Ferguson

I've stayed away from attempting to understand what happened in Ferguson, Missouri. The entire incident is racially tinged and incredibly traumatic for that community. The incident is another example why a race remains a problem in our society. As the case drew on, I started to look at it from a legal perspective.

The science apparently has spoken which gave officer Wilson the path to self-defense. While there are witnesses in conflict apparently the science corroborates the contention that Michael Brown was the aggressor and officer Wilson had no alternative but to respond using deadly force.

It is unfortunate that the entirety of the situation has been impugned by the systemic breakdown of the criminal justice system. In nearly every step of the process, the police, the mayor, the prosecutor, the governor all did their part to corrupt the process. This isn't to say that every officer is bad, I do not honestly believe that. But when you have the likes of officer Wilson who apparently has a past that could be racially provocative then we are left with a great deal of uncertainty with the performance of someone who is supposed to uphold the laws of land.

But what transpired on the grand jury panel can almost be deduced as being criminally negligent. Never in the history of the grand jury process has a defendant been entitled to defend themselves by testimony or statement on their behalf to determine if charges were to be levied against them. Even Anton Scalia agrees ... http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/11/26/3597322/justice-scalia-explains-what-was-wrong-with-the-ferguson-grand-jury/

 The grand jury in Ferguson was allowed to hear the officers testimony and to take that into consideration and their deliberation. The prosecutor not just fumbled the process but did everything he could to protect the officer.

The entire grand jury process was a farce and a waste of time. The prosecutor did everything they could to ensure that the officer would not be charged while at the same time appeasing the civil unrest of Ferguson by going through this process. Instead of recusing himself and being replaced by a special prosecutor, he was adamant to remain on the case

Is there any wonder why the African-American community would be upset by this?

This is an egregious travesty of justice when the process is tainted and heavily biased from the onset. Anyone who is interested in trying to figure out why there is a race disparity in this country only needs to examine what happened in Ferguson as being a clear indicator for a broken system.

Really John?

“Finding common ground is going to be hard work, but it will be even harder if the president isn’t willing to work with us,” Mr. Boehner said in a news conference on Capitol Hill.

Considering this President had reached out to the Republicans CONTINUALLY for the last six years, trying to get them to work with him on legislation ... I consider Mr. Boehner's rhetoric attempt as gutless and disingenuous.

If only Americans really looked at the tally of things over the broader scale. 

- Unemployment = down
- Wages = still stagnant
- Veteran's benefits = still a big problem
- DOW = up
- gas prices = coming down
- US economy = continues to rise
- Budget deficit = returning back to pre-recession levels
- gun ownership = same
- immigration = still a problem
- LGBT rights = improving (finally)
- Another 9/11 = nope
- healthcare system = improved

What's really to fix here John?  Oh wait.  The reason why John is forcing this is because it happened on a Democratic watch.  Republicans have nothing to show for it - and Democrats (in their own "let's shoot ourselves in the foot" way of thinking) failed to latch onto the progress that has been made already.

In the news: Fox discourages young people from voting

Their rationale is nothing but ironic:

"Do we want them [young people] to vote if they don't know the issues?" Harris Faulkner asked Wednesday afternoon.
"No!" Lisa Kennedy Montgomery answered. "You absolutely don't!"
"Do you really want to motivate them to vote and be ignorant at the polls?" Faulkner continued.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/fox-hosts-young-people-vote-elections-youth-voters_n_5953798.html

I posit this:

Folks that watch Fox News should also be included in that bunch given that they have routinely been found to be incompetent regarding the issues. 

Snark? 

No, fact.

Keep doing what you're doing.... No really!

I recently read an article where an incumbent Republican from Kansas is in danger of losing his governorship to an independent. At first this didn't raise an eyebrow or anything about it. What it did do was make me cheer on the incumbent Republican to stay to the script. No hedging, no misinterpretation, no fudging. Stay to the script.

Why?

Because it is time for America to see Republicans for who they are. They want to repeal Obamacare even though the number of uninsured has dropped to its lowest level since 1990. They want to secure more tax breaks for businesses who send American jobs overseas. They want to become more invasive and to eliminate basic rights of Americans because "if you have nothing to hide then there shouldn't be a problem."

