... but did you forget or not know that the first settlers came from England to escape such state run religion?

4. Racial chauvinism. OK ... but having read Jesus' two commandments, why do you have such a narrow view of who is your neighbor? 

5. Peer pressure brought on by willful ignorance.  OK ... but it's better to be informed than entertained.

My experience is that no facts, evidence or reason will move these views.  The proof is in the percentages given at the beginning of this post.

Therefore, I will vote with my ballot and my credit card to prevent these people from getting into office.  

Our Constitution's Values

In my posts, I frequently celebrate our Constitution and its enduring values.  

Now the nightmare of its subversion appears to be almost over.

I applaud Mr. Obama's choice of Dawn Johnsen to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel and Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

I cannot say it better than giving you their words.

Ms Johnsen said in March, 2008: "We must avoid any temptation simply to move on. We must instead be honest with ourselves and the world as we condemn our nation's past transgressions and reject Bush's corruption of our American ideals. Our constitutional democracy cannot survive with a government shrouded in secrecy, nor can our nation's honor be restored without full disclosure."

Mr. Panetta's word are equally stirring: "Our Constitution defines the rules that guide our nation. It was drafted by those who looked around the world of the eighteenth century and saw persecution, torture, and other crimes against humanity and believed that America could be better than that. This new nation would recognize that every individual has an inherent right to personal dignity, to justice, to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.

"We have preached these values to the world. We have made clear that there are certain lines Americans will not cross because we respect the dignity of every human being. That pledge was written into the oath of office given to every president, "to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution." It's what is supposed to make our leaders different from every tyrant, dictator, or despot. We are sworn to govern by the rule of law, not by brute force."

Bravo!

America's Torture Disgrace

Many Americans have long known that the horrors of Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo Bay and in secret C.I.A. prisons were not the work of a few low-ranking sociopaths.

A recent bipartisan report by the Senate Armed Services Committee has made what amounts to a strong case for bringing criminal charges against White House officials.

Our highest officials, charged with defending the Constitution and America’s standing in the world, methodically introduced interrogation practices based on tortures devised by Chinese agents during the Korean War.

These top officials ignored warnings from lawyers in every branch of the armed forces that they were breaking the law, subjecting uniformed soldiers to possible criminal charges and authorizing abuses that were considered by experts to be ineffective.

Importantly, our policy of torture swiftly recruited fighters for al-Qaeda. Bluntly, torture and abuse cost American lives. The No. 1 reason foreign fighters flocked to Iraq were the abuses carried out at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo.

I can understand that some Americans are eager to put these dark chapters behind them, but it would be irresponsible for the nation and a new administration to ignore what has happened.

Mr. Obama should consider proposals from groups like Human Rights Watch and the Brennan Center for Justice to appoint an independent panel to look into these and other egregious violations of the law. Like the 9/11 commission, it would examine in depth the decisions on prisoner treatment, as well as warrantless wiretapping, that eroded the rule of law and violated Americans' most basic rights. Unless the nation and its leaders know precisely what went wrong in the last seven years, it will be impossible to fix it and make sure those terrible mistakes are not repeated.

Be a Constitutional Voter

The next president will become chief executive of a nation that has been greatly weakened. In particular, our freedoms, our values, and our international reputation have been greatly undermined by the policies of the past eight years.

I believe that no one -- including the President -- is above the law.

I oppose all forms of torture, and I support both closing the Guantánamo Bay prison and ending indefinite detention.

I oppose warrantless spying.

I believe that government officials, no matter how high-ranking, should be held accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution.

I believe that the Constitution protects every person's rights equally -- no matter what they believe, how they live, where or if they worship, and whom they love.

I reject the notion that we have to tolerate violations of our most fundamental rights in the name of fighting terrorism.

I am deeply committed to the Constitution and expect our country's leaders to share and act on that commitment -- every day, without fail.

For an action plan for the first day, the first 100 days, and the first year of the next administration, click here.

Let's Keep Them Out of Power

Republicans rule, rather than govern.

Ruling must be distinguished from governing, which is a process of finding solutions that will best serve the interests of all Americans.

Republicans' authoritarian rule can be characterized by its striking incivility and intolerance toward those who do not view the world as Republicans do.

Authoritarian conservatives are primarily anti-government, except where they believe the government can be useful to impose moral or social order, or where it empowers the military industrial complex.

Studies show that about 25 percent of the adult population in the United States is solidly authoritarian. It is in these ranks of some 70 million that we find the core of the McCain/Palin supporters. They are people who are so self-righteous, so ill-informed, and so dogmatic that nothing you can say or do will change their minds.

The problem is that these authoritarian followers are much more active than the rest of the country. They have the mentality of 'old-time religion' on a crusade, and they generously give money, time and effort to the cause. They proselytize; they lick stamps; they put pressure on loved ones; and they revel in being loyal to a cohesive group of like thinkers. They are not going to let up and they are not going to go away.

