The Green Libertarian Party

Introduction for New Readers

2011-11-02T02:45:00.000-07:00

Hello to new readers, seeing this Political Party for the first time. My name is Kenneth Wayne Parker, of Seattle, Washington. I represent the Green Libertarian Party, which has the motto, "Neutrality -- With Attitude".

This Political Party was created several years ago (around 2002), and put online, via this BLOG in August, 2008. I got the idea for it, when I attended the Great, Year 2000 (Y2K) edition of the California State Fair, in Sacramento, California. In the area with "miscellaneous tents", there was one, medium sized, "Political Tent" with two people, sitting right next to each other, sharing a single table, and with lots of materials you could take with you. One of them was a representative for the California Green Party, and the other was a representative for the California Libertarian Party. When I came to the table, they were having a spirited, and VERY friendly conversation with each other, such that neither of them saw me for a couple of minutes (and I didn't interrupt them, as I was fascinated with their conversation). To make a long story short, I talked to both of them equally, and received handouts from both the Green and Libertarian parties, with COMPLETE cooperation between both people, who were not competing AT ALL with each other, at that time.

I revisited these two Political Parties at the end of 2000, when Ralph Nader ran for the Green Party, against both George W. Bush and Al Gore, saying, quite clearly, that it would MAKE NO DIFFERENCE which one we voted for -- life would be equally bad with EITHER Bush OR Gore. Needless to say, life was VERY different, under George W. Bush, than it was under Bill Clinton. The DETAILS of that difference depends on who you talk to, and whether they are a Democrat or a Republican. The election was EXTREMELY close, with LOTS of "hanging chads", and was finally decided via the Supreme Court "Bush v. Gore" decision. The Democrats still say the election was "stolen", and the Republicans still say the Democrats were "sore losers". Both sides generally agree that having Ralph Nader on the ticket swung the election towards Bush. The rest is history.

Since the Green Libertarian Party is a synthesis between what I consider the best of Liberal (the Green Party) and the best of Conservative (the Libertarian Party), I feel free to pick and choose which parts of the two parties to include in the combined version. So I look for the "Highest Essence" of each. For the Green Party, it is a general position that we MUST take care of Planet Earth and the People who live on it. It takes a hard line on how Corporations behave, especially on Environmental issues (Planet Earth) and how Managers treat their "Rank and File" employees (the People on the Planet). However, it takes a moderate view on how Individuals behave (encouraging individual behavior, such as recycling, but not instituting huge fines for, say, putting recyclables in the garbage, such as happens in many cities. In other words, setting a good example, but avoiding using force).

Now, it's trickier when I approach the Libertarian Party. The "best of" part I use is the "Social" part of the Libertarian philosophy, which shows up mainly in eliminating "victimless crimes", such as consensual prostitution and simple drug possession (which I would prefer to treat medically, when drug use creates erratic behavior. I find it a travesty how many people are in our jail and prison systems, simply because of drug possession and use). The biggest objection I hear is how Drug Use goes with other crimes like, for example, a person holds up a Convenience Store to pay for Crack Cocaine. In this case, I would suggest throwing the book at the person for the Armed Robbery! That crime has clear victims (the store, and its employees), and deserves vigorous prosecution. However, at the same time the person "pays" for the robbery, he/she can be medically treated for the drug use. In addition, if drugs are decriminalized (though not encouraged, with the possible exception of Marijuana), sales can include HUGE taxes, paying for the medical treatment these people require. Now, the existing Libertarian Party (and the current Republican Party) includes "Corporate Libertarianism" (where corporations can behave as they please, with as few regulations as possible). That is the part of Libertarianism that I COMPLETELY leave out of the Green Libertarian Party.

My position on the Democratic Party is that I have an easier time having a polite and respectful conversation with Democrats, than I do with Republicans (who often do not trust me). So, if I were to find myself in Congress, I would likely caucus with the Democrats, even though I absolutely DO NOT consider myself a Democrat. There is one exception, on the Republican front, as I work well with the Log Cabin Republicans, even temporarily representing myself as such, including on the big day of debate in the Senate, at the end of 2010, on the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the US Military.

So there you have it, a Fully Operational Political Party with only one person (myself, Kenneth Wayne Parker, of Seattle, Washington) that currently could run under it. Remember its URL (stated here as greenlibertarianparty dot blogspot dot com, without any "W's" needed), because it's hard to find under Google. There's one "counterfeit web site", which preaches Corporate Libertarianism, with a page or so about the Green party, that's presented by Google to confuse the issue. I consider this party fiscally conservative, by the way, as I would question ANY funding for wars, since they are destructive to Planet Earth, as well as hostile to the people who live on it. On the question of Guns verses Butter, I take the Butter ANY DAY!

Thank you and Best Regards,

Kenneth Wayne Parker, Seattle, WA

Debt Ceiling: Clean Increase verses Republican House Plan

2011-07-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

I am currently alarmed at the possibility of the United States defaulting on its debts.

There appears to be an "infinite chasm" between the Democratic and Republican approaches to the Debt Ceiling debate. Many Democrats are in favor of simply increasing the Debt Limit, the same way it was done during the George W. Bush administration. (Other Democrats, while supporting some budget cuts, want more tax revenues also, in search of fairness).

Many of the Republicans (especially the House Republicans) are holding out on requiring that the 2012 Budget, submitted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), become law, as a condition of approving the Debt Ceiling increase.

The problem that I see with this is that the Ryan 2012 Budget is Revenue Neutral.

What does this mean? The the Debt Ceiling is required, even with the Ryan 2012 Budget!

Therefore, I am in favor of increasing the Debt Ceiling, cleanly, and then debating the budget separately.

All Stick and no Carrot

2011-02-27T04:50:00.000-08:00

A word to the "wise" in Madison, Wisconsin:

The current "Budget Repair Law" has no carrots, to entice any cooperation from the public employees. In other words, it says, in effect, "We will destroy your Union, and punish you, and keep punishing you, until you cower before us!" No wonder they are demonstrating in front of the Capitol building in Madison!