The problem with the Republicans is where their core beliefs are located. They dwell in the pit of some unknown donor box carefully crafted by corporations who really don't give a damn about Americans. Republicans are steadfast to protect the interest of the shareholder over the interest of their constituents.

That's why I want Republicans to stay on message. Keep these flawed beliefs and don't come off of them. Remain true to yourselves or continue to be the obnoxious hypocrites you're set to be.

Eventually America will get it.

Benghazi all the time

I understand the folks at Fox News have a particular beef when it comes to this president and what happened in Benghazi. When I don't quite understand is how many investigative bodies that have investigated the incident have said that there was nothing inappropriate this administration did. It all comes back to the fabled birth certificate debacle. "When are we going to see the true birth certificate?"

Making the reach of comparing the NFL issues with Benghazi is nothing short of spectacular!

I swear to God these folks get a bonus each time they can correlate anything or any news story having to do with Benghazi:

"There's a cold front coming in from Canada, but when are we going to hear the truth on Benghazi?"

"Yesterday and there was a car accident on the interstate that involved a cleanup, why can't the Obama administration come clean on Benghazi?"

"Today's winning lotto numbers are 2, 14, 16, 22, 30 and 47.  Now if only we can have the records of the Obama administration's handling of Benghazi."

"This NBA broadcast is brought to you by head and shoulders, the makers of hair shampoo and other fine salon products. Now if only Obama would come clean on his own Benghazi dandruff."

It gets to the point of being completely stupid and phony. They consider themselves to be a journalistic entity but they sure as hell don't act like one.

Freedom? Really?

I've been reading about Daniele Watts' incident with the LAPD and ... again ... I forget that there are a lot of stupid people in the universe.

"They ask to see her ID, produce the ID."

But she did nothing wrong. That's the problem with the logic of "don't hide anything if you have nothing to hide." For those that believe that it is perfectly okay for law enforcement to go walking up somebody, demand to see their ID, without any reason, any suspicion or any cause is just insane.

We don't live in a police state. The founders would never agree to that even after what transpired on 9/11. Our liberties are worth so much more than the government that wants to suppress it.

When the police circumvent the laws and protections in an egregious manner with no provocation then it is an abuse of power. That isn't to say that we don't have a crime problem in this country, but if you have questionable motives while attempting to enforce those rules and laws - then the system is equally problematic.

For those that believe that there is no problem for law enforcement to stop and ask someone questions and to detain them by handcuffing and throwing them in a police car then I would assume that the same people have no problem with law enforcement breaking into their homes to double check and make sure that the guns that they own actually belong to them.

After all, if you have nothing to hide then cooperate. See how that works?

Tired ...

I make absolutely no apologies for being who I am.  I fully realize I'm on the extreme left side of things and I'm perfectly okay with that.  I choose to be an idealist for humanity than a protector of capitalism.  From where I stand, the soul of humanity isn't governed by wealth, but by doing the right things.  I know there are those on the opposite side that say the same thing.  We can respectfully disagree on things - that's fine.

But I'm finding that the "reason" why folks think as they do has very little to do with actual factual reasoning.  The blindness - the willful and complete blindness by my right side counterparts can almost be described as completely insane.  The hypocrisy is alarming and yet they don't care one iota.  They remain smitten that they don't have to be accountable for anything or anyone because "we're right because I heard or read that I am."

Really?

It's an absolute waste of time attempting to argue with folks that can't rationally acknowledge their irrational inconsistencies.  They abhor progress because it disrupts their ultimate game plan of acquisition.  In their universe: nothing else matters.  It's "he who dies with the most toys, wins" mentality which can't be rationalized in the scheme of humanity.

Our founding fathers wanted us to be civil towards one another, to respectfully disagree - but accept the progress of society.  We have none of that.  We continually dwell in our uncivil nature as it continues to push our nation in a downward angle.

So - I'm tired.

I'm tired of the bullshit.
I'm tired of the hypocrisy.
I'm tired of the stubbornness.
I'm tired of the double standards and the expectations that it's okay to be self-absorbed at the expense of everyone else in the world.

We're in retro-progress ... and we are falling behind fast.  Other nations continue to make advances to further their countries.  What's the US doing?  We're bickering and can't agree on table settings.  We are obsessed with gossip and have no willpower to fix problems.

