DEADLINE EXTENDED (AGAIN)! The “Not a Plutocracy?” $20 Challenge

Given the way the health care debate has gone, it now seems that the insurance and pharmaceutical companies (a/k/a the “medical-industrial complex”) will once again come out on top, despite the express wishes of a good-sized chunk of the American people for some kind of public/government-funded insurance  option. The corporations and their lackeys have pulled out all the stops to confuse and frighten the American public.  Corporate control of politicians and media seems practically unshakeable.  This leads me to wonder if we oughtn’t just make a few little tweaks to the Constitution and codify what appear to be the facts-on-the-ground: that this is actually a plutocratic country, with decisions being made by the wealthiest folks, for the benefit of the wealthiest folks, all dressed up in a cynical “democratic” shell.

But maybe I’m wrong.  Maybe this really is still a democracy.  Maybe there are times when the wealthy interests lose out (or at least don’t get everything they want) in favor of the general welfare, or in response to the wishes of the people .  Maybe there are even times when wealthy interests VOLUNTARILY take a hit because it would serve the greater good.

So here’s the deal.  I’ve got $20 (not much, I know, but this SHOULD be easy, right?) that I will give to the person who can offer the most convincing evidence refuting the following assertion: “At present, the United States of America is a de facto plutocracy.”

This evidence could be presented in the form of an essay, a video rant, a list of facts, a dramatic dialogue, an interpretive dance, a crayon drawing scrawled on a napkin, a PowerPoint preso, whatever. My decision will be my own, quite possibly arbitrary, and it’ll be final. If I can’t make a final decision among a bunch of similarly-qualified entrants, I’ll commit some random act to determine the winner.  I also reserve the right to declare NO winner at all. All entries remain property of their creators, so you can republish or do whatever you want (that’s only fair), but by sending in your entry you grant me permission to publish it on this blog.  Send your entry (or a URL pointer to it) to smendler[at]yahoo.com; include the word “PLUTOCRACY” in the subject line.  Deadline (twice extended!) is 11:59:59 PM ET on OCTOBER 31, 2010.  Good luck!

“RESOLVED: the USA is a Plutocracy”…?

Well, no one has yet offered any cogent arguments that the US is not a plutocracy … so maybe the next step introduce a simple Congressional Resolution that would explicitly recognize Plutocracy, not Democracy, as the de facto governing system of the United States.  Cut to the chase, stop the hypocrisy… I think the ensuing discussion could be very interesting and enlightening.  Would the American people oppose admitting the truth?  What do you think?

In the meantime, I’m gonna research the wording of Congressional resolutions, and see if I can come up with something that looks good… I’ll add language to this post when I do.

---

RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS, both the cost of federal campaigns and the political value of a seat in Congress have steadily spiraled upward in recent years; and

WHEREAS these circumstances necessitate the raising of increasingly large sums from special interests to finance electoral campaigns; and

WHEREAS this system requires that large donors be given special political access to lawmakers, and provided wideranging influence over federal budgets, earmarks, regulations, lawmaking and public policy in general; and

WHEREAS such a system is inherently undemocratic; and

WHEREAS it will be a cold day in Hell before we enact any meaningful reforms of the electoral system;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Congress acknowledges the obvious fact, that Plutocracy, not Democracy, should be considered the de facto governing principle of the United States of America.

“(Diggin’ Out Our) Winter Wonderland”

There’s a big storm a-comin’
Sales of shovels are hummin’
They say nine to ten
Oh no not again
We’ll be diggin’ out our winter wonderland

Gone for now are the snowbirds
Ten to twelve, that’s what I heard
The snowblower putts
As we’re freezin’ our butts
Diggin’ out our winter wonderland

(bridge)
In the morning I’ll dig out my driveway
Maybe I can get to work by 10
I’ll be happy when I’ve done my driveway
Until the snowplow fills it up again

Later on when we’re achin’
And the Advil we’re takin’
I’ll need a back rub
A soak in the hot tub
After diggin’ out our winter wonderland

(repeat bridge)

Later on when we’re achin’
We will plan our vacation
My town I won’t leave
But I could use a reprieve
From diggin’ out our winter wonderland

Well, there it is

Didja hear AEI’s Alex Pollock on NPR yesterday?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121433401

>>
SIEGEL: So, a banker comes out of the meeting with President Obama at the White House and goes back to his bank, to his executives and to his board. Can he say, Mr. Pollock, “this is – look, the president wants from us. I’ve got to do this. Remember, you know, what they did for us…”

{POLLOCK bursts out laughing)

SIEGEL: I think you’ve answered my question.
<<

Arrogant SOB, wouldn't you say?