And the same thing about the Senate Democrats? You have no motivation for them to come back from Illinois. These 14 democratic senators know exactly what to expect when they do: The Budget Repair law passes in its current form, and their constituency is mad, because they couldn't help.

What is the answer? Actual cooperation and negotiation. A carrot for the other side, in effect. (Carrot? The Unions made it easy for you, Governor Walker, by capitulating completely on the financial aspects of the Repair law. Take out the Union Busting part, and the Democratic Senators already said they could come back).

Thank you and best regards,

Kenneth Parker, Seattle, WA, 206-307-6757

Union Busting in Wisconsin.

2011-02-17T20:07:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like to honor Ed Schultz of The Ed Show on MSNBC.

He went out into the trenches in Wisconsin to bring us the huge Union-Busting activities, by the Republican Governor and Republican Legislature.

One thing I learned is that Wisconsin doesn't really even HAVE a fiscal emergency right now, meaning that there is no emergency requiring the draconian bills they are trying to force into law. (Apparently, there was a tax cut, put into effect in January, which puts them into their situation. Without it, they wouldn't need the current chaos).

Incidentally, there are no filibuster rules in the Wisconsin Senate. The law in question is on a "Fast Track", limiting the debate and amendments possible on it. That, in my opinion, is why the only way the Democratic members of the Senate have to stay away from the Wisconsin capitol to keep the law from passing.

Thank you and best regards,

Ken Parker, Seattle, WA.

Republicans Want to Defund the IRS.

2011-02-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

Last night, I was sitting in my chair, minding my own business, and watching a clip on the Rachel Maddow show that was describing the cuts in government programs the Republicans want for the rest of 2011 (continuing resolution budget).

And then my jaw drops, when I see her quote The Hill that states the Republicans want to make cuts on the IRS for 593 Million Dollars.

Now, what we are doing here is to hit the infrastructure of the IRS itself! Pay your taxes, but don't expect us to come to you to collect them, if you miss. Right? What's wrong with this picture?

I looked it up on Google and found a link to a Yahoo News story that includes this.

What is next?

Republican Tax Cut Bills Include Elementary Arithmentic Errors

2010-12-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

The Republican Version of the Tax Cut Bill crashed my Green Libertarian Quantum Universe, causing it to get Infinitely Large.

The problem is that the Republican Tax Cut bills of 2001 and 2003 include elementary Divide By Zero errors.

The only way around this is to let them expire for EVERYBODY, and then start over, with a cap on the earnings, such as $250,000.

All you need is one, infinitely wealthy person, where their paper wealth is based on Divide By Zero.

I believe, quite firmly, that that is the reason that AOL was able to buy up both Time and Warner Brother's firms a few years ago. Paper Wealth aced the Physical Natural Resources of Earth, and the only way we've been able to hold the Republican Party in any form of Reality is through an Infinitely Large, yet Extremely Simple Quantum Universe, called the Green Libertarian Party (where you are NOW, if you are reading this, as this is the ONLY PLACE that I can let Republicans finish their debate on the House and Senate Floors.

This Universe (Green Libertarian Party) is a really a quite EMPTY universe, but with a BUNCH of infinities, mainly Republican, in them.

More later. I'm Infinitely drained and tired right now. The ONLY way I was able to go from Wednesday to Thursday, was by Rebooting this Universe. That FINALLY allowed me to get from 11:59 PM to Midnight, Thursday.

I am infinitely smart right now. Call that making Lemonaide from Lemons! :-)

Enjoy. Now, I think I will need to reboot this Universe, before I can make it to Friday.

Location of this Universe? Center of the Physical Universe, at the Zero mark. Yes, Virginia, an almost empty Quantum Universe, with only a few people in it, is now more powerful than Physical Reality!

Now, if I can make rent on January 01, 2011, I've got it made! Talk about foreclosures! :-)

Thank you and best regards,

Kenneth Wayne Parker

Seattle, Washington

-------------------------------------

The Stark Contrast in the Midterm Elections

2010-09-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

We are currently a week away from our Midterm Elections, and the big question on some peoples' minds still are what party to vote for.

First, a reminder: I'm not either a Democrat or a Republican. The Green Libertarian Party takes the best attributes it can find from both the Liberals (Green: Take care of the planet and people on it) and the Conservatives (Libertarian: Get rid of victim-less crimes, while still protecting public safety), and blends them. Note that one part of the Libertarian plank I do not support at all is "Corporate Libertarianism", as corporations have proven how little regard they have for the shape of Earth and the people on it.

One huge contrast between Democrats and Republicans is job creation, which is actually a bit funny, since Republicans are using our Jobless numbers, as a wedge to winning the Midterm Elections. However, a good question to ask Republicans is where they plan to create jobs! For one thing, I do not see much Republican support for the "Local Jobs for America Act", which has been introduced in both the House (H. R. 4812), and Senate (S-3500).

A fascinating book on the Foreign Outsourcing issue is "Take this Job and Ship it", by Senator Byron L. Dorgan. And please note that one huge wave of foreign outsourcing (this time for computer jobs) was in 2001 and 2003, the years of George W. Bush's Tax Cuts. I lived through that time period, and let me tell you, it was depressing watching my co-workers lose their jobs.

Please read the book, and vote responsibly. (But above all, please vote!)

Should BP Pay Dividends?

2010-06-10T03:29:00.000-07:00

Dear readers of this BLOG,

This is real, folks! BP would prefer to pay their shareholders Dividends than to pay damages to the fishermen who are stopped from working, due to the Oil in the Ocean, near their work-places. The Story is here. Read it!

Who needs the money more, anyway? Shareholders? How about the fishermen who might not be able to continue their business? What should they do? What should BP do? What should Obama say when he meets with BP management soon?

Indeed: I would personally love to see BP management explain why they need to put their money into Dividends to their stock-holders, while they stare oil soaked birds straight in their eyes!