With the ineptness of Congress, I'd personally like every single one fired that ever used the filibuster to contain the progress that could've been made as a country.  I'd like to see those that are adamantly defending corporations to be removed from public office because CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE (for the love of all things Zeus!)

Folks that defend corporations are only defending them because they overwhelming majority of Americans aren't for your party.  Republicans have fought to control the media and the influence behind it so that they can continue their shoestring connection with the governing process.  You see, Republicans know that if it was a fair fight, head to head, they'd lose without their corporate backings because their policies fail in the face of the average American.  They continually pull the wool over those that defend them ... and with blind assurances as their measure - they are vilified and feel vindicated.

So.  To those folks that can't rationally understand their shortcomings, I can't help you anymore.  You're mired in the muck that you simply have no desire to get out of.  For those folks who continue to thwart the progress of this country, I'm removing you from my life.  You're no longer in my conscience or on my Facebook feed.  You're no longer the annoying insignificant gnat.  I'm not longer following you on twitter or wherever your little universe is.

I'm done.  Fin. 

The moment you can be a productive member of SOCIETY that makes it about others and not about self-serving your own singular purpose - then we can probably finally begin a meaningful dialogue about solving the problems we face ... together.  In the meantime, keep playing with pennies in light sockets and using hairdryers in the shower.  Oh and if you do that, you'll become more enlightened.  Moreover that logic (and yours, Republicans) comes from the internet so "god it has to be true then."

*bangs head against wall*

Wait, what?

I almost couldn't believe when I read another article about the situation in Missouri. Apparently the chief of police is rather upset that the public has become outraged at the conduct of his officers. He openly defends their conduct and doesn't see a problem ... And that's a problem.

"A whole bunch of what you'd call citizen journalists, who were sitting with cameras recording, waiting for something stupid to happen, which they got. They won on this one," Jimenez told the publication.

First off, referring to citizen journalists is a bit hypocritical when your police force is caught in outright lies. Secondly, they are witnesses to the conduct that your officers exhibited during the Ferguson situation. Thirdly, it really goes to the training that the officers got if a video camera is simply the means to "wait for something stupid to happen."

I understand that you stand behind your police force as they have endured a great deal over the last couple of weeks, but what the chief doesn't understand is that if we have to protect ourselves by filming events to ensure that an unbiased witness (i.e. the camera) can correctly recall and otherwise ensure the integrity of the process, then there is no more doubts. Things can be taken out of context and reports can be skewed and twisted to whatever end. But it's not our fault that the police didn't exercise greater restraint.

Not when you have gems like this on your force:

In another incident, Glendale Officer Matthew Pappert was fired Thursday after posting on Facebook that Ferguson protesters should be "put down like rabid dogs" and asked where "is a Muslim with a backpack when you need them?"

 Don't blame us for your own internal hatred. Not my issue, it's yours former officer Pappert ....

No National Divide? Think again ...

I blogged yesterday about the unrest happening in Missouri.

So it's not too surprising to hear of the support for the officer that shot the unarmed Michael Brown.

Is there a racial divide occurring in this country?  Of course there is ... and has been all along.  For whites to "settle" for a black man to become President doesn't mark the end of racism or the racial divide that has occurred for generations. If anything, it's fleshing out the resent on both sides.

Even with the emergence of civil rights, many whites thought: "okay, that's done."  It doesn't work that way.  It has to be maintained, the conversation has to be ongoing and the healing is a continual process.  You're not expected to run when your broken leg comes out of the cast.  Even when it becomes healthy, you have to take steps so that you don't get hurt again.

America needs to have a racial dialogue while pursuing equal justice for all.

It's the equal part that doesn't quite seem to be playing out correctly here.  Our actions, our beliefs, our words are all subject to scrutiny even though we piously stand with our rights affirmed by the hatred we hide behind.

The problem is: a lot of folks are blind to that hatred.  They immediately dismiss it like they don't carry a bias or a prejudice.  Those descriptions are mean and harsh ... and apparently reserved for "other people," not them.  Well, I hate to break it down for those folks, but we all have bias, we all have prejudice and if we aren't bold enough to walk across the street to stop an injustice from occurring, then we are just as guilty to let that injustice happen in the first place.

Ignorance plays us all for the fool we care to be.

Why the surprise folks?

As the events of Ferguson, Missouri (and the rest of the state) continue to unfold, there's comments in a lot of social media demonstrating surprise about what has happened in the Show Me state.

