LeftWingCracker

I just don't have a thing to say at the moment.

2009-11-25T19:30:00.000-06:00

Other than, first, enjoy your Thanksgiving, I hope each and every one of you are where you want to be tomorrow and with whom you want to be.

I feel burnt out on politics, with Obama showing every sign of turning into Herbert Hoover when we need FDR, Blanche Lincoln and other Democratic Senators whoring themselves out to Big Healthcare, and the Bears playing like crap every weekend.

On the other hand, I am deeply thankful for Lauren and our four-legged children, our family, the best group of friends a human could have, and that fact that (knock on wood) I continue to be employed.

If I have been grumpy of late, I am sorry, it's been a sucky month. I can't wait for December and hope that it snows all month. Well, at least from the 20th on to the end, any way; I can't help it, it's not Yule without snow.

Hopefully, I will be able to be more creative. Oh, and if you are a Democrat in Senate 31 and you didn't early-vote, GET YOUR HINDQUARTERS TO THE POLLS NEXT TUESDAY AND VOTE FOR ADRIENNE PAKIS-GILLON. Unless, of course, you like the idea of Brian Kelsey returning to our legislature.

Enough. Happy Thanksgiving and go Grizzlies!

You know, I was going to write a big post about the County Mayor selection

2009-11-17T23:54:00.002-06:00

and a lot of it would have to do with the shabby treatment of the honorable Judge Otis Higgs, who was apparently told he had the votes to be selected County Mayor on a second ballot. However, he had to sit and watch as the rug was pulled out from under him as Joe Ford was elected. This man deserved a better fate and not the slap in the face he received.

However, Polar Donkey has written an even better post about the state of the County right now, and I want all of you to go and read it now.

Ok, let's think about things for a moment

2009-11-15T23:35:00.002-06:00

Aside from the crazy suggestion by our new city Mayor that he arrange for an agreement to serve as BOTH City and County Mayor, lots of interesting things have happened regarding the deadlocked race for interim County Mayor.

The Democratic Women of Shelby County, who normally would collectively swallow broken glass than choose between two Democrats, yesterday endorsed Commissioner Joe Ford over Commissioner J.W. Gibson at their monthly meeting. Here is the text of that endorsement:

To Shelby County Democratic Commissioners:

After careful consideration by the Democratic Women of Shelby County, it is our pleasure to announce that the Democratic Women of Shelby County give their full endorsement and support of County Commissioner Joe Ford for Interim Shelby County Mayor.

Commissioner Ford’s history of commitment to public service and considerable attention to the City of Memphis as a Democrat, City Councilman and Shelby County Commissioner has earned this valuable endorsement. The Democratic Women of Shelby County have been long-time supporters of Democrats both in Memphis and Shelby County, and we continue to work long and tireless hours to promote the election of Democrats and the Democratic agenda to improve the lives of our citizens.

We have enjoyed a positive relationship with County Commissioner Ford as it is based on respect and fighting for issues that are in the best interest of the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County. This philosophy is consistent with our mission to support and help elect Democrats in Memphis and Shelby County.

We proudly add our endorsement and we encourage you to give your support and your vote to County Commissioner Joe Ford as Interim Shelby County Mayor. We are confident in the leadership and the experience that Commissioner Ford will bring to office of Shelby County Mayor and we look forward to the success that Joe Ford will bring to the County during his interim term as the future Shelby County Mayor.

Please, vote Joe Ford on Tuesday November 17, 2009.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mickey Klenz

President

Democratic Women of Shelby

OK then. Look, if I had to choose, I would choose Joe Ford myself. He's had experience with both City and County government, he gets along with both sides of the aisle, and would work with commissioner to get things done until September 1, 2010.

Here's my question, though: if NO ONE is going to get 7 votes, why select the interim Mayor from the Commission's body? At the end of the day, this will only lead to a tough time for whomever wins.