Frankly, there is only one way to deal with these conservative zealots: Keep them out of power.

(This is an extract of an article by John Dean.)

Spreading Democracy at Home

President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices. The Act has been renewed periodically, most recently in 2006.

However, even then a number of Republican lawmakers acted to amend, delay or defeat renewal of the Act.

I provide this as background on the activities of a low-income and minority advocacy group, ACORN.

This week, John McCain warned that ACORN is "on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history" and "may be destroying the fabric of democracy." I know that his statement was intended as a wedge issue, and is just political theater. In 2006, he was ACORN's keynote speaker.

Voter registration is not a crime. ACORN has helped 1.3 million citizens from all parties and all walks of life apply for voter registration. In most states, ACORN is required by law to turn in every voter registration card - even in cases where the cards are not valid. In fact, it is ACORN that has reported almost all of the issues regarding voter registration cards. Finally, invalid voter registration cards do not constitute voter fraud.

While voter registration is not a crime, voter suppression is. As evidenced by the need for the Voting Rights Act, the United States has had a history of engaging in that undemocratic method. Even today, 33 state election directors are elected partisans. Because of their partisan ties, election officials are often presented with a conflict of interest while directing elections. Two crucial states, Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2006, had Republicans as their election officials.

On the other hand, the majority of the world's democracies use independent agents to manage elections.

How about encouraging and spreading democracy here, rather than using voter registration as a wedge issue?

Is Freedom Just Another Word?

Politicians use the word regularly: Freedom.  However, it is too often used as justification for wars of aggression or empire expansion.  

Americans cherish the word, without providing a context.  

What is Freedom and how is it achieved? 

Franklin Roosevelt said that freedom has four qualities: 1) Freedom of speech and expression; 2) Freedom of religion; 3) Freedom from want; and 4) Freedom from fear.

That is as good a definition as I've come across.  The first two are included in the Bill of Rights.  The last two are a political struggle that even today we are engaged with internally as a nation.

But how are these freedoms achieved?

To that, I turn to Thomas Paine, who said that those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

I believe what Paine meant is that we have the daily duty of Citizenship.  We have the responsibility of informed and impartial knowledge of the workings of our government.

Let me be clear about one thing, We Are The Government; it's called a representative democracy.  

Our freedoms are contained in the United States Constitution. It is our responsibility as Citizens to know what actions Our government is taking, and to hold our elected representatives accountable.

If we think that government is the problem, it is because we as Citizens have abdicated our duties.

Spend some time this week to know what bills are before Congress, and how your representative voted.  Visit and sign up for alerts from Open Government.

Ignorance is Optional

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." -- Thomas Jefferson

Believe it or not, ignorance is optional. We control whether we have the knowledge to be fully functioning human beings. This includes the fundamentals of science, technology, history (and biography), government, politics, and spirituality (and ethics), and the arts. The more we know about the things we need to know, the easier and more fulfilling our lives will be.

But what is ignorance? I think that there are five factors which encompass ignorance, and which lead to a painful and diminished life.

First, is sheer ignorance: Ignorance of critical facts about important events in the news, and ignorance of how our government functions and who's in charge.

Second, is negligence: The disinclination to seek reliable sources of information about important news events.

Third, is wooden-headedness: The inclination to believe what we want to believe regardless of the facts.

Fourth, is shortsightedness: The support of public policies that are mutually contradictory, or contrary to the country's long-term interests.

Fifth, and finally, is a broad category I call bone-headedness, for want of a better name: The susceptibility to meaningless phrases, stereotypes, irrational biases, and simplistic diagnoses and solutions that play on our hopes and fears.

Why does this matter? It matters because mistakes are the products of ignorance. It matters because ignorance limits our options for solving our problems.

One of the first steps that we Americans can do to move from ignorance to knowledge is to become familiar with our Constitution. You can learn more here and here.

Learn -- because you have an option.

For America's Sake

Our greatest presidents have had a common vision for the community we call America. Abraham Lincoln believed that government should be not just "of the people" and "by the people" but "for the people."

Today, what we have is an America fashioned into a second Gilded Age, for the comfort and luxury of the wealthy. The conservative movement has distributed wealth in our nation so that the top 1 percent of Americans are worth more than the bottom 90 percent. That is to say, that under the conservatives, government has ended up servicing the powerful by taking from everyone else.

There is a better vision for American as seen by Jefferson, Lincoln and the two Roosevelts. They each recognized that Aristocracy is not Democracy. They saw that Freedom is more than a private value, it is a social contract. We have obligations to each other, mutually and through our government, to assure that we all equally have a right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

America is more that the sum of our material appetites. Our country is more than an economic machine. Freedom is not a license but a responsibility -- the gift we have received and the legacy we must bequeath. We are the story of equal power -- of democracy and not aristocracy. We have and must provide the promise to leave no one out.