Surprise?

"Yes, surprise.  This kind of thing doesn't happen in America."

What doesn't happen in America ... exactly?

"These people rioting and causing chaos."

Have you ever watched water boil?  How the water seems so perfectly calm ... how small bubble may form before the water becomes turbulent and violent.

"Yeah, so?"

*sighs*

And so it goes....

It's not rocket science.  Shooting an unarmed black male and then ramping up the reaction with a militarized presence is throwing gasoline to already hot fire.  Now it's even more out of control and thankfully the press is actually doing their job to report what's happening.  Not through a skewed lens of the police spokesperson, but risking their lives to report on the conflict.

In the heartland of the country - a race war is underway.

So when folks communicate surprise to the situation, I shake my head.  There has been an ongoing amount of injustice suffered by African Americans and even though things like this is reminiscent of a dark period in our history, the underlying problems still exist.

The only surprise here is that folks still don't understand how we got here in the first place.

Wait, what?

I was saddened that the news of the death of James Brady, Ronald Reagan's Press Secretary who was shot in the early 80s. It was a remarkable that he lasted as long as he did given the injuries that he sustained. May he finally rest in peace.

One very curious thing has happened since his death. The corner has ruled his death a homicide. I do believe this creates a bit of a problem as there would be the presence of double jeopardy and to the best of my knowledge there is no legal precedence for charging someone with a homicide given they have lived longer than a reasonable window of expectation.

I do believe this finding may create additional problems legally and civilly because it establishes a precedent that if you are harmed tomorrow and yet you are able to continue to live several years before your death then the responsible parties could then potentially be sued for your death. I believe this creates a legal paradox and it will be interesting to see how the courts eventually rule on such a thing.

There won't be peace anytime soon

The ongoing war happening between the Palestinian people in the Israelis has now entered into its third week. A shaky truce has been violated in the war continues.

It's astounding to come across people who truly don't understand what's happening in the Middle East. The Palestinian people have nowhere to go and yet everybody asks why don't they just leave? I'm sure they would if they could but they can't.

It doesn't come without of irony given the plate of the Jewish people in the 20th century. Let's not forget that Israel came about after World War II. The plight of the Jewish people cannot be underestimated as there was continual death, degradation, humiliation and the near extinction of people in the Jewish faith. The world owed the Jewish people an opportunity to grow and flourish after the atrocities of World War II.

Unfortunately the relocation and eventual recognition of Israel today came at the cost of destabilizing many Arabs, Palestinians, Egyptians, Syrians from their homes.

In essence, the remaining Jewish population pushed out an existing population.

One can see the reason why animosity exists in the region.

This doesn't mean that I am against the Jewish people forming a country. I have a great deal of sympathy for what they lost in Germany and in Russia and in France. The problem is that the Jewish people find themselves entitled to the land that they now defend when in reality they have conquered the indigenous people that live there a lot longer than they did.

Folks tend to forget about the history and how the Middle East conflict has come to be. I know people have their reasons for defending one side or the other, but in the end what ultimately matters is for two groups of people to set aside differences, to respect one another, and to peacefully coexist as neighbors in an ongoing volatile neighborhood.

History dictates that this is not possible. As much as people want to condemn Hamas and their terrorist activities, the other vantage point is that they are trying to liberate themselves from an oppressive force. Their homes have been destroyed. Their families have been decimated. The value of life on both sides of the equation has been dropped to a pitiful "tit for tat" exchange.

I'm not placing blame on either side because both sides are complicit in their behavior. I'm merely trying to even the scales of perception so that we do not forget the historical basis of how this conflict originally began. If both sides were convincingly aware of this then perhaps we would have a better roadmap to peace in the Middle East.

Some are calling for the destruction of Hamas. Experts agree that the destruction of Hamas may only lead to a greater monster with more firepower than Israel faces today. The call for peace and coexistence can't be a greater call at this point in history. We stand to lose a lot if we don't start acting today.

My sympathies go out to the affected on both sides of the conflict. May both sides in the world open their eyes to collectively understand the issue and to be able to respond appropriately to a peaceful resolution.

Sean - you're ignorant

Sean Hannity has been exchanging video jibes with Russell Brand lately.  What Sean doesn't understand about himself is that he's incapable of looking at a subject like the middle east objectively.