Former Commission Chair (and my candidate for County Mayor) Deidre Malone thought that she was on to something by nominating CAO Jim Huntzicker for the position. However, Huntzicker, who has a solidly GOP primary voting record (you can get it at the Election Commission) is no favorite of local unions for his slash-and-burn job-cutting for the County, went nowhere fast.

Right idea, wrong person.

Seeing as how this is my blog, I have my own idea.

The person I have in mind has NEVER been an elected official, but he was a key member of TWO different City administrations, working at high levels for both Dick Hackett and W.W. Herenton. He was a terrific go-between from Mayor Herenton to the City Council in the Mayor's first two terms. While he has never been a part of County government, it is less complex than City government, and he would be a steady hand at the helm, with no likelihood that he would seek the office himself.

This is a person whom I have not spoken with in years, and has no clue I am about to recommend him for this job, but, like Joe Ford, he gets along with EVERYONE and would be trusted by all parties to do the right thing.

My suggestion: former Herenton CFO and CAO Rick Masson.

Yes, if he reads that he is probably doing a spit take, but I think that he would be the right person at the right time for County government, and the perfect transitional figure to September 2010.

Your thoughts?

The teabaggers are coming to Whitehaven for tomorrow's Town Hall

2009-11-13T17:49:00.001-06:00

From the office of our Congressman -

Congressman Steve Cohen is holding a public forum Saturday morning in
Memphis, and I wanted to make sure you got an invitation to attend.

He just cast a courageous vote in favor of health insurance reform.

Opponents of reform will be trying to convince him that his vote was a
mistake -- can you come out and show your support?

What: Rep. Steve Cohen Town Hall

Where: Whitehaven Golf Course
750 Holmes Road
Memphis, TN 38109

When: Saturday, November 14th
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

I can't make it, but I hope that YOU can, we need to have Steve's back on this matter.

MGLCC’s Pride Flag Target of Vandalism

2009-11-11T13:11:00.001-06:00

Hat tip to Brad Watkins at WTL

MGLCC’s Pride Flag Target of Vandalism

Vandals Attempt to Burn Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center’s Pride Flag

Memphis, TN, November 11, 2009: Early Wednesday morning, two vandals attempted to burn the rainbow pride flag that flies prominently in front of MGLCC’s building at 892 South Cooper. The pride flag is a recognizable symbol for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community’s solidarity, pride and unity.

No motive for the incident has been reported at this point.

This act of vandalism marks the second time in two months that a public symbol of the LGBT community raised by MGLCC has been destroyed or damaged. The first was a National Coming Out Day billboard on Friday, September 25 at Poplar and High.

We find this targeting of our community to be a disturbing pattern that is not limited to property but also includes the more serious attacks on our transgender members as well as bullying of LGBT youth. MGLCC takes very seriously the safety and security of our visitors and friends. We are cooperating with the Memphis Police Department who are investigating at this time. We understand that they have one suspect is in custody and are searching for the second. We sincerely appreciate the attention given to both incidents by the Memphis Police Department and wish for a speedy recovery of the officer who protected our flag.

Public incidents such as this shed light on the larger issue of intolerance and hatred that our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens face every day. Once again, attempts to silence or frighten our community will not succeed, but will make us more determined to fight for equality. We appreciate the support of the community in this struggle.

Will Batts

Executive Director

MGLCC

901-278-6422

www.mglcc.org

HEY! Early Voting starts November 12 in Senate 31 general and House 83 Primary

2009-11-11T12:28:00.002-06:00

NOTICE OF EARLY VOTING

DECEMBER 1, 2009

SPECIAL STATE GENERAL AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Pursuant to Sec. 2-6-103, Tennessee Code Annotated, notice is hereby given by the Shelby County Election Commission of unrestricted early voting for the December 1, 2009, Special State General and Primary Elections as follows:

Site Locations, Dates and Times

SHELBY COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION
157 POPLAR AVE., SUITE 121

Beginning Wednesday, November 12, 2009 - Friday November 13, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Saturday: November 14, 2009, 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM

Monday, November 16, 2009, - Friday, November 20, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Saturday: November 21, 2009, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM

Monday, November 23, 2009, and Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Last Day: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM

The Shelby County Election Commission Office will be closed Thursday, November 26, 2009, and Friday, November 27, 2009, for the Thanksgiving holidays.