It's time to get back to these basics, and to reclaim Democracy.

Independence Day

The original Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776. You can learn more about its history here.

But what were the reasons for declaring independence, and how are the States' 1776 objections relevant to the current Administration?

I suspect that the objections raised by the States against King George have a few uncomfortable parallels to the situation that we find present in our current administration. Here are some of the charges against King George versus the actions of the Bush administration:

* "He refused his assent to laws." The Bush administration has issued over 800 signing statements, negating the laws duly passed by both Republican and Democratic Congresses.
* "He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance." The administration has denied various states the ability to pass laws regulating greenhouse gases, and other environmental concerns.
* "He has obstructed the Administration of Justice." The most blatant example of obstruction was this administration's destruction of millions of White House emails during the time of the lead up to the Iraq war.
* "He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone." The administration has fired federal judges, when those judges did not prosecute according to the administration's wishes. Judges may serve at the pleasure of the president, but they shouldn't serve to please the president.
* "For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury." Guantánamo Bay is relevant here.
* "For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences." Rendition of (kidnapping) citizens and other innocents for the purpose of torturing them in despotic countries is not unknown to this administration.
* "For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments." This administration has declared as void the U.S. Constitution (habeas corpus) and the Bill of Rights (warrantless searches).
* "He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us." The administration, and especially the president and vice president, has been primarily occupied with strengthening its grip on power by relentlessly attacking, and inciting others to attack, anyone who disagrees with them. Their concern from January 20, 2001 has not been governance, but expansion of personal power.

Happy Independence Day!

Lock and Load

Is it acceptable that 30,000 Americans are killed by guns every year — in the home, on the job, walking to school, at the shopping mall? The Supreme Court on Thursday all but ensured that more Americans will die. Furthermore, annually over 700,000 violent crimes involve handguns.

The Court declared that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to bear arms for nonmilitary uses, even though the amendment clearly links the right to service in a "militia."

This is a decision that will cost innocent lives, cause daily pain and suffering and increase the costs of law enforcement. For example, as the court was getting ready to release its decision, a worker in a Kentucky plastics plant shot his supervisor, four co-workers and himself to death.

Constitutional rights are not absolute. The First Amendment guarantees free speech, but that does not mean that laws cannot prohibit some spoken words, like threats to commit imminent violent acts. The rights gun owners have to own guns should be balanced against public-safety interests.

This harmful decision, which hands the far right a victory, is a reminder of why voters need to have the Supreme Court firmly in mind when they vote for the president this fall.

Iraq and Karma

(For information on this image of Thich Quang Duc, click here.)

The U.S. led Iraq invasion and occupation is a crime in progress. The president, vice-president and members of the cabinet and administration have committed fraud leading to war, violated the United States Constitution, broken international laws, and authorized war crimes.

It was a failure of our other elected officials, the press, and ultimately the American people to have let this happen. I am not a lawyer, but the question would be what responsibility does one have as he or she passively watches a homicide being committed?

After five years in Iraq, the U.S. military has suffered over 33,000 casualties, more than 29,000 wounded and 4,000 dead, and it remains engulfed by three converging currents that constitute the Iraq War – the underlying military conflict, the battle for political control, and grinding civil strife. (Click here for more information.)

Because there is no functioning national government in Iraq, outside authorities must be relied upon for some information. The Opinion Research Business in January, 2008, gave the Iraqi violent death estimate as a range of 946,000 to 1,120,000, since the 2003 U.S. invasion.

The Buddha taught that all beings live within the law of Karma. Through the law of karma, the effects of all deeds actively create past, present, and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to him/her and others.

Christians have a similar statement in the New Testament : "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6)

I believe that both perspectives are true. So we must ask ourselves "What exactly have we sown in Iraq? What shall we reap?"

Buddhists believe that all life is precious. "No killing" is the first Precept. For those who have, with intent and foresight, harmed or caused harm, their future is set within the law of Karma. This isn't judgment; just a statement of cause and effect.

But how are the many Americans to be viewed, having allowed this continued killing?

We the People . . . our responsibility

The United States Constitution defines who we are. It sets the boundaries for what our government can or cannot do. It makes us a free people.

I hear many discussions about what is right or wrong with America. There are many opinions out there. In my view, all of these opinions must be taken to the central authority for our nation: How do these opinions square with what's in the Constitution?

An opinion which contradicts the Constitution is invalid. To deny a person free speech, or to promote public religion, or prohibit private religion, or to search without a warrant, or to detain without trial are all violations of the Constitution.

When our leaders fail to protect and defend the Constitution, and pursue to political (or even criminal) purposes, they should be held to accounts.

We the people are responsible for knowing the Constitution. We the people can either keep it alive, or we can watch it perish.

Learn more here.