Yes, Sean.  We understand you're defending the Israelis.  We get it.

What we don't get is how you can justify a disproportional response of civilian deaths like it's somehow appropriate to kill so many people.

Sean, you effectively ignore the history of the region by saying that "Hamas started all this."

*sighs*

No Sean.  Review your history and take a moment to digest what happened to the people of Palestine.

Do I have sympathy for Israel?  I do.  I do think Israel sometimes acts over the top and Hamas responds in kind.  Neither side has been exceptionally great at establishing peace, but both sides are wonderful at pointing fingers at the other.

If Sean's goal is to be an adversary, then he needs to stop what he's doing and become a gladiator in some sort of death match if that's going to satisfy his blood lust that he has for this conflict.

One more thing Sean: you'll want to avoid having Russell on your show.  Yes he may come across rather nutty, but the man has more facts than you. 

The Dangers of Russia

If you're not concerned - you should be.

Russia is poised to become the threat it once was.  Vladamir is doing what's natural for Russian leaders: do whatever you want, screw the consequences. 

It's dangerous territory and the world let him have a bit too much leash.  Unfortunately for all of us, the repercussions of letting Vlad go out and about ... is now we have a nuclear player gone rogue.

It comes down to this: Russia wants the Ukraine for obvious reasons (um, oil - hello!)  So Russia seizes a moment where the Ukraine was vulnerable and just slipped right in before anyone could react.

I know Republicans are blaming Obama - but they blame him for the sun rising each day, so it's moot to take their points seriously.

Who is to blame then?

I'm going out on a limb to say it's nobody's fault - as Vlad took it upon himself to act for the betterment of Russia. 

I've studied 19th century European history.  There's the David Hume reference to "The Balance of Power" by which you ensure everyone has equal dominance so that countries don't fight one another.  The belief is that once these countries fight - it'll end in stalemate while both sides losing heavily in terms of people and having their economies ruined.

When there's a power vacuum as what has taken place in the Ukraine, it's not unheard of for another country to run in and put their flag on their capital.

The world is supposed to run on a system of checks and balances ... but if we're going to play the role of world cop - then exactly how to Republicans expect to FUND being a world cop? 

It's laughable ...

Is it willful?

I'm consistently amazed at how folks view the world around them.  When presented with factual content to the contrary, there almost appears to be a willful ignorance to maintain their own reality.

It's astounding how much bias has entered the foray anymore.

Literally: if we lived in the era where the roundness of the earth was still resolved and agreed upon ... how many folks would willfully stow their bias in the name of needing to be right?

What got me going?

Comments on FB - where folks were applauding Gov. Perry's option to send national guardsmen to the border to "protect" Texas.

Most of the comments blame Obama - okay.

But when Obama challenged the Republicans to pass comprehensive immigration reform, where are those commenters now?  Still pining over what happened in Benghazi?  Seriously folks ... c'mon.

Obama can only do so much when you have an ass dragging Congress who has completely lost touch with reality.  Instead of being sensible, we've become divisive.  Instead of being realistic, we've become obstinate.  Instead of being reasonable, we've become accusatory.

I'm reminded of those completely idiotic beer commercials:

"Taste great!"
"Less Filling!"

"Taste great!"
"Less Filling!"

.... if the national conversation has been reduced to that of a 1970's alcoholic beverage commercial then the human race has all but lost.  Enough with the bullshit.

How is this even possible?

Politician lies.
They bold face lie.
They are proven to be wrong.

They get re-elected as if they are the terminator.

They keep coming back no matter how bad they perished the scene before.

How is this even possible?

The science is still out on that ....

Unfortunately the earth is still flat if conservatives have their way.

*sighs*

Okay.

Science hasn't always been right.  (There I said it.)  In fact, science is based on a lot of theory because it's difficult to prove such things otherwise.

HOWEVER ...

Let's use some common sense about the basics as we know it.

If we stop embracing what science tells us - then we're only going to revert into a country that's lagging behind in science (oops, we are now.)  To deny that "the science is out" basically eliminates nearly everything around us from manufacturing, to computers, to the internet, to the clothing we wear or the houses we live in.  It negates your existence to view this entry.  Period.

We are all products of innovations made as a result of science.

Think on that when you want to utter "the science is still out on that."