A Dylan Carol

Bob Dylan, as you may have heard, recently did released an album of Christmas standards. Reviews have been, uh, mixed. Nonetheless, here’s a piece of what we might have expected instead….

I ain’t gonna work in Santa’s Workshop no more
I ain’t gonna work in Santa’s Workshop no more
They make me follow the rules like any other elf
Never get a chance to just be by myself
These pointy shoes they make my feet so sore
I ain’t gonna work in Santa’s Workshop no more

I ain’t gonna work for Mrs Claus no more
I ain’t gonna work for Mrs Claus no more
Well, yeah, she’s nice and yeah, she’s sweet
But she’s obsessive-compulsive when it comes to bein’ neat
She’ll make ya lick the crumbs off the workshop floor
I ain’t gonna work for Mrs Claus no more

I ain’t gonna work with Rudolph no more
I ain’t gonna work with Rudolph no more
His stall’s all decked out like a N’Orleans bordello
And although for all the stardom he’s a nice enough fellow
No one can sleep between the blinking and the snore
I ain’t gonna work with Rudolph no more

THE PEACE AND JUSTICE FILES: GETTING OUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER

Here’s my column for December:

In one of those interesting coincidences, my father’s death came a few hours after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, one of the events generally seen as marking the start of the so-called “financial meltdown” of 2008. So this year, between those events and the healthcare debate, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the financial system… and mortality. The two, I’ve come to realize, are deeply intertwined.

Consider the language of simplicity: in talking about creating more sustainable lifestyles, we frequently use phrases like “slowing down,” “cutting back” and “letting go” – and aren’t those phrases that we might use when speaking to an aged relative, or to someone who’s terminally ill?

It is the language of “getting our affairs in order” – in other words, of preparation for death.

No wonder the idea is having a hard time getting through to some people.

But it’s true: something really is dying, something that we are each parts of, and that forms a part of each of us. Our consumption-oriented culture is coming to the end of its natural life, as are the philosophies that fueled it. The good news is that there is something better waiting on the other side of the transition – but nonetheless, just as with our personal deaths, it’s understandably tough for us to accept the idea, much less to prepare accordingly.

In hospice and bereavement groups, we learn about the so-called “stages” of dealing with death identified by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross – denial, anger, bargaining, despair, and acceptance. The process is not strictly sequential, as it happens – we can pass from any one stage to any other, and may revisit each one repeatedly.

But there is yet another possible stage: serenity, even joy, if we can not only accept but embrace what is happening, understand it within its larger context, and look ahead to the future. The process can also be seen as one of healing, of completion and summation, of not just “passing on” per se but passing something of value on to those who will follow. Unburdening ourselves of what is not essential, rediscovering and reconnecting with what is truly essential, we find our spirits no longer encumbered.

We can look on this transition in another way, too. Twenty years ago, the peoples of Eastern Europe saw that their systems of governance and economics were no longer functional – and like flocks of birds that realize the time for migration has arrived, they moved. The time has come for us to move as well.

Not everyone wants to move, of course, or sees the need to move. We see the denial, the bargaining, the anger everywhere. We clutch at straws. We think we can squeeze a few more years’ energy out of the rocks, rather than moving to sustainable energy sources. We pretend that there will be no changes to our oceans and atmosphere, rather than contemplate how much we waste unnecessarily. We demand to keep what we have, rather than think about we will leave for others after we are gone.

Nevertheless, the diagnosis is in. It’s alright: you can let go now.

What to do with those wornout shoes

Just a reminder from the Bush Regime Memorial Society:

Don’t forget, December 14 is SHOE DAY – the anniversary of the famous George W. Bush shoe-throwing incident.  To commemorate the occasion, and re-emphasize our rejection of the Bush Regime’s policies, send your old/useless/wornout/decrepit shoes (sandals, flipflops, boots, whatever, dead footwear of all kinds) to

George W. Bush Foundation, PO Box 600610, Dallas TX 75206

or

George W. Bush Library, 1725 Lakepointe Drive, Lewisville, TX 75057

We recommend shipment by no later than December 10.