Note: I was unable to look these birds in their eyes without crying. Can the BP management? I really want to know. Seriously!

Thank you and best regards,

Ken Parker, currently in Seattle, Washington, but planning to move to Lousiana, to help with the rehabilitation of the Oil Soaked birds. I'm putting my consciousness where my mouth is. Can BP Management?

Everything Needs a Start.

2010-03-15T23:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, indeed, everything needs a start.

These were the words on the phone of the woman Barack Obama was using as the basis for a speech "today". (In politics, what day is it, anyway?)

My point is that this current health care bill is an Infrastructure, or foundation if you wish, to a highly needed shift in our health care. And I heard it over the phone on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Voting Irregularities in Massachusetts?

2010-01-20T03:31:00.001-08:00

Hello folks,

Am I now hearing of Voting Irregularities in the special Massachusetts election?

Yes, I'm editing my own BLOG posts. Yes, there were "irregularities". But nothing that made it in the news that day got enough "horsepower" to go anywhere. So there goes another special election.

As a Troubleshooter of the Green Libertarian Party, one of my routine tasks is helping to keep our elections fair. However, at the time of the original post, much of my efforts were being spent in Haiti relief, so I might have been caught unawares. Oh well...

What the next six years gives us is anybody's guess. But the comedy of today rules!

Best regards,

Ken Parker, Seattle, WA

Adopt a Republican -- A Proposal.

2010-01-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

I have long felt that the Republican party is out of touch with the realities of the United States, especially where it fits in with "Main Street". But this became ultra clear when Obama was inaugurated. For example, the Stimulus bill was passed in the House without a single Republican vote. (However, a number of these Republican house members were happy to, with fanfare, accept Stimulus checks later on). One aside about the Stimulus is that I'm pretty sure I heard a Republican member of Congress suggest that unused Stimulus money go to the Afghanistan war. I find that very out of touch with Main Street, USA.

The health care debate is an extremely important one at this point, as there are a lot of people in the United States that have no health care, left to the mercies of Emergency Room care. I am one of them, as I am an out of work manager, living in Seattle, Washington. Back in March, 2008, I called 911, complaining of what seemed a lot to be a heart attack. My treatment at Harborview Medical Center here in Seattle was so bad, that it triggered a Nervous Breakdown, and the eviction from my Apartment. (Harborview apparently ignored my own complaints of the Heart Attack and latched on to Intellectual Confusion, instead. They gave me no evidence that they even tested me for a Heart Attack).

My life was turned upside down and inside out, leaving me with few tools to handle a Reality that includes Republicans that don't appear to care about the Main Street portion of their own districts and/or states. Suffice it to say that I had to use my own talents, including a Quantum Physics background, to get myself well (or at least functional). It seems that the rumors are true: The Republican plan for Health Care reform is to convince people to not get sick.

Financially, my experiences with Health Care in Seattle has been problematical. Yes, the Emergency Room of Harborview Medical Center, the hospital run by the University of Washington, would take care of me when I had a medical or psychiatric emergency, but then, they would send me a bill for the entire amount that they would say I owed them. My job, back in 2008, had a title of "Consulting Engineer", but since it was a Contract position, it included no benefits, such as Health Insurance. (This seems to be a common practice these days, including in the Computer field, which is where my job was). Then, in April 8, 2009, I was poisoned at an IHOP restaurant in Seattle, which cost me my Consulting job, throwing me on Unemployment Insurance, which also does not include Health Care. (In fact, when the money would be most important, such as if sick, it is denyed by definition, since I would not be "Ready and able to work" for that week). The punch line of my Harborview Medical Center experiences are the Collection Agencies I am now contending with.

My proposal is based on the fact that these Republican House and Senate members, who are coming up for election in 2010 have constituents too. Some of them might be out of work and possibly have no health insurance. Why can't we organize real Grass Roots support in the area, led by a local person or people who are hurting. If the Republicans can organize "Astro Turf" campaigns, why can't we organize real Grass Roots campaigns?

I can make no predictions at the moment, but will leave this post with a "What If" question: What if we were successful and got 80 percent Democrats in power after the November, 2010 House Election?

Bottom line of current Political Debate: Is it OK to Lie and Cheat?

2009-09-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Bottom Line of our current Political Debate: Is it OK to Lie and Cheat?

You can see the "collateral damage" in this debate: The common person. Our Country's financial situation should attest to that.

The problem with this is that it's actually kind of hard to grow up without some deceit. Our entire advertising infrastructure is based on, at best, half truths and exaggeration. At worst? Also, I've heard that it's hard to get a high-paying job without padding your resume.

If it's something that "we all do" (which is an answer I often get), then what? (Another thing I often hear is, "Be creative, and don't get caught").

In our Health Care debate, it seems to be about throwing out lies to scare people, yet those lies talk about current practices.

For example, "death panels to deny coverage to old people because they cost too much". That's a current scare tactic, yet we currently have stories about existing companies canceling coverage to extremely sick policy holders, causing them to die. (The current story on The Huffington Post discusses revoking coverage for a teenager who was HIV Positive, for example. Isn't that an example of a "death panel"?)

Current difference between the political parties? Democrats tend to limit lying and cheating to their personal life. Republicans extend the lying and cheating to political affairs, including lying and cheating us into wars. Also, Republicans often expect others to "do as I say, not as I do", which is hypocrisy.

Where is our country heading?

We need to take care of the Unemployed in Healthcare Bill

2009-08-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,

One significant group of people fall through cracks and have an extremely hard time, regarding health care.

Due to our current financial environment, a huge number of people lose their jobs every month. What are they supposed to do about health care? Sure, there is Cobra but, unless you got a good severance plan, you are probably hurting financially when your paycheck stops coming. And Cobra requires you, as an individual to pay the premiums that were previously often included as a benefit. (When you no longer know where the next check is coming, is that the time to be paying a huge Cobra premium?)