Can scientists disagree?  Absolutely.  It wouldn't be a peer-reviewed setting if other scientists didn't test and refute their findings based on scientific fact.

Read that again.

It's not faith-based fact.
It's scientific fact.
It's not based on money.
It's not based on capitalism.
It's not based on some political leaning.
It's a basis of fact conceived through scientific principles that man has relied on from the beginning.

When you have scientists - saying: "this (insert thing here) is happening," then it should be at least considered.  At the very least the information should be examined and thoughtfully considered.  Even if it cuts against what you have known, science tests our ability to rationalize the process and conclusions reached by someone else's study.

Good scientists keep an open mind at all times and don't shut doors.

Will there be dissenters?  Yes.

Will there be disagreements? Yes.
Will there be conflicting opinions?  Yes.
Can scientists be bought to say whatever they're paid to say?  Yes.

Good scientists can dismiss the distractions and focus on the applicable science before them.  Good scientists won't be swayed by political opinions, personal beliefs or peer pressure.

The problem with science is that it is as easily corruptible as journalism has become.  With an infusion of politics - how can we expect scientists to remain professionally neutral when there's money, funding and careers at stake?

The narrative isn't: "does climate change exist or not."  The real narrative is: "how can we rely that our scientists are looking at the evidence without skewed lenses?"

It's perfectly okay to disagree on account of fact and evidence.  I'm all over that.  But I can prove to you that the earth is not flat because we have a curvature thing going on and we have some pictures from others that have (supposedly) been to space that can prove the earth is round.

If your science says the earth is still flat despite my evidence and if you're going to stand by that, then it's going to be impossible to agree.  Further: it is flawed to rely on an outdated, proven otherwise belief.  We are beyond that now.  Why keep with the ... "I don't know, the science may still be out on that" bit?

Let's skip forward a bit to climate change.

It's completely naive to believe that human existence has not affected the earth. 
- Species have died and have gone extinct because of us.  59 different species that once roamed the earth no longer do because of our interference in their existence.
- We have rerouted water supplies to suit our needs while changing the ecosystem that benefited from the original source water.
- We have plowed the earth to plant crops over existing land, plants and animals.  We have disrupted our ecosystem for the basis of pro-profit farming and ranching.
- We have cities that cover fields of earth with tar and asphalt so that we can park our vehicles.
- We poison and pollute the water supplies by dumping our refuse into streams and lakes to "tolerable levels" because manufacturers and factories don't have any other place to dump their shit after.
- We exhausted our earth's resources so that we're afforded luxuries and other "necessities" we have in our lives.  Our homes.  Our cars.  Our jobs.

We also live in a society that focuses on the capitalistic greed.  When there is an obvious and apparent financial motivation involved, then that should be figured into someone's prevailing opinion.  It's a belief process that has been woven into the politics and belief structure of our society.  When that belief or an intervening bias that interferes with the scientific analysis, then that opinion is tainted and can't be considered reliable.

There's the grand conspiracy by climate change deniers that there's a huge financial windfall involved with the climate change movement.  One tiny problem: there's no proof.  None.  If there's a conspiracy then show me the money.  Except - there is money at stake when it comes to the deniers as they are protecting their corporate interests.  They are afraid of the constraints and costs involved to protect the environment.  They stand to lose a lot of money if controls are put in place to impede or stop their toxic output.

Now .... to be fair.....

I will fully admit that there's a lot of pressure to "own up to climate change."

Problem: it impedes scientific opinion when the pendulum swings too far in the other direction so that the pressure and influence forces just to get another voice to sign on.

*sighs*

So.

If we can truly admit that there's an overt bias on the right and intense peer pressure from the left, then we can remove the defective opinions and rely on what we know and what we see.

We affect change to animals on this planet: true.
We affect change on the our environment when we lay down roads, when we erect buildings and houses: also true.
We affect change to our water supply by the contaminants we pollute them with: again, true.

So when the argument is made that "the science is out that," I shake my head and close my eyes to the helpless perspective of those that want to sit in denial than consider the evidence seriously without their Mr. Money Bags Monopoly blinders on.

Create an argument rooted in fact and evidence so that it's reliable, then we can have an honest discussion on climate change.

Then maybe we can start working on dismantling that whole "the science is still out with that" bullshit.