Satellite Sites

Beginning Wednesday, November 12, 2009 - Friday November 13, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Saturday: November 14, 2009, 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM

Monday, November 16, 2009, - Friday, November 20, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Saturday: November 21, 2009, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM

Monday, November 23, 2009, and Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM

Last Day: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM

LOCATION NAME	LOCATION ADDRESS
Agri Center (Rotunda Hallway) Agri-Center * closed November 23, 2009 and reopen on Nov. 24, 2009 until Nov. 25, 2009	7777 Walnut Grove Rd., 38120
Anointed Temple Of Praise (Youth Room)	3939 Riverdale Rd., 38141
Bethel Church	5586 Stage Rd., 38134
New Bethel Church	7786 Poplar Pike, 38138
White Station Church of Christ	1106 Colonial Rd., 38117

I feel for Tommy West, but it was time

2009-11-09T21:25:00.004-06:00

I agree with Chris Vernon, if you're going to go out, that's the way to go. Tommy West, after a decade with the University of Memphis football program, the last nine as head coach, was relieved of his duties today by Athletic Director RC Johnson, who many believe should have gone right with him.

Tommy showed the passion that has been his hallmark; however, I suspect that much of what he had to say will fall on deaf ears, just as his players tuned him out. He IS right that the program is at a crossroads, a piss-or-get-off-the-pot moment for UM football. They DO need better facilities to recruit better players. However, Art Briles at Houston has crappier facilities than UM, and they are going to win the CUSA West, and had an outside chance at a BCS bowl. HE" not complaining, he's winning, and he's surrounded by the Big 12 South and LSU to the east.

Here's the question, though: while UM may have an increasing number of large donors, do they have a broad-enough donor and fan base to do what needs to be done? 20,000 folks is just fine for men's hoops, but they need 40-50K as a football base. They need to get in a BCS conference, but how can that happen if they can't complete in C-USA, where West NEVER even won a division title, even with the best QB (Wimprine) and the best offensive player (Williams) in the history of the school? The SEC for UM? Never happen, not in a million years, because the SEC has the city already, they don't need the U of M.

If they will build something like TCF Bank Stadium on-campus (and it will have to be exclusively from PRIVATE sources, gang), then they might have a chance. Whatever happens, Tommy was right about one thing: go big or go home with the program. Either put your money where your mouth is, or get out of the business completely.

That's where U of M football stands, and it's up to the administration, the AD, the donors, and the hardcore fans to bring this about. Fail now, and you might as well fold up your tent, because half-assing this is not an option.

Tennessee Democrats, we need to talk for a moment

2009-11-08T17:00:00.004-06:00

You see, we are all in the midst of a situation here, one that we can stop in its infancy, but we need your help.

I'm certain that if you read this blog, or follow any of the fine bloggers listed on the righthand side of this blog, you will have read of the exploits of the Stuntbaby of Germantown (TM ACK), former Rep. Brian Kelsey, who is seeking to replace former Senator Paul Stanley in District 31.

Kelsey is a hyper-ambitious guy, whose stands on issues are even too far to the right for the conservative District 31. Kelsey voted to allow guns in parks and guns in bars, positions that angered residents of Germantown. He is a grandstander, and wants to be a Congressman or higher some day.

In short, he doesn't give too hoots in hell for what his old District 83 thought or what Senate District 31 wants, he is too busy trying to move up the food chain.

While the GOP establishment in Nashville loves Kelsey, the rank and file aren't that smitten with him here. In short, he is not even close to being a lock for election on December 1.

