The right wing generated debt ceiling debate and government default.

If the President and Congressional Democrats cave into the extremists right wing of the Republican Party, I see no point in continuing a two party system. There is no use in arguing on the behalf of and defending Democratic, liberal and progressive philosophy and policies, arguing on behalf of and defending Social Security, Medicare, environmental protection, new and alternative energy sources, education, labor rights and labor safety, the elderly, students, and all the other progressive, enlightened programs and laws that have, yes, that have, made this country great and the envy of the world, only to see Democratic congressional leaders and a Democratic President give it all up to a minority extremist fringe on the right with nary a bit of fight to prevent it, simply caving in to their demands.

It will be no more defending the Democrats when it is clear they will not, that they will not, defend us, the people. There is, by all indications, overwhelming public support for the very programs that Democrats are prepared to gut or, indeed, outright eliminate in their negotiations on the debt ceiling.  Democratic politicians will have, if this comes to pass, will have have abandoned everything their predecessors fought for, everything that the people have gained over multiple generations and 50, 60, 70, 80, 100 years. 

And, God knows, the answer is most certainly not in moving to the right. My beliefs and philosophy will not change. The Democratic Party has abandoned its own philosophies and has no longer any reason to exist, The Democratic Party needs to  just be honest and honestly subscribe to the conservative philosophy and end the ongoing scam perpetuated on the people with spin and lies that they are the people's party and have the peoples back.

There must, therefore, be another party that truly speaks for the disadvantaged, infirm, the poor and working poor, worker's rights and safety for the environment, health care for all, education, the American middle class (what's left of it) and, consumers. Call it what you will, The Labor Party, The Progressive Party, The Liberal Democratic Party, whatever, but the Democratic Party is no longer representative of workers, consumers, minorities, women, students, environment; they are at best moderate republicans, and many more are full blown conservatives and all are beholden to the rich and powerful rather than the people.

Woody Guthrie~ All You Fascists Bound To Lose

Ry Cooder and The Golden Gate Quartet (Cliff Givens, Bill Johnson, Pico Payne, Jimmy Adams) with Nobody on SoundStage in 1978 - celebrating the release of the legendary Jazz album.

Mud Run, polluted by mine runoff; Warwick Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio

link to the article in which the subsequent comment was made by me.

http://www.timesreporter.com/features/x242965775/Restoring-polluted-Mud-Run-is-topic-of-meeting-Monday

These grass roots organizations are more critical than ever now, not only for previously damaged watersheds from past mining 'booms', but also in the present and near future from the current and soon to be surging oil and gas industry 'boom' and its use of fracking in East Central Ohio. Streams and aquifers, woodlands, meadows, and wildlife, farmland and quality of life are now and will continue to be critically damaged or destroyed wherever the method is used. What about when the boom ends, when their done? The oil and gas industry, like mining interests in the past, simply move on. After having taken what mineral resource wealth there was and simply move on with nary a second thought of the wreckage left in their wake. But, hey, a handful of people will have benefited. Mostly though, industry people are quite content with literally raping an area of its natural resources, extracting as much wealth from it as possible, acquiring as much as possible for themselves, and moving to the next location to do the same thing.

Past mining interests did not do the right thing of their own accord, minus any regulation requiring it, there was no motivation to, the result being the environmental effects and impact are still being felt 57 years, 60, 70, 100 years later; likewise, the will the oil and gas industry will not do the right thing. Again, why would or should they? Now, this time around, the industry has written their own legislation, passed by their very own flunky conservative politicians, protecting its industry from litigation and any requirements for environmental rehabilitation and reclamation.

Organizations like the Huff Run Watershed Restoration Partnership and Mud Run project will be all the more important given that the oil and gas industry have been given a pass by conservative state and federal legislation of having any responsibility or accountability for any environmental damages. The experience in organization and advocacy of such groups, the utilization and knowledge of resources at the local, state, and federal level acquired by such groups will be critical in east central Ohio’s near future, as well as around the country as fracking becomes more and more prevalent and with politicians continuing to allow, through legislation, the oil and gas industry to do what it damn well pleases.

Mr. President, (my email to The White House, President Obama)

Mr. President,

The right wing, republicans, conservatives, and from about four months into your administration tea baggers, have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to undermine your administration, the economy, the middle class and consumers. To what end? Not, Mr. President, from a strong ideological belief in their conservative views. No sir, it was solely to undermine and prevent any successes from a Democratic controlled Congress and from a Democratic President. These people are the antithesis of American tradition, history, and the idea of a loyal opposition. Please Mr. President, defend working men and women, the working poor and unemployed, the elderly, students, and the environment.


I believe, with all my heart, Mr. President, that those states led by Democratic governors and Democratic legislatures, who are investing and focusing on infrastructure, education, research, development, and innovation, investing in energy alternatives, investing in a clean and healthy environment, investing in health care for all their citizens, and sustainable job creation will lead this country forward. These states, Mr. President, will lead this country out of its economic decline, and lead the country into sustained job growth and national renewal, the likes of which will have never been seen before. It will be these Democratic governed states, Mr. President, that will once again demonstrate to the world that The American experiment and experience was not simply a blip in human history, but rather, history's most incredible and enlightened moment.


