By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
Despite the documents eaten, the computer glitches and snafus that have me contemplating my love/hate relationship with Mercury and the constant need to feed the gods of technology, this has been a very satisfying week. I’m not sure I remember the last one. I’m talking politically, of course, trying to recall when something progressive happened without hindrance from the regressives. I think we accomplished a few things with little effort some time in 2009 or ’10, before Congress was infested with government-hating Tea Baggers and their march toward obscurity. And despite the fact that they’ve captured even more law-making authority, it’s been a very good week, surprisingly, packed with positive signs and omens.
No, nothing actually happened on the floor of Congress except the House voting for the 56th time to kill off Obamacare, proving yet again that with so much that’s imperative to accomplish, little has changed in the party on the right (not to mention a striking lack of imagination). They’re as stuck in their retro agenda as is their senatorial leader, Mitch McConnell, when he pitches the necessity of coal to America’s future and touts the safety of mining to a public increasingly aware of its carbon footprint and newly convinced that corporations (think mining executives) are not their friend.
But this is also the week when the President let loose a progressive bombshell of a budget, putting to bed any speculation that he wasn’t serious about ending sequester. Obama wasn’t quite Greece to the horrified Pubs’ Germany, but close. The right met his optimistic proposal with a scramble for their own budget and national medical plan, which has turned out to be, thus far, bupkis. If they keep this up, they won’t be able to duck the truth that they have no talent for governance and a real disdain for public affairs.
Among some of Obama’s many proposals was a six-year $478 billion public works program to repair and replace national infrastructure, including highways, bridges and transit upgrades. Not a new idea or even a new proposal from this president, this qualifies as a ‘jobs plan’ of the kind the Pubs insist Obama never offers, while they laugh behind their hands and block implementation each time he suggests it. An invigorated economy — along with obviously collapsing infrastructure — makes it more difficult for them to deny such activity this time around.
Obama proposed paying for half of the program by imposing a one-time mandatory tax on overseas profits of U.S. companies, calling our attention, once again, to money sheltering and the enormous amount of corporate revenue the nation can no longer depend upon. The Pubs will lock up over the word ‘tax,’ but the truth is, government doesn’t run without renewing revenue, and taxing is how that’s accomplished.
Along with a full plate of progressive action, Obama has proposed a new government agency to watchdog food safety, not addressing the concerns of those of us working against Frankenfoods, but a move of the needle on inspection and national oversight, and — most importantly — its necessity. He’s proposing that Social Security benefits be extended to all married same-sex couples, he’s reassured the Dreamers that he will not abandon them or their cause (even as the Pubs ready their lawsuit), and he’s put billions in place for climate concerns.
Of course all of this has to make its way through a congress reluctant to even discuss most of it, so nothing is assured. Once again, it isn’t so much what the Republicans do that instructs, these days, it’s what they don’t do, and they’ve made it their focus in these early days of their mid-term ascendency to prove that they can govern (to which I say, good luck with that, I’ll believe it when I see it). There are a few topics — like tax reform — that the two parties might agree on eventually, but little else. Still, these are issues that illustrate the differences between what the nation wants and needs and what the Republican Congress intends to deliver. All part of the Cosmic Wake Up Plan, me thinks.
So while Obama’s budget offers progressive action, packed with the possibility of realization down the road, that wasn’t the best of it this week. Amid tragedy and brutality across the world, and continued international intrigues, a couple of long-term projects that many of us have supported and worked toward — and for so long that we’ve forgotten just how grueling has been the push — are finalizing with excellent prospects.
The first is the campaign to secure net neutrality, which has been a long-shot since the beginning, given the power of the telecom and cable industries. We’ve been petitioning, positioning and fretting for years now over the possibility that the interwebs would be turned into a pay-for-play commodity, the highest bidder getting the fastest access. This was a bit of a squeaker, since up until recently it appeared that FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, was coming down on the side of big business.
A few weeks ago, Obama came out quite forcefully for net neutrality, which seems to have turned Wheeler’s attention toward its viability. In a recent opinion piece for Wired, Wheeler announced that he is going to propose that the FCC use its authority under Title II of the Communications Act to protect consumer broadband Internet, allowing the agency increased authority to police providers and equalize access. According to a Huffy article:
Until recently, a Title II plan was a pipe dream for net neutrality advocates. But President Barack Obama came out in support of Title II reclassification and bright-line rules in November, and Wheeler, who had reportedly been considering alternative approaches, appears to now be on board.
A senior FCC official addressed the effect of the president’s announcement on Wheeler’s decision-making on a call with reporters Wednesday. “It was actually the aftermath of the president’s announcement that proved to be so important,” the official said, citing reactions from financial analysts and ISPs such as Sprint. “That reaction demonstrated convincingly that Title II could be tailored for the 21st century without harming investment.”
And on February 4th, Wheeler announced:
“. . .the strongest open internet protections ever proposed by the FCC. These enforceable, bright-line rules will ban paid prioritization, and the blocking and throttling of lawful content and services. I propose to fully apply—for the first time ever—those bright-line rules to mobile broadband. My proposal assures the rights of internet users to go where they want, when they want, and the rights of innovators to introduce new products without asking anyone’s permission.”
Here in the US of A, where corporate influence is rarely bucked, this is a remarkable call from Mr. Wheeler. The FCC stands alone, not directed by the White House, but obviously influenced by it for the public good. In this particular instance, free speech and the best interests of the little guy seem to have won the day, but nothing is, as yet, written. If you have opportunity, reinforce Wheeler’s decision with continued letters, calls and petitions. Wheeler’s recommendations will go to vote by agency commissioners later in February. We need signatures on dotted lines before we can take that full, free cyber-breath.