There is an even worse situation out there, often in the Computer fields: People who are part time contractors, where their job did not even include benefits. My prior job at E-Net (software firm in the San Francisco area) fit that category. So my health care was to hope that I can stay healthy!

When my job ended April 8, 2009, I went on Unemployment and then found that the amount you make under Unemployment is too much for Medicaid! By definition, when you are on Unemployment, you are ready and able to work each day and making an active search. Illness or injury therefore poses a problem.

The solution, to be part of our Health Care plan, is to allow people who draw Unemployment to get Medicaid. There can, of course, be the other existing tests, to make sure the person doesn't have other financial resources. But just drawing the amount the Unemployment provides is currently a show-stopper for Medicaid, but should not be.

Please make Medicaid an option for those who lose their jobs!

Thank you,

Kenneth Parker, Seattle, Washington

Myths verses Facts in the Health Care Debate

2009-08-11T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just saw Obama's Town Hall meeting for Today (Tuesday), August 11, 2009. Now, immediately after the meeting was over, I'm hearing objections, that the people were hand picked. Perhaps so. For example, the names that were chosen online might have been handpicked to eliminate those with multiple, and/or recent charges of Disturbing the Peace. Why do I not think handpicking went beyond this? Because I saw all sides of the issue represented in the questions, even Republican concerns. But what I saw was Civil Discource. Nobody shouting other people down. No loud booing. (Even only polite applause, without the long standing ovations at other Obama rallys).

This strongly encouraged me, after hearing about some of the Town Hall meetings the Democrats were recently experiencing.

I choose to get my input from all sides of the issue. In fact, one email list I belong to regularly posts right wing rhetoric on the Health Care issue. My timing for this post was this web site, that was linked from one of those emails, as it throws all of the Right Wing concerns out at once. This allows me to answer some of these concerns.

Death Panels: This is the high-emotion fear-mongering term for a group of people who would supposedly visit older citizens, to "help them plan their upcoming death". The idea put forth is that older Americans would be visited every 5 years to determine if they are "too expensive" to keep alive. The truth is that this twists a provision (added, via Amendment by a Republican) that simply says that if somebody wants to do a "living Will" (where the individual initiates the contact), it will be reimbursed. But I needed to look closer to see if there is something like this in existing plans. Scroll forward in this Glossary to "Lifetime Maximum" to see an existing equivalent in current use. In this case, you are not visited by Government workers for counseling. Instead, when you need it most (i.e. Cancer), your Insurance cuts you off cold and every expense, after an arbitrary point is paid by you alone, or your Family! (I wonder: Are you still required to pay premiums for the care you are not getting?) And why are you cut off? I can only guess that it is because you now cost the Insurance Company too much money! (You know, actuarial tables and some such).

The Democratic bill would add Government run Health Insurance, where none exists now: This one can be quite short. Medicare and Medicaid are both Government run Health Care. Note that the website cited in the third paragraph is quite vocal, against Medicare and Medicaid!

The Comments are open on this post. I welcome opposing opinions. However, abusive comments will be deleted.

More ammunition against Nuclear Power

2009-07-14T05:09:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It has been brought to my attention that there was yet another Nuclear Meltdown in the United States before Three Mile Island, PA: 1959 in Ventura, California!

How did this come to my attention? Simple: 2009 is the 50th Anniversary of a 1959 partial meltdown of a Nuclear Reactor at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory! See story here.

Nuclear Power? Safe and clean? Bah!

If I haven't posted for a while...

2009-02-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Yes, I've been quiet for a while. Part of it was being overloaded by my "day job" [computer professional], but part of it has been how fast things have been changing, as well as in ways that I like. (For example, I observe that people are more likely to post on their BLOG when they are upset about something).

About Obama's speech last Tuesday, I share the brief viewpoint Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) gave Keith Olbermann [as in Countdown with _____ on MSNBC]: He asked Senator Boxer, "You've seen and heard a lot of these. I'll give you the softball question off the start: Rank this one!" Senator Boxer responded, "A home run, a touchdown, and a three pointer. I mean, is that good for you for an analogy?" After a chuckle, Keith responded, "It works. Yes". [Note to the uninitiated: In Keith's "spare time", he's also an occasional sportscaster].

More later. Ken in Seattle.

Rebuttal to some Republican Talking Points on Stimulus Package

2009-02-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

Today, Friday, February 13, 2009, the House just voted for the Stimulus package without a single Republican vote. And, afterwards, we heard a number of Republicans defend their unanymous NO vote.

1. "More tax cuts will create twice as many jobs as spending". (Only a partial rebuttal follows):

Excuse me, but, in many states, people will actually find their taxes increased! A number of states have constitutions that prevent deficit spending. Thus, they will be forced to increase their state taxes, while laying off many of their employees. (One example, California, is having to give IOU's, because they have no money in their treasury. This includes anybody who overpaid their state taxes, who will not be able to get their refund).

2. "Just because Bush overspent doesn't mean Obama gets to".

The error in logic here is that Bush's spending equals Obama's. Excuse me, but Bush's spending was purely on Destruction! A couple of wars! The money went out of the country where it could not help with, say, our country's infrastructure! And, so, for example, we had a huge bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota, because there was no money to fix it in advance! (And don't even get me started about Katrina!)

That's what hit me the hardest today. Give me some more Republican talking points, via Comments, and I'll rebut them also.

Amish help Neighbors without Power. Who knew?

2009-02-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

(First, a note: I'm keeping the "Newsreel", at the right, pointed to the January 22, 2009 post: "Bill of Rights in the Toilet", because it's still in the toilet! Yes, folks things have improved. People are now actually looking in the toilet bowl itself, seeking out the Bill of Rights -- separating the pieces of them from the pointless Republican rhetoric that is also there, and hoping that there are parts of the Constitution that can still stand, together with these soggy pages of our bill of rights, to get our country back to a healthy position. Fortunately, it seems that the republican rudeness that I often see in the world, worked out this time in our favor as, though they threw the Bill of Rights into the Toilet, they didn't flush it!)

