Being Thankful

For many years I have been thinking about family and what makes it. I have been thinking about the ties that bind, love, responsibility, forgiveness, and care. I love my siblings dearly because I know them intimately. I trust them. But is there something greater than trust which allows us to give of ourselves freely without recrimination or fear? While wisdom is the principle thing, love is its guide and it needs no history, just familiarity. We are one. Happy Thanksgiving. I love you.

Being a Police State

A Police State has one purpose: to protect the powerful. And there is only one reason to fear peaceful protestors: if the powerful are threatened.

Being Partisan

While we fight the not so good fight of partisan politics, those who are defending on the same side. How do we know these? We know them by the millions they receive as former congresspersons now consultants and lobbyists, and the apparent quid pro quo of present congresspersons exonerated by the body that governs itself. Newt Gingrich (R) served as a consultant for Freddie Mac receiving $1.6 million from this quasi-government agency marred in the subprime scandal. Kent Conrad (D), along with former senator Chris Dodd (D), were handling the negotiations for Country Wide while apparently receiving personal favors from this embattled institution. The Senate Ethics Committee saw no wrong doing. There is nothing new about any of this, but what is old is our ongoing fight of who's better when both parties have repeatedly failed us.