Part of the reason for that is Democratic nominee Adrienne Pakis-Gillon, who has been walking all over the district for the past month, with an ever-growing team of supporters. This is a winnable race, which begs a serious question:

Considering that A) EVERY Senate and House seat is critical in preventing a complete GOP takeover of the General Assembly, which will lead to Democrats losing up to three seats in Congress from Tennessee and B) we have a chance to end Brian Kelsey's political career before he damages anything else, why the hell has the TNDP essentially told Adrienne that they aren't going to help her?

THESE are the races that make differences in how each party is viewed. If the GOP can't hold on to this seat, their presumed hegemony is NOT going to happen. Now, understand, I don't want the TNDP to send troops (not after the House 62 debacle), but I DO want them to send money.

(NOTE: You, too, can help Adrienne with time and/or money, go and find out how, it's CRUCIAL!)

Adrienne is showing how this race can and will be won, and unlike Kelsey, she cares what the people of her district think and believe. She is married with children, unlike Kelsey, and she works in small business and understands the needs of Senate 31.

I will be creating a group at the TNDP site for Adrienne in the next day or two, and I will put something up about that. However, in the interim, join her when you can to knock on doors, and if you can put a few bucks in the cookie jar to help her win a race that CAN be won and MUST be won, do it.

Let's put someone in the Senate who cares about what their District wants, not what their Campaign Manager wants.

It's time to implement a Spay-and-Neuter ordinance in the city

2009-11-06T09:27:00.003-06:00

After reading the horrible accounts of mismanagement at the Memphis Animal Shelter and seeing the sickening picture of the starved dog, I am delighted that Mayor Wharton took quick action to fix the issues there.

Vvixen joins the blogging world with a report on the vigil that took place at the Animal Shelter in remembrance of the dogs who were neglected to death, and you should read it.

Then, go read Polar Donkey as he forcefully states the point; requiring pet owners to spay or neuter their animals would help to reduce the number of unwanted pets in the city, reducing the demands that are put on the Shelter in the first place.

I agree with PD, this is highly needed, and I intend to talk to my councilors about this situation.

Some good, some bad tonight.

2009-11-03T22:17:00.002-06:00

First, to the utter shock of no one, Republican Bob McDonnell was elected Governor of Virginia after eight years of Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. He was simply a better candidate than Democrat Creigh Deeds. McDonnell played down his degree from Regent University and took a page from the W playbook of 2000, appearing to be more moderate than he actually was. Deeds, who ran away from the Obama 2008 playbook, failed to excite the Democratic base and got thumped.

Jon Corzine, who made his billions on Wall Street, may have paid a price for that tonight in New Jersey, losing to former US Attorney Chris Christie. This was about hard times in Jersey, and Corzine hardly came across as a man of the people.

Still out as of the moment are the NY-23 race, and the Maine same-sex-marriage law is down at the moment, which would not be a good thing.

Simply put, I think that gay marriage will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, as to discriminate solely on the basis of gender is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Whatcha doing TONIGHT from 5-7?

2009-11-02T19:19:00.003-06:00

Come on out, meet Adrienne and let's help her win this race! I went from house to house with her yesterday, and was delighted with the warm reception she received! I will be at work, so I can't make it, but I hope you can; let's put another Democrat in the State Senate!

Tired of those pesky socialists? Let's go to that Libertarian Paradise!

2009-11-02T08:54:00.003-06:00

Hat tip to Ben Vos..

Jon Stewart eviscerates FOX News

2009-10-30T19:20:00.000-05:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

For Fox Sake!

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

Jim Kyle Fundraiser for tomorrow night

2009-10-28T16:07:00.003-05:00

REMINDER - Fundraiser for the Danny Kail campaign for Probate Court Clerk

2009-10-28T11:48:00.004-05:00

As I support him, I thought I would pass this on!

Elect Danny W. Kail

The most qualified candidate

For

Shelby County Probate Court Clerk

Join us for a reception to raise funds

For the Probate Court Clerk 2010 Campaign

Thursday Oct. 29, 2009

5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Hosted by

Pari Motamedi

Earnest Fiveash and the

Committee to elect Danny Kail

Join us at

200 Wagner Pl

Memphis, TN 38103

901-759-9592

Suggested Donation- $100

Contribution of all Sizes Accepted

Please make checks payable to

Danny Kail for Probate Court Clerk

Mailing address 50 Gayoso #102

Memphis, TN 38103

4, 117

2009-10-28T11:48:00.003-05:00

That's how many people went to the Liberty Bowl last night, and, no, I was NOT among them.