The story I bring out now is actually a good one, showing us how some people, who might be marginalized, as well as ridiculed when conditions are normal, might be the only ones who can conduct normal lives, even taking charge and helping the people around them, when things go awry.

This begins with the Ice Storms themselves. All over the East Coast! Many states with long power outages. I'm going to take one of them, Kentucky, because of the heartwarming story that follows. But first, on January 30th, the local papers were saying: "Life after ice storm dire, getting worse in spots".

But then, one area, Mayfield, KY, got some unexpected help from two fronts: First, some friendly Amish Neighbors helped, in many ways, but much of it was simply mentoring people who are used to being on the Electric Grid. In other words, there is life without electricity! An excerpt from the article follows:

But Kentucky’s Amish have been living that way all their lives. And when the disaster struck, they generously lent a hand to their non-Amish neighbors and showed them how it’s done.

“Those folks are very good at sustaining themselves,” said Master Sgt. Paul Mouilleseaux, a National Guard spokesman.

The Stutzman family and the roughly 8,500 other Amish in the state were essentially unaffected by the storm that knocked out power to more than 1.3 million customers last week, about half of them in Kentucky.

Stutzman, his wife and their seven children were secure in their toasty, two-story home amid corn and soybean fields and swampy stands of cypress in western Kentucky.

“We paid it no attention,” Stutzman said Tuesday, relaxing in a handmade rocker as a wood stove across the room radiated heat on a windy morning with temperatures in the low 20s.

The second helping hand actually came from another state, where telephone crews in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, went out to help Kentucky with their telephone repair work.

Please, folks! I know there's a debate between helping Wall Street and Main Street, but, unlike on Wall Street, real people are hurting on Main Street!

Congressional handling of Stimulus package giving me a Headache!

2009-01-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hello Folks,

Didn't the Republicans come out, talking about Bi-Partisanship? My understanding of this, from my Party's view of taking the best of Liberal, and blending it with the best of Conservatism to make my [up-coming] Party Platform, is that cooperation and compromise is the direction we need, to heal this country's financial situation.

So what did we get today from the House? Democrats: 231 Yea, 11 Nay, 13 Not Voting? Republicans: ZERO Yea, 174 Nay, 4 Not Voting? Somebody please tell me that I'm dreaming this! (Latest update: Nope, not a chance!) Come on, now, don't the Republican members of the House of Representatives have any local constituents? Aren't some of them hobbled with sudden loss of their jobs, as well as possible foreclosures on their houses? And others, perhaps in danger of losing access to their Apartments because of the loss of ability to make rent? Aren't any of these Republican representatives worried that they might be voted out of office in the 2010 Midterm Elections? What are you looking for, Republicans? A house with 90+ percent Democrats in it?

A late, breaking update, at a subjective time of about 6:25 pm (I'm a bit behind on my TiVo, folks!) But this update came, thanks to Countdown with Keith Olbermann: The numbers have changed a bit: Now it's Democrats, 242 Yea, 12 Nay, 1 Not Voting, and Republicans, STILL ZIP on the Yea side, 177 Nay, and only one not voting!

Another late, breaking update, 9am hour (PST), January 30, 2009, Courtesy of MSNBC: Brad Blakeman defends the ZERO republican votes! Something about getting more jobs, purely via business tax cuts. (Once again, folks, if a company is in a period of loss, it won't get a penny from tax cuts (as zero tax is zero tax, regardless of tax rates). It's still free to spiral down to Chapter 11, losing its Employees, adding even more people to our unemployment rolls, as well as more people who might lose their homes and have to live under Freeway Overpasses!) Note that I haven't located a YouTube video yet.

And don't get me started on how Former Representative Dick Armey, (R) Texas, got Sexist with Joan Walsh of Salon.Com on Hardball on January 28, 2009, at about 2:42 pm PST (5:42 pm EST), after Joan Walsh asked if even one Republican gave thought to standing up and apologising to President Obama for the racist remark Rush Limbaugh spouted last week. This gets beyond partisan politics and into simple, human decency.

Note: Update posted January 29, 2009 at 2:35 pm: Links provided, to back up these stories. Thank you, Moveon.org, for providing the house.gov link to me! (Also note: Don't worry about correlation between my numbers, verses the house.gov link. That website will always provide the latest numbers, as well as who voted how. There were some late-breaking vote changes, mainly in the Democratic arena. I've still not seen any Republicans stepping forward to change their vote, however).

Latest Update posted January 30, 2009 @ 10:30 am, with mention of Brad Blakeman defending Republican rejection of Stimulus Package.

"Bill of Rights in the Toilet" -- Double Header!

2009-01-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

I feel the need to put two stories in one BLOG post. One of them is rather blatant, and the other, though quite a bit more subtle, actually bothers me quite a bit more, as it points out how many people can be spied on at once!

The first, blatant one will also live on in the "Google News Feed" on the right, at least until this story gets "stale", and I sure as heck hope it doesn't!

It is about an NSA Whistle Blower named Russell Tice. For a while, after he got fired from NSA for, I don't know, Whistle Blowing? ... he held his tongue, afraid of recriminations from the Bush Administration. So, now that Obama is in office, he has a two-day interview stint with Keith Olbermann. Oh well, all Journalists bugged? Or [left wing conspiracy theory] only the "liberal" journalists? Or [right wing conspiracy theory] only the populist/constitutionalist/libertarian journalists? Take your pick, it looks ugly, no matter how it's spun.

-----------------------------------------------

Second, more subtle story, but scarier to me: All 30G Zunes fail simultaneously.

Yes, I'm also a computer professional, which is why the above story scares me. But let me put this in simple English: Microsoft is blaming the simultaneous crash of however many 2006 30G Zunes on a simple Leap Year "glitch". OK. So, people thought the world would end on January 1, 2000, due to an unfortunate habit of some programmers to use only the last two digits of the year. The world didn't end, but a bunch of funny web glitches occurred, which I sure wish were still available to chuckle about. I also recall at least one state classifying the 2000 Model cars (which, of course, were on sale in 1999, as usual for a car company), as "Horseless Carriages".