(If they’re still wearable, of course, donate ‘em to a local charity instead.)

We Couldn’t Stop The Fire

Twenty years have passed since Billy Joel released “We Didn’t Start the Fire” – and a lot of stuff has happened since then! So I’m trying to create some updated lyrics. I will edit this post as I get more stuff…and please use the comments to make your own suggestions! It’s easy – pick a year, take a couple of events or personalities from that year…

We Couldn’t Stop the Fire

Let’s pick up where we left off
“Tear this wall down Gorbachev”
Cold War crashes to an end
Hey, where’s that peace dividend?

MAD COW MEATBALL SONG

(you know the tune)

On top of spaghetti
All covered with cheese
I found out my meatball
Had Mad Cow Disease

I died when I ate it
Won’t do that again
Sure wish I had been a
Ve-ge-ta-ri-an!

The Peace and Justice Files: WANTED: NEW ISMS

Conservatism… Liberalism… Centrism… Socialism… Communalism… Leninism … Marxism… Maotseism… Communism… Trotskyism… Fidelism… Fascism…

– from “Under Heavy Manners” by David Byrne and Robert Fripp

The Nasty Word of the Day was… “socialism.”

The day before Election Day found me in Honesdale’s Central Park, hanging out with some members of CLEAR, the local “Tea Party” group (clear4teaparty.com).  In keeping with the saying of one of my teachers that “people who make you squirm probably have something to teach you,” I had decided to come to their rally, say a few uncontroversial words, and mostly listen.

It was, as you might imagine, a very interesting experience – and yes, I did learn a few things.  I learned some things about the Tea Party view of the world, about their fears, and about their internal contradictions and paradoxes.

Here’s how the Wayne Independent described one of the other speeches: “Sue Ubertini warned of a perceived slide towards socialism in this country, where the Christian foundation of worth in the individual is replaced with the worth of the collective. A socialist regime, she said, is run by an elite class that decided what is best for you, anathema to our Nation’s Founding Fathers.”

That seemed to be one of the themes of the day – that there were two choices to be had, and only two: “collectivism” (under which the Tea Partiers lump “socialism” “communism,” “fascism,” “atheism,” “liberalism” etc.) and “individualism” (a/k/a “capitalism,” “patriotism,” “Americanism,” “conservatism” etc.).  One was good, one was evil.  You’re with us, or you’re against us.

The only problem being, of course, that both concepts are oversimplified, insufficient – and perhaps even obsolete.

To sociologists, each has two aspects: “horizontal” (emphasizing equality) or “vertical” (emphasizing hierarchy and order).  Under “horizontal collectivism,” which is based on the assumption that each individual is more or less equal, people engage in sharing and cooperation.  “Vertical collectivism” assumes that individuals are fundamentally different from each other, and people are made to submit to authority, even to the point of self-sacrifice.  (It will be immediately clear that anti-collectivists get a lot of mileage out of conflating these two.)

Similarly, “horizontal” individualists might be characterized by the phrase “live and let live,” while “vertical” individualists strive not only to excel – but to dominate.

Individualism and collectivism, in their vertical aspects, can both lead to oppression and tyranny.  Neither really addresses the question of how society should adapt to changing circumstances, or how to balance our rights and our responsibilities as citizens.  Neither is up to the task of maintaining sufficiency, let alone prosperity, in an environmentally and economically interconnected world of growing population and shrinking resources.

But still we seem to be trapped in this old, outdated, 19^th-century argument.  I want some new isms.

I want some new isms
Thoughts that might make some sense
That don’t make the world too simple
That don’t make the world too dense

I want some new isms
Ones that might do some good
That might bring about a better time
Without shedding all that blood

Ones that don’t make me frantic
Wondering who to blame
Ones that give me hope that things won’t always be the same
Always be the same…

– with apologies to Huey Lewis

Beginning Nov. 3: Aikido class at Himalayan Institute Main Street, Honesdale

It’s official – I’ll be teaching a class entitled “Aikido: Self Defense with a Peaceful Spirit” at the Himalayan Institute’s Main Street facility, 630 Main Street in Honesdale PA, beginning on Tuesday November 3.  The class will meet from 4:15-5:15 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each class is $7 for members, $10 for nonmembers.  Come join us!