The SCOTUS and Congressional debacle

The SCOTUS recently declared that it's okay for businesses to decide what kind of health care coverage to allow for their employees when it comes to contraceptives.

Hobby Lobby declared that it was infringing on their religious beliefs to force them to provide money to insurance companies who will assist women who opt to receive contraception.

O.o

Paint me a skeptic, but this was more than just a infringement on contraception rights.  It was a move to once again attempt to underhandedly move one's morals ahead of another's.  According to SCOTUS, it's apparently okay for businesses to make that decision "because they're paying for it."

Bullshit.

First off: the pendulum that has afforded business and "Christian" organizations the rights they presently enjoy have swung incredibly off the map.  The power and influence these two sides have in our daily lives has become tragically apparent.  It's not what the founders believed in as they would argue that not only should there be a very strong line dividing church and state, they would also reject the idea that "businesses are people too."

The unfortunate rulings by the SCOTUS have impacted and interfered in the role capitalism and Christianity plays in today's society.  They are seeking to become protectionists for systems that are corrupt, flawed, immoral and fundamentally wrong.

It's not the role of the SCOTUS or that of Congress or American government to have a direct relationship with corporations and businesses that are set out to change and redefine the role of capitalism in our society.  Instead of saying: "we shouldn't be involved here," the SCOTUS has openly embraced the intervention into the way these systems operate in our society.  I have no problem with them intervening as a matter of law, but ascribing rights to entities that can't vote seems contra-intuitive.

It's not the role of the SCOTUS to decide one's morality or bestow that right with the employers or organizations that decide that for others.  The protections of this country guarantee a PERSON to decide how they should or shouldn't believe.  It's an individual right that has been stripped from the dialogue and now placed with a bastardized protection scheme that has been misapplied despite it's original intent.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was designed as a protective cover for Native Americans to have a greater amount of religious freedom on their land.  Since the Hobby Lobby ruling, experts now debate that the RFRA has exposed some deep flaws in how laws protect religion and the citizenry.

Just like Congress, the SCOTUS has become a hack for those that want to exploit the flawed laws that pass through Washington.  Instead of being a disinterested, apolitical, unbiased entity that forges an independent mindset, SCOTUS has become a myopic polarizing gang seeking to further political causes (conservative and liberal alike) while providing outs like the RFRA and granting the rights to corporations just like they were citizens.

Think on that for a bit.

We are giving rights to entities by which do not exist.  (Corporations)
We are also giving rights to entities that want no government intervention, but they have no problems influencing the electorate as they see fit. (Religious entities)

Those that decry "big government" are actively exploiting the loopholes that keep turning out bad law and bad rights that ultimately affect all of us.

Hypocrisy knows no bounds and yet no one cares anymore about being a lying sack of shit.

Our three tiered government has failed us.  A system that was supposed to protect this country from making horrible laws and bad decisions has continually demonstrated (in recent times) that special interests, corporations and religious entities are the real "victims" here.

A society that prides itself with its incredibly fabled superiority could have such great promise if it weren't for the continual greed and infection of those that have no inclination to participate - much less improve upon the work established by our ancestors.  Instead of doing what's best and right, we only seek to protect our own because that's what isolationists want.

Change has got to happen.
Change has got to be real and total.

End the hypocrisy and lies.
Become the source of change and an instrument of good.

Together, we can.  The question becomes: will we?

Fox News is craptastic .... issue #451,944

Leave it to Fox to try and prove a point, only to expose themselves in the process:

"Fox News Panel Slams #BringBackOurGirls Hashtag Activism."

In the article:

"But Fox News contributors got a laugh on "Fox News Sunday" in a conversation that began with Chris Wallace wondering if the hashtag could actually "make progress" or was rather simply a tool to make people "feel better about themselves." 

It's about awareness you idiot.

Not everyone is "Benghazi" every minute of the day, Fox.

But to openly come out:

I do not know how adults stand there, facing a camera, and say, 'Bring back our girls.' Are these barbarians in the wilds of Nigeria supposed to check their Twitter accounts and say, 'Uh oh, Michelle Obama is very cross with us, we better change our behavior'?"

"It's trending! It’s trending on Twitter!" Brit Hume then exclaimed, which garnered a chuckle from the rest of the panel.

Not only is it disgraceful, it's tacky.  Not only doesn't it paint your "news" organization has moronic, it paints it stupid and idiotic.