An excerpt from Zune's Own Forum follows:

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

Why do I harp on this? Have any of you seen anything this intrusive? All multi-million owners of this device need to, in effect, force a reset to "Factory Settings" [my guess, based on the context of asking people to allow the battery to "fully run out of power"]?

But this isn't the worst part of this. The worst part of this is why this device needs to know about leap years to play MP3 Music files? Even if you're doing "Digital Rights Management", to protect files that you download to the device, do you necessarily need to know how many times, or exactly when, a particular song is being played? To the second? (These devices failed, pretty much simultaneously, suggesting that a central Satellite was the point of failure, not a bunch of individual consumer devices).

Is anybody else concerned about this, especially if we look at these stories together?

Regime Change in Washington

2009-01-20T04:42:00.000-08:00

Remember how many times we were told about Regime Changes in other countries, such as Iraq?

Now, we finally have Regime Change here in Washington, to Barack Obama.

I'll leave it to the others to put the details out there, but I want to acknowledge that we finally have somebody that I firmly believe will listen to the American People.

Republicans fight Obama Stimulus Plan

2009-01-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

A group of Republicans do not appear to be happy with the Obama Stimulus package, as they are afraid that it has too much spending in it and too little of the tax cuts that the Republicans still think will save our economy.

The problem with this is that tax cuts for the most wealthy, at the same time as we were spending our country into two wars was, in my opinion, one of the reasons for our economic meltdown!

For example, according to an already obsolete March, 2008 article in the San Francisco Chronicle, we had already spent about $500 Billion on just the Iraq war, much more than the first half of the $700 Billion Wall Street bailout.

Why is it OK with the Republicans that we spend billions for destruction, but not OK with them that we spend the necessary billions on our country's crumbling Infrastructure?

Bait and Switch, anybody?

2008-11-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Henry Paulson came forward to Congress, demanding $700 Billion Dollars to purchase "toxic mortgage debt".

His first try in the House failed, so Paulson started trying to scare the American Public half to death, with visions of everybody being out of work at once and a large percentage of our homes being foreclosed on, due to the lack of money to lend. So it passed. [I'll let you people go for those stories, thank you].

But now, this week, Henry Paulson comes back, telling us, in effect, "about those toxic mortgages we were going to purchase. Funny story there. You see, we changed the rules on you and put money directly into the banks, so they could give dividends to their shareholders, bonuses to their top executives, and buy up other banks. And, by the way, if they have nothing else to do with their money, maybe there might be a mortgage loan somewhere". I'm paraphrasing, of course. But I believe everything I've said checks out.

Remember that this was originally a 3 page plan which literally forbid any oversight! (Fortunately, that was nipped in the bud).

So I go all the way back to the scare words from the second paragraph. If we aren't buying a single "toxic mortgage", can't we at least prevent "millions of layoffs", if our automotive manufacturers go bankrupt? Paulson says no!

What in the world are they up to? Looting the last dollar in our Treasury before Obama gets inaugurated?

I am happy for now, but plan to do more later.

2008-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

Hello folks,

I have been too busy to update my BLOG for a while. Part of this was that I was doing everything in my power to elect Barack Obama, with the idea that he is the closest thing to my own platform ideas. (Goodness gracious me, I even was paying money to both the Democratic Party and the Barack Obama campaign, as well as knocking on doors to remind people of how important it is to vote). A whole lot of us have been busy, and I fully and freely offer my congratulations on a job well done!

I now express my wholehearted approbations, as well as a pledge of support from the Green Libertarian Party to the Barack Obama presidency. Congratulations, Barack Obama! You ran a wonderful campaign and you deserve this victory.

This is a rather new political party, one that I am only slowly putting out in the limelight. I am not ready to put up a candidate of my own yet. Until then, I will be working with both the Democrats and Republicans to find the common ground that nobody ever thought could have existed. I like to work behind the scenes, being part of the Infrastructure. However, I have my limits. I found one recently during the election season that I had forgotten for much of my life. As a child of 13 in 1966, I had a school friend who had relatives near Detroit, Michigan, at least one of which worked at the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant. In October 5 of that year, there began a major panic relating to the this power plant that turned rather traumatic, especially when it almost melted down.

Even a few years later, in May, 1970, when I was in High School, there was a sodium explosion at that plant!

I expect to get into the debates, mainly on the green side of my party for now, regarding nuclear power. (For example, I was riled up by some republican "talking points" about "safe, clean nuclear power". Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way because there is way too much evidence of where Nuclear Power has been both Dirty and Dangerous. I am sure that everybody knows that, besides the "event" at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979, there was an earlier meltdown in Detroit on October 5, 1966, where we almost lost Detroit.

Comments? Where do we store this stuff forever? How do we deal with shoddy workmanship when the plants are built? What will our great grandchildren look like?

Daily Show's Jon Stewart takes on "Real American" Question

2008-10-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

The Monday, October 20, 2008 edition of Comedy Central's "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" directly takes on the question of who is a "Real American" or a "Fake American".

This is not the first show, today, to do so: See also today's episode of MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann".

Back to Daily Show, its second segment has Jason Jones looking at Wasilla, Alaska's "small town values", in a most uncomplimentary way. (This was after showing a clip of Governor Palin telling us that we can learn from Wasilla's "main street"). We learn, all right!

BREAKING NEWS!

I'm right now watching CNN (12:30 pm, PDT, 10/21/2008), where the Alaskan Independence Party is being addressed. (You may or may not have seen a YouTube video where Sarah Palin gave a short speech before a Party function, fully encouraging them.

So, Sarah Palin? Is the Alaskan Independence Party, who wants Alaska to secede from the United States, part of the "Real Americans", or the "Fake Americans"?

Examples of possible Election Fraud.