I was going to do another post on the sad state of U of M football, but Geoff Calkins says it better than I can, so go read him here. H/T to callmeishmael!

GoldnI asks the right question:

2009-10-26T19:14:00.001-05:00

Where do the gubernatorial candidates stand on Opting Out of the Public Option? Like it or notm, that's now a question that all of them will be asked, and they had better answer it properly.

Note to Democrats: remember, you are in a PRIMARY!

THIS is messed up

2009-10-23T11:22:00.002-05:00

With a hat tip to Oliver Willis, here's MC TREBEK for Feel Good Friday

Adrienne needs OUR help!

2009-10-22T23:56:00.001-05:00

Folks, this is not just a critical race for Senate 31, it is a WINNABLE race. That said, let me turn this post over to the campaign....

Neighbors and Friends,

Thank you for all your support in the Primary Election. Adrienne is now the official Democratic nominee for State Senate in District 31, and we are that much closer to bringing common sense back to Nashville.

The primary results put Adrienne less than 900 votes behind her opponent. A win is just over the horizon, and but we need your help to get there.

Today, there are at least two ways to help Adrienne bring common sense and care back to Nashville.

1) Volunteer. Join Adrienne this weekend in Germantown to get the word out about her caring campaign. We have been having a great time meeting people and the response to our message has been very positive.

Meet us on Saturday at 11:00am or Sunday at 1:00pm at the Germantown Performing Arts Center. We need you to help let everyone in Germantown know about our goals for a better community. Reply to this email or message Barbara Williams so we can have shirts and plans ready for you.

2) Contribute. We need your investment to ensure Adrienne's victory. Despite having a financial advantage of almost 20 to 1, Adrienne's opponent was only able to secure a small number of additional votes. A contribution of just $5 can buy 50 informational cards. A larger contribution helps us spread the message even more.

We're all in this together. Let's make another charge today.

Official Site

Facebook

On twitter @voteadrienne

Somewhere in this city, Carol Chumney must be shaking her head and laughing

2009-10-21T23:58:00.004-05:00

Why, you may ask? Well, it seems that The Med is threatening to close its Emergency Room (but NOT the Elvis Presley Trauma Center) if it fails to get $32 Million in needed funding. Mayor Wharton says that he will keep a focus on The Med even after he becomes Mayor of the city in a few days.

That's all well and good, and I'm glad he is, but is it not true that responsibility for The Med falls under the County, not the City, meaning he has more control over it with the job he is leaving compared to the job he is taking?

Chumney, of course, mentioned this during the campaign several times, beginning with a September 9 press release, which was pretty much ignored by the media, even me. The question becomes this: Why did no one at The Med bother to mention this BEFORE the Mayoral Election?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller (not THAT ONE)? Well, this will soon be Joyce Avery's problem, as well as the County Commission, while Mayor Wharton just walks across the Mall to his new job, showing all the concern in the world, while not really having the power to do anything about it.

While I'm grousing about Wharton, let me kick it up a notch. Mr. Mayor, why did you not give Steve Ross the courtesy of a vote before the Council on Tuesday? If he loses, he loses, but it's HIS loss, not yours. Let the chips fall where they may. If, as a trial lawyer, you have seen far worse than the brawl between The Punk Joe Brown and Shea Flinn, why did you roll over so quickly?

Do you think The Punk Joe Brown didn't notice? Do you honestly think he won't keep doing this, now that he sees that, despite all of our criticism for his Punkness, he got what he wanted? Prepare to keep getting rolled, Mr. Mayor, they're not as deferential on the west side of the Plaza as they were on the east side, they FIGHT over here.