It's but another shining example why the folks at Fox can't be taken seriously and why they should have their media credential suspended.  They are useless hacks in a society that's riddled with their hateful crap.

Defense of stupidity?

Some folks still don't understand the first amendment.

The whole Donald Sterling matter is pretty sad.  It's another instance where a blatant racist can't really find fault in what he believes.  The NBA did what they had to - because it was the right thing to do. 

Free thinkers say their rights are being repressed.

Well that's fine and dandy, except their thinking is the problem.

If those folks can't see that, then they really need to get their lenses checked.  There's a problem with being racist, homophobic and sexist.  There's a problem having a fearful hatred of Muslims, Koreans and other cultures.

Apologies mean little if folks don't see the problem to begin with.

Guns don't kill people ....

There was a shooting in Los Angeles.  Not really news, right?

Except the person shooting was a cop.

The victim in this case was an unarmed male who was trying to assist a neighbor who was recently stabbed.

The male was a production assistant for a TV show.

*sighs*

What's the first thing we hear about from the second amendment folks: "If he only had a gun to defend himself, then maybe this wouldn't have happened."

The problem is that we have a trained person.  Who is authorized to use deadly force.  Who makes these kind of decisions on a daily basis (especially when living in Los Angeles).

The officer got it wrong.

The result of that mistake is now the death of another human being.

My point?

Even the good guys who are trained to handle weapons, trained to make good decisions, trained to evaluate potentially harmful situations ... even those people get it wrong.

So while Johnny 6-pack and the loaded gun rack thinks he can safely evaluate situations, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Johnny has absolutely no more sense than the professionally trained law enforcement agent .... and yet we're all supposed to believe that by adding more guns to an equation - it's going to make it safer for everyone.

That's just crazy.

I didn't think it was possible ...

...but have we digressed as a society?

Today I read where the state of Georgia will now join Mississippi, North Carolina and Alabama to raise the confederate flag on their license plates.

We're stepping backwards folks, not moving forwards.

Texas rejected the plates on account that it could be offensive.  At least this is one of those times when the folks of Texas were actually thinking straight.

It really sucks that people aren't understanding what progress means and how it compares to regression.  When we allow such things like the confederate flag to waive freely, then those same folks should have no concerns when different cultures appear on a soft drink advertisement singing a national song.

It's beyond baffling how these folks can decry the existence race related issues - while projecting their own race-centric beliefs.

Obama has to go

Yep, I said it.

The big O - done. Gone. Go. Git.

That works if you're a little picture guy.  The guy that wants their news catered and crafted.  It's the kind of real meal you can expect from canned processed meat and starched, over preserved side-dishes.

Folks that want to decry the work Obama has done really elect to avoid looking at the big picture.  For the last 6 years - there has been continual obstructionism.

Deny that if you want - but in no other period of our time has a Congress been so inept and putting self-preservation interests above the national interest.

It's disingenuous to blame Obama and conveniently ignore the role of Conservatives have played in this mess.

For folks blaming Obama - I ask: "how do we know that his policies would've failed when we have a Republican Party that's set out to stop anything he does before it even becomes law?"

It's why we have a broken health care system - because Republicans want to brand Obama with that boondoggle. Nevermind what's best for Americans - they were out to make sure it wasn't a Democrat that did it.  Same thing now with immigration reform and with banking regulations which help us - while finally addressing the real problems.

It's become apparent that no one in Washington wants anything done.  Obama's first moves to try and reconcile the parties made him look weak.  And that was an irrecoverable error on his part.

So pardon my disgust the next time I drive by your anti-Obama sticker only to raise my hand in the form of an L and place it on my forehead.  Because if you're really going to blame Obama - it's time to start bearing some of the responsibility for why things didn't materialize like they should've.

Duck Duck ... goose

The controversy involving the members of Duck Dynasty is finally coming full circle.

After the uproar about the homophobic comments by Phil Robertson, AMC acquiesced and the Dynasty was reinstated.

...except...

Folks have been leaving the show ... wait for it ... because of Phil's racist and hate filled beliefs.

So if Sarah Palin, Fox and the other apologists are finally listening, the message is clear:

You're entitled to free speech ever bit as others are entitled to walk away from your flawed beliefs.

It's not a "message problem" the GOP and conservatives have ... it's a "belief problem."