2008-10-18T23:24:00.000-07:00

Since I changed the Title when adding part 2, I need to state that this post originally had to do with a burglary of an ACORN office in Burien, Washington, close to Seattle.

Excuse me, NBC, but this is WAY too major of an issue to just "brush aside"!

What I heard, on KING 5 News here in Seattle, Washington, was an amazing example of something EXTREMELY important, nationwide, being brushed aside, as if it were a fly.

I had to hunt around for a link to this story, but I'm happy I took the time, because KING 5 News's website didn't help me one bit.

The linked story claims that the breakin wasn't politically motivated, just a simple theft. My big question: How the heck do they know????

BREAKING NEWS!

Speaking of Election Fraud, I'm watching CNN's Situation Room, about 3:50 pm PDT, 10/21/2008, where Voting Machines are addressed, that "have a mind of their own". It seems pretty strange to me that the machine in West Virginia would change a person's vote from a Obama to McCain! (And yes, some wouldn't be observant enough to notice...)

The point, in both parts of this BLOG post, is how our voting process MUST be fair, in a democratic society (or a representative, republican society, if you please).

House passes 700 Billion "rescue". Now, will Bush sign it?

2008-10-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

The house passed the bill, with the changes put in by the Senate (including a few bones to the Middle class).

Now, the next question is, "Will Bush Sign This Bill?"

The reason I asked is that I heard a rumor that John McCain told Morning Joe [MSNBC], on Thursday, that he wanted George Bush to VETO this bill, because "IT HAS EARMARKS IN IT!"

Can anybody confirm this rumor? If anybody has a link to a U-Tube video (or on another site), please send a comment with the link.

Thank you and best regards,

Ken Parker in Seattle, Washington, BLOG Owner.

Palin disses McCain policies on regulation. Film at 11!

2008-10-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

I'm only 13 minutes into the Debate, and I'm already seeing serious policy differences between McCain and Palin!

Does this mean that McCain will be running against Palin?

Obama hit this Debate out of the Ballpark, folks!

2008-09-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Obama laid out the olive branch, suggesting that we all cooperate. McCain repeatedly attacked, telling Obama that he didn't understand.

McCain repeated, over and over, the Republican talking points, having to do with tax cuts for businesses. Obama stressed the need to take care of the Middle Class; the ordinary person.

McCain kept on harping on "the Surge in Iraq", trying to force Obama to agree that he was right. Obama said, straight out, that we need to deploy our Military wisely, and treat our soldiars well.

Need I go on?

This is looking like the Lemmings, folks...

2008-09-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hello,

Before I get to a great line I just heard on MSNBC this morning, I'll paraphrase something I vaguely heard yesterday, while I was trying to get some housekeeping work done. I think they were discussing one of the amendments that the Republicans wanted to put in the Bailout plan -- something along the lines that the affected homeowners would be forced to purchase Mortgage Insurance to guarantee their ability to pay off their adjustable Mortgage loans! Please, can somebody dredge this up for me and respond as a Comment? Thanks in advance.

As I started writing this BLOG post, I was watching Senator Harry Reid and Senator and Senator Chris Dodd holding a press conference, which was covered, at least on CNN and MSNBC. But the line of the day goes to MSNBC newscaster Mike Viqueira: "It is essential that democrats have at least the leadership of the House Republicans and a significant number of House Republicans to come along and join hands and jump off this cliff - that's the only way this is going to get done as the world anxiously watches these behind the scenes machinations on Capitol Hill".

I'm sorry, but this is fun to watch. I probably "shouldn't feel happy while the country is going down the tubes", but I do! This is funnier than the story line at the beginning of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams, where the Earth is demolished to make way for a Hyperspace Byway.

Best regards,

Ken Parker in Seattle, Washington

Nail in the Coffin for the John McCain Campaign?

2008-09-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

Did you see the David Letterman Show for Wednesday Night, 9/25/2008? If not, go buy it. (I don't know. Does iTunes provide the David Letterman show?)

It seems that John McCain "Dissed" David Letterman, telling him that he couldn't appear on his show, due to the Economic meltdown.

So what does he do during the time that Letterman is being filmed? Shows up at CBS News with with Katie Couric instead!

Why do I want you to see this episode? Because Letterman does not let McCain get away with this rude behavior at all!

An analysis of our Mortgage mess that I like

2008-09-23T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,

I found a BLOG entry that, in my opinion, explains our Mortgage mess in an easy-to-understand manner. It is called Economic Disasters and Stupid Evil People.

Based on this, I'm wondering if we should just let the Wall Street crowd wallow in their own excrement and not even pass a "bailout" bill? In other words, why should we "lowly taxpayers" have to pay for their stupidity?

What do you think?

Ken Parker

Government disease: electile dysfunction

2008-09-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hello,

On an email list, the moderator wanted to take politics off of the list and said, "I suffer from electile dysfunction".

But doesn't that seems to be an actual disease of this government? With our confusing caucus and primary system, and the Electoral College, couldn't a bacteria have slipped in somewhere?

How long will it take to develop a vaccine?

Everything is going to be fine!

2008-09-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night. I was deposited into Iraq; the real Iraq, not what the Media tries to describe. What did I find? The opposing armies looking at each other and saying, "You're just another human being. I can't fight you!" People there are looking at each other, a bit puzzled. The conversation might go something like this: "I'm Sunni, you're Shi'ite. But behind all of this is the common ground of Abraham. Somewhere in there [Leviticus 19:18], they say, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself'. Why not start now?"

Anyway, you don't have to believe anything I say. Just watch the news. We already see how the Democrats and Republicans are being forced to cooperate with each other to bail out our Financial system. It's either that or total collapse: The United States could declare bankruptcy. Do we want that? (I'm a computer troubleshooter. What I heard was actually pretty funny. Why is short selling a company illegal now? Simple. Somebody shorted a profitable company and became infinitely wealthy. [Divide one by zero and you get infinity]. If they were to pay this one person for this one transaction, it would have been more than our complete [9 trillion dollar?] National Debt. It would be funny if it weren't sad).