Sidney Chism was right, you ARE going to have to piss people off and take stands now, or you will be in a quagmire of which you may find difficult to extricate yourself. Welcome to the big leagues, Mayor Wharton.

This is what REAL freedom means

2009-10-21T18:00:00.001-05:00

This was in Maine, where they are waging a battle to keep gay marriage. Hat tip to Newscoma and Brittney G!

It's not just Memphis, the whole STATE is on fire over this.

2009-10-21T11:32:00.003-05:00

From Mike Byrd and Christian Grantham in Nashville, to Michael Silence of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, to our own Tom Jones at Smart City Memphis, EVERYONE is weighing in on the hosing of Steve Ross by Joe Brown.

Our beloved Newscoma has this down cold, however. Start at her blog by watching the video of Joe Brown go off on Shea Flinn, then follow as she talks about what bloggers DO for their areas, and then read on as she eviscerates Brown with a scalpel, not a bludgeon.

Go read it all now!

Steve Ross is my friend, and I am proud of him.

2009-10-20T23:32:00.006-05:00

I am proud of the grace that he showed today when his nomination to the Metro Charter Commission was pulled back by Mayor Wharton due to opposition from At-Large Councilor Joe Brown. He never complained or whined, and he was grateful to be considered.

He never even got a vote because Wharton got the yips at the first sign of trouble. Consensus has its DISadvantages, folks; if Wharton does this every time Joe Brown whines, Joe Brown may as well be Mayor.

I. however, do not pretend that I have the grace or restraint of Steve Ross, so I am pissed off.

Brown was upset about some things Ross had written about him, so he raised hell and tried to provoke a fight with Councilor Shea Flinn, who had supported Steve from the beginning. From the Daily News article, Brown said this to Flinn:

“I’m a real man,” Brown told Flinn at the end of the exchange. “I’m a real black man. I hope you are a real white man.”

Councilor Brown, are you THAT insecure about your manhood? Are you THAT thin-skinned about what Ross wrote? You kept referring to Steve as THAT BLOGGER, never even referring to him by name. Well, I'm a blogger and I'm a man, too, and what you did to Steve Ross was not exactly manly, pal.

Never mind that Ross has written the most though- provoking work this year on the Charter and the changes that need to be made, your manhood was apparently in danger, so you whined like a little girl until Wharton backed down and pulled Steve Ross, and then you didn't even have the guts to vote on Ross' replacement, Richard Smith. At least Janis Fullilove had the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what she believed in when she voted no, but you did nothing.

I don't know about North Memphis, but I know enough about South Memphis and the Mound to know what they would say about that: "You a punk, Joe Brown!". And if I see you out and about, I'll say it to your face.

Joe Brown's pettiness and churlishness didn't just hurt his friends, it hurt the COMMUNITY. Joe Brown disrespected Steve Ross, he disrespected the blogging community, he disrepected the CITY OF MEMPHIS. Richard Smith is a good guy and he will be a solid addition, this is not about him at all, this is about what Steve Ross brought to the table for all of us. Now, he won't have a chance to help shape what this community will be in the future, and it's a damn shame.

And all because Joe Brown is a punk.

Why Are We Failing

2009-10-20T14:36:00.001-05:00

We as Americans have an interesting dichotomy. We are expected to help out fellow man, but also expected to do as much for ourselves as possible. We admire those who help the poor, but we don't give more than maybe a weekend or two a year to chip in. We give a couple bucks a week to help out charities, but spend ten to twenty times that eating out at McDonalds. We believe in self reliance, think people should do for themselves, and denigrate those who need help, but as soon as we are in a similar situation, we think nothing of demanding help.

Allegedly, this country was founded on a philosophy that all man are created equal. We have spent decades placing laws that disprove this. We want government to not tell us who to worship and what to own, but we want the government to say who we can marry and what medical procedures we are allowed to have.

