May 12, 2008 · Filed under Article, God, The Presidential Election
This article resonates with me and my thoughts towards politics these days. It was published today in The Seattle Times.
The article is titled “Young, Evangelical….for Obama?
(Although if it were to more aptly reflect my sentiments it would be Young, Evangelical….for Hillary)
November 9, 2007 · Filed under Articles, Organizations, Social Justice, The Presidential Election
The Just $6 Campaign has a great idea to allow voters to regain the power, and take it away from the private interest groups who end up “buying” our elected officials. Here’s an article about the nonpartisan movement:
Just $6 Campaign Announces Support for Fair Elections Now Act
Nonpartisan Organization Says Bill Upholds Free Speech
Concord, NH. – Americans for Campaign Reform (ACR), who launched the “Just $6” grassroots movement for public funding, has announced its support for the Fair Elections Now Act that proposes voluntary public funding for all Senate races. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan legislation as a way to restore public confidence in the election process.
The legislation would create a voluntary system through which participating Senate candidates––those who establish their credibility by collecting enough qualifying contributions and who then pledge not to accept private contributions ––would receive public funds for primary and general elections. Participants would also be eligible for free media vouchers and discounted commercial advertising rates.
John Rauh, ACR’s founder and president, believes the bill is a well-crafted and common sense approach to returning control of our national agenda to voters. “Imagine how much stronger our democracy will be when we eliminate the influence of big money on our government. It’s high time that we fix the most fundamental flaw in the way we pick our leaders and enact voluntary public funding,” Rauh said.
October 14, 2007 · Filed under God, Quotes, Social Justice, The Presidential Election
I work in the kind of Christian environment where Hillary is a bad word and if your main source of news isn’t Fox News, then you best stay out of a conversation because no one will listen to you. Beyond work though, I typically find myself surrounded by Christians who are more willing to think beyond the Christian Right agenda. I was thus encouraged today to find–in a Christian bookstore– a relatively well known Christan magazine that’s popular amongst teens and young adults that had a quote said by Barack Obama.
“But somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart. Faith got hijacked partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian right, all too eager to exploit what divides us. At every opportunity, they’ve told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect and dislike their church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans are only about issues like abortion, gay marriage, school prayer, and intelligent design….There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich. I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, but it doesn’t jibe with my version.”
quoted from Relevant Magazine.
Just to clarify, this is not a political endorsement on my part for Obama– although I may end up voting for him. It was dignifying to have him acknowledge that Christians do have other concerns beyond the few we are often associated with. We’re concerned about the war and poverty and caring for the elderly and providing health care to the underprivileged and civil rights. I personally would like to move beyond the suffocating assumption that if you’re Christian, then you must be Republican. It’s not so black and white, and more importantly, we must be careful to not put an inappropriate amount of hope in a political party to bring about the change the church wants to see in the world.
P.S. It has been maddening to see all those tax cuts that Bush has made for the richest of the rich.
August 13, 2007 · Filed under Quotes, Social Justice, The Presidential Election
Did you get to see the Democratic debate hosted by You-Tube and led by Anderson Cooper? If not, you can see it all on You-Tube! It was the first of its kind in the history of debates–all the questions that were posed to the candidates were from citizens around the country who submitted their question via video.
Chad and I liked this idea that was said by John Edwards:
“You can’t wait for big companies and interest groups to give away their power, you have to take it from them.”
It is a noble idea, and a much needed one, but is it just empty rhetoric? After all, it would take more than just the President for this notion to be realized in Washington. So the deeper question that arises is how will the President persuade those in Congress and Senate to unite in a defensive that is willing and able to take back the power from the interest groups?
July 28, 2007 · Filed under Movies, Social Justice, The Presidential Election
I will vote for the first time in my life in the next presidential election. I conjecture that it may be the first time for lots of other young adults who were 18 or older and could vote in the past election, but just didn’t know or care enough about politics to vote. I remember explaining my decision to not vote by saying, “I’m a firm believer that my vote doesn’t count.” I’ve changed my mind about that. I have learned to see the importance of using my voice at the ballot box. Theoretically, in terms of democratic ideals, one vote is very powerful and represents the beauty of democracy: that with citizens’ voices raised together, we can steer the direction of issues important to us. That sounds so nice. I wish it played out in reality as well as it does in theory. But the grim reality of the very powerful hold that lobbyists and private interest groups have on our elected officials is enough to let me simmer in cynicism and rage.
But I cannot. Or I will not. So I’ll vote. I’m not sure who I’ll vote for yet, but I’m sure he or she will be a Democrat. I, like millions of others, am very wary and weary of the current administration and am ready for change. In fact that seems to be the buzz word in the recent Democratic debates: change. I like how Barack is younger in the political world simply because it gives me hope that he’s not as bought by the aforementioned private interest groups as the other candidates. Even though he was given record amount in donations. But, I’m also hopeful because he’s made comments about taking back power that the private interests groups have. That sounds really appropriate and necessary to me. Money mongrels shouldn’t have the power. The people should have the power and we should elect people who have OUR best interests in mind and will be a public servant.
On a similar, but separate note, Chad and I recently saw Michael Moore’s new documentary, Sicko. It was fabulous. Despite being all but demonized by the conservative Right, I find him to be intelligent, fair, funny, creative, and kind. More on that documentary later. I think it deserves its own post
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