Which Presidential candidtate is ready to lead?

2008-09-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

Today, we have this financial catastrophe. Congress is scurrying around to do what is required. Bush agrees. However...

McCain flails around, blaming Obama, and changing his story at least 2 or 3 times.

Obama is calm and collected. He agrees with the emergency measures, and adds another: Let's create a bunch of jobs and rebuild the Infrastructure of this country.

Who makes sense? Who would you rather have as your new President?

Barack Obama keeping on the high road on family issues

2008-09-01T12:28:00.000-07:00

I like Obama already, but am liking him better and better as I continue to see him in the news.

The example today had to do with some potential upcoming mudslinging, relating to Sarah Palin's children. (I do not not wish to even link to the original article, but will link to Obama's response).

Political Earthquake

2008-08-31T14:38:00.001-07:00

Wolf Blitzer came up with an interesting side effect of Hurricane Gustav: Political Earthquake indeed!

It is interesting how the RNC is coming across like they have a high regard for individuals. It sounds great, of course, but I wonder! My prior post points out their "high regard" for the rights of individual people, as well as their "high regard" for the First Amendment.

I guess time will tell.

(Once again, I must emphasize my compassion for those who are, or may be adversely affected by Hurricane Gustav, as well as Tropical Storm Hanna).

Is there a Police State forming prior to RCN Convention?

2008-08-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to see disturbing articles, having to do with police raids, prior to next Monday's RNC Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Read these for yourselves with an open mind (there are links within that article). This particular article hit me because I remember Food Not Bombs in San Francisco, back around 2002 or so, where their only "crime" was passing sandwiches out to the homeless population in San Francisco, which, at that time, was severe enough to get some of them arrested. (See inside Wikipedia article for details on prior confrontations between them and the police).

Instant Karma for the extremist "Social Conservatives"?

2008-08-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

A short while back, a group of right wing kooks -- sorry -- a "family friendly" socially conservative agency came up with a publicity stunt they thought would "divinely" disrupt Obama's acceptance speech in Denver last Thursday.

First off, I want to stress that my heart is with those who might be adversely affected by Hurricane Gustav. However, it occurs to me that, if there is divine intervention, it might be more interested in what those who are behind that previously mentioned "social agency" are up to.

There's a phrase that's heard so often, it may have gone to cliche status: As ye sow, so shall ye reap. If so, it's a shame, because it makes so much sense.

There's a variation I've also heard: "Be careful what you ask for, it might come your way in ways you never could have dreamed of".

More Insight into the Green Libertarian Party

2008-08-29T21:21:00.000-07:00

At this point, I'm content with "going in the right direction". If Obama/Biden wins this election, I believe we are at least on the right track.

What really irked me in 2000 was the suggestion by Ralph Nader that "the Democrats and the Republicans were the same". Not in the least, as the last 8 years should have taught us.

Yes, both of these parties are tarnished by special interests and it's sometimes hard to find their core. But that core is certainly there! I believe I'd remembered Nader chiding Gore because he wasn't going fast enough on environmental issues. But, if he had been elected in 2000, at least the environmental controls we had in place would have likely stayed, rather than being chipped at, whittled down, and otherwise torn apart by the Bush/Cheney team.

The turning point that got me active now in Politics was when Bush vetoed the SCHIP bill at the same time he was demanding (yes, almost like a child) the funds for the Iraq war without any strings attached to them.

I jumped into action at that point, getting active with MoveOn and calling my representatives.

The problem actually came out in the "talking points" on the "conservative" side: They stated that they did not want a new tax, even one on cigarettes. (I believe I heard rhetoric like, "a tax on the weak", or some such). But I had a great answer to that, which didn't get to congress fast enough for them to reconsider overriding the veto: Couldn't we start looking at, say a tax on cigarettes as a "user fee"? Who clogs up the hospitals? Don't people who voluntarily harm their own body by smoking make up a good portion of those who need the health care services? So why are they complaining about an increase in the tax rate on those Cigarettes, to be used for health care in general (or, in this case, for health care for children that fall through other cracks)?

So the idea is that people who are likely to be harming their own body, which would then need health care, would pay a higher tax on what it is that they are doing.

This could also start the conversation going on the Libertarian side of the equation. Allow, but tax, with the idea that those who are wishing to undertake risky behavior are mainly the ones who are paying for the services they would need when things go wrong.

Comments, anybody?

Anybody can comment, by the way, but I moderate what gets onto this BLOG due to the huge issue of irrelevant, off topic, abusive, and/or commercial advertising garbage that I see in so many otherwise intelligent BLOG sites.

I Completely Support Barack Obama and Joe Biden

2008-08-28T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Democratic convention is now over. Absolutely rousing speech by Barrack Obama.

The next step is to elect this team.

Democratic Convention, first night

2008-08-25T19:27:00.001-07:00

I know that "every good BLOG'er" attends these conventions, even to the point of there being a special place for them. But I am quite new to this, and am thus happy to "attend" this convention in the comfort of my own apartment via mainly MSNBC.

So far, I've seen good speaches by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Ted Kennedy (a surprisingly good speach, based on the medical challenges he is going through right now).

My position, based on this new Political Party I am starting: I see a lot more potential for "Green" shining through Barack Obama as president than I do with John McCain. (In fact, I would consider a McCain presidency to be a disaster, from the point of view of the Green party). I also see potential for influencing the democratic party to get greener.

As for the Libertarian part of this party, I'm content to take my time and develop that part. (As well as to watch the John Paul contingent at the Republican convention, giving him my moral support).

The next highlight of the Democratic convention is, of course, Michelle Obama.

I guess I was too late after all.

2008-08-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

Joe Biden it is. Not a bad pick, in my opinion.

Dream Ticket?

2008-08-23T00:07:00.001-07:00

I don't suppose it's too late to put Ron Paul in as a Vice Presidential pick for Obama, right?