I have, Mr. President, contacted my local, state, and Congressional representatives, imploring them all to do the right thing for the middle class, poor, elderly, and infirm. You, Mr. President must not allow our great country to go into default by using every means available. Demand, yes, demand, Mr. President, a straight up and down vote on a clean bill, or utilize, certainly the 14^th Amendment.
My God, nearly, if not everyone I know, sir, have throughout their lives, done everything that was asked of them, they did not rely solely on Social Security for their retirement but rather built up their own retirement and it will be all of them and myself who get hit so very hard when our 401 K's get decimated by a U.S. government default, who lose our homes from skyrocketing interest rates, and prices on everything surge out of control.


Mr. President, Americans across this country have lived their lives doing the right thing, doing what they've been asked, to what end? To get completely scammed by politicians and lose everything? Defend the American people Mr. President. I and millions of Americans across our great country implore you to make a strong and committed stand against all those that would destroy this country, stand up against all those who are doing all they can to achieve what Asama Bin Laden could not, destroy the United States by wrecking its economy and financial health, and to achieve posthumously for Bin Laden what he could not do in life.

Please have our backs Mr. President, and we will have yours.

Respectfully Submitted,

Strasburg Corn Fest jalapeno poppers, freakin' A right. The reason to go...well, it also is a throwback festival, in a park, on grass, meanders among trees, rather than blacktopped, downtown streets. No carnival food, none, but rather a variety of food, crafts, and games in tents and booths sponsored by Strasburg and Franklin Township organizations. It is, I imagine, what a community festival 75 or 100 years ago or so must have been like. 

A very Republican Dilbert comic strip

If you vote Republican / As a rule of thumb / You're either filthy rich / Or you're filthy dumb

email to my Congressman; Rep. Robert Gibbs, 18th District Of Ohio

Tell me Gibbs, are you so beholden to Grover Norquist's pledge and tea party craziness that you are willing to risk the American middle class, seniors and retirees, working men and women, and the working poor, the unemployed, students at all levels...are you willing to risk the security of The United States, and the health and vitality of its people and the full faith and credit of the United States, are you willing to be part of the cause of the destruction of the American economy and most probably the world economy? You would do this to what end? to satisfy and not offend Grover Norquist and crazy people in the tea party?

For God's sake man, vote to raise the debt ceiling, vote for shared sacrifice among all Americans, including those you have been protecting and are in the pocket of, yes, that's right, in the pocket of the wealthiest and most powerful Americans. For God's sake man, have the courage to stand up to the craziness that is the tea party and contemporary republican and conservative politics. For God's sake man, make a stand on behalf of the most vulnerable Americans, make a stand on behalf of American working people, the working poor, seniors, and the American middle class, and for the people of your district, state, and country. How about honoring your oath of office? How about representing the people and legislating on their behalf? Have you even thought about that? Legislating on the people's behalf, I know for you, that must sound like a very novel idea.

Do the right thing Gibbs, do your job on behalf of the people and not to Grover Norquist for God's sake. After you and your ilk have started American ruination, how about on August 3rd the first checks stopped are to all those congresspeople and their staff‘s who voted in favor of default by way of their intransigence and uncompromising philosophy, and who blindly follow Grover Norquist, tea party crazies, and right wing lunacy. You then, at least, can honestly say, the buck stops here. Honestly, Gibbs, I do not expect you to do the right thing. Therefore, you deserve nothing but scorn and ridicule.
email to Rep. Robert Gibbs~07-26-11

Congress is crazy, my first blog posting

If House Speaker Boehner and Senate Minority Leader McConnell are for this then it is certainly bad for the American middle class, working men and women across America, the working poor, the unemployed, seniors, students at all levels, the health and safety of all Americans, the environment, liberty and freedom....and most certainly a threat to the Constitution of The United States.

Other than a fixed number of equal seats between democrats and republican­s, there is nothing so much as mentioned that even regional representa­tion would exist. Hell's bells, the seats could conceivably be all from the south, or Texas, or the west. The United States is a constituti­onal representa­tives republic, where does this fit into that. If this abrogation of constitutional authority comes to pass, clearly it will make both chambers of the Congress of The United States irrelevant.

Citizens per congressional district has risen from an average of 33,000 in 1790 to almost 700,000 as of 2008. Now, they want representa­tion to be, with a proposed 12 member central committee, er..super-congress, that representation in out great Democracy, would be something like 25,833,333 to one representative, and make the United States House Of Representatives and The United States Senate irrelevant.

This is the republican leadership along with Senate Majority Leader Reid's response to the urgency of a debt ceiling increase, a legislative matter that was little more than an after thought and congressional housekeeping prior to this time around. No thanks.