This country is still the greatest on Earth for opportunity. But more and more the American Dream is growing out of reach for the vast majority of us. More and more we are skating by, paying the minimum, just hoping to keep working until the next paycheck. The financial crisis of the past two years is extremely telling as the rich have gotten richer, the true middle class (those making in the 60-80k mark with several kids) barely holding on and in many cases shrinking, and the poor getting worse and worse.

Obama was elected not quite a year ago to change this country and so far has failed to do so. Can you blame him? Sure. Can you blame the Blue Dogs? Yeah. Can you blame the moronic fucktards who for the last 30 years have preached the government is evil while working to handicap it and deliberately ensure that it fails while lining their own pockets and those of their friends? Hell Yes!!

That is why America is such a dichotomy. On one hand we hate lawyers, denigrate them, etc. On the other hand, if we don't like something, we sue, we hire someone who can win. Forget environmental law, forget the guy who is overworked at the public defender's office, forget consumer protection. Celebrate personal injury lawyers. Yes, a lot of lawyers do things for the money, but look at the things that they do mostly self funded until the cases are settled and awards are distributed, asbestos, tobacco, car safety, water safety, etc

We love the self made millionaire, but how many people succeed entirely on their own. As Matthew Lesko points out, their is tons of free money out there, you just have to find it, and a lot of people have. People complain about regulations and codes, but forget that those exist to ensure safe buildings and enviroments. People (and I am one of them) complain about the school systems, but move repeatedly to find a "good" school that stays that way or send them to private schools where they don't learn about life and the diversity of this country.

We complain about taxes, but point out to authority figures that we pay their salary. We complain about wasting money on volcano studies, but demand accountability on why a disaster wasn't better forecasted. We wonder why potholes aren't fixed and why roads are bumpy, but get up in arms when a rise in gas taxes means we have to pay another two dollars a week to drive from our suburb to work. We want more cultural entertainment and a good museum system, but never go except when they have Titanic or dinosaurs.

We want to go to the doctor whenever we want, but never go even to have recommended checkups. We think its absurd that airlines would charge plus sized people for 2 seats, but shovel french fries into our mouth. We wonder why there is no cure for AIDS while we pop a pill to give us a boner. We scoff at global warming when the weather is colder now than it was this time last year, but fail to remember it is called climate change. We demand low cost food, and forget about the environmental damage it causes.

Do you wonder why this country is failing? I don't.

From Brad Watkins...

2009-10-19T10:46:00.000-05:00

Gandhi-King Conference on Peacemaking
October 23-25, 2009
Memphis, TN
www.gandhikingconference.org

Final preparations are under way for what is going to be our most engaging conference yet. We have just updated the schedule and added a listing of workshop offerings to the website. The phones are busy fielding calls from as far away as Kenya and Nepal, with peacemakers from all over the world finding ways to make the trip to Memphis to be a part of this important gathering.

Please don't wait a minute longer. Register today to reserve your space in this gathering that will feature....

Speakers: Rev. CT Vivian, lifelong civil rights activist • Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence • Mubarak Awad, Nonviolence International • Barbara Love, United to End Racism • Rudy Balles, PeaceJam Foundation • Michael Nagler, Metta Center

Workshops by: LaOnf, 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, United to End Racism, Community Media Workshop, National War Tax Resistance, the Matrix Center, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Young Spirit Foundation, the Community Nonviolence Resource Center and much more...

Plus....
Want more than just a conference? The Gandhi-King Convergence: from shared ideas to coordinated action.

The Gandhi-King Convergence is an opportunity for people from across the country and around the world to come together to vision, share ideas and resources, and further our work in a more unified and collaborative way. Participants will form issue-based working groups and engage in a process to share insights and experiences, find ways we can be of support to each other, and to create an action plan for the coming year. Presenters will act as resource agents in this process to provide guidance and support. We will also form a network so that these groups can stay connected and support each other in their common work throughout the year. These working groups will help us dig deeper and turn our knowledge into action!

Registration includes all this PLUS a Friday reception, lunch on Saturday, and the Saturday evening banquet.

http://www.gandhikingconference.org