The next bit of terrific news impacting a long-term project is the EPA’s long-awaited report on the environmental impact of the XL Keystone Pipeline. You may remember an early, and disturbingly benign, assessment by the State Department (the pipeline crosses international borders) that seemed to have been pulled together by Koch employees.
This week, spitting in the eye of State’s laissez-faire attitude toward the project, the EPA delivered a letter to them stating that, “Until efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of oil sands are successful and widespread, developing the tar sands crude represents a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions.”
The business class is calling the EPA recommendation sabotage, but to those of us who have already assessed the projected damage to the environment, and to climate scientists who have warned about the proposed pipelines contribution toward global warming, the EPA’s review is a godsend.
Congress is ready to deliver a bill to the President’s desk approving the pipeline, but Obama has made it clear he will veto any legislation passed to him until he has a full understanding of the environmental impact, most importantly any increase in carbon pollution. He has already poked a stick at one of the Pubs’ talking points — job growth — by exposing the fact that only 35 long-term jobs would be created (job creation is the point my own Dem Senator has used as argument for her vote).
Since 2013, Obama has continued to promise that he will reject the TransCanada project if it leads to a significant increase in carbon pollution. The EPA just gave him cover to do so.
We can expect a continued full-blown lobbying effort to turn Obama’s head — even some dramatics — since the Kochs are knee-deep in this project and want, with all their grinchy little hearts, to close down the Environmental Protection Agency, which regularly thrusts a stick into their gears. This letter no doubt made them spit pea soup and renew their commitment to killing off environmental regulations. A growing public awareness is critical to keeping that from occurring.
And in a hail-Mary pass, TransCanada announced today that it will enter the oil-by-rail business, thumbing its nose at the possibility that it won’t have access to move its gunk across this nation. Not an actual ‘thing,’ as we’ve already seen the dangers of this kind of delivery system, which is neither feasible to meet TransCanada’s needs nor cost effective. While resisting the temptation of a shadenfreude moment, their discomfort is clearly a moment for celebration by climate scientists, environmentalists and any citizen still interested in breathing decent air and drinking clean water. While we must still support our Canadian brothers’ and sisters’ objection to tar sands, we may well have prevented their access here in the USA.
So, no — we don’t have a decision on XL or a clear win on net neutrality. We don’t have a public works program that could boost the chances of the long-term unemployed gaining a foothold, or a lock to reign in corporate money to pay for it. We don’t have a nod for needed billions to deal with climate change, threatening our very existence. All those things are in the ‘pending’ file, awaiting a final push toward completion.
But they’re also on our lips, in our conversation, displayed on websites and television screens around the world. Over 90 percent of the public understands that climate change has us in its cross-hairs, and wants government to deal with it in whatever way possible. Even many Republicans have come to sobriety over this issue, looking for answers to climate emergencies. As well, in November, pollsters found that over 80 percent of the public — Democrat and Republican alike, young and old, all races and religions — want net neutrality without interference from corporate overlords.
Those numbers — along with a clear message to come to the aid of the middle-class and make investment in a more environmentally sensitive future while strengthening our economy — can’t be ignored forever. While it feels as if this divide between parties has come to its widest breach, it also seems that the difference between the needs of real people in communities across the country and the needs of faux-people as the Supremes have designated corporations, has finally been noticed.
With this overwhelming disparity between the haves and the have nots — the machinery of government and the intent of governance — becoming more obvious by the day, can a Hundredth Monkey u-turn toward government of, for and by the people be far off?
Yes, it was a very good week.
A fitting week for a Merc Retro, don’t you think? All these points getting reviewed, regenerated and ready for a push forward again and soon, with at least some new insight or acceptance of previous insight/s.
Thanks for a great wrap-around (rather than wrap-up since nothing’s “done”) for the week, Jude.
Dammit Jude! Where’s the PAIN?!?
Nah, this week was relatively swell, despite all the murder and mayhem.
I wish (in one hand and shit in the other) Obama would have gone balls-out 6 years ago (although as Betty White would say [not verbatim] “Why would we say grow some balls? Vagina’s, they can take a pounding!”)
I’ve got a bit of positivism regarding the net neutrality unfoldments. I must admit, I was skeptical about the voice being heard anywhere near the halls of power but… We’ll see…
I truly am sick of the Cock bros., and the fact that money (although I have nothing inherently against it, just the way the monkey’s who handle that tool use it) is still not used for its proper purpose: to evolve every one of us to a more peaceful existence.
Anyway, I had a ton of shit to talk but.. some other time.
Thanks Jude, for the read,
Jere
Glad your spirits are up from last week Jude; I understand as I too am subservient to the Puter Gods. Didn’t realize that Claire was voting yes to the pipeline – Rachel Maddow thinks she hung the Moon. Oh well, the Prez is telling the world who’s afraid of the big bad wolf and oh what a relief that is.
In fact Obama’s light is shining in the Leo Full Moon chart 4 days ago. I counted an amazing 17 priceless aspects (some of them multiples) in that chart which have probably been discussed already, but I’ve just arrived here after almost 4 days of NO ACCESS so have yet to catch up on all the reading. One of them is that Jupiter was conjunct Obama’s descendant (opposite his ascendant at 18 Aquarius). The full moon at 14 Leo was part of the grand trine between Uranus and Pallas + Great Attractor, all of whom conjunct or trine Obama’s Sun within a 2 or 1 degree orb. To me this solidifies the channelers assertion that he is an advanced soul here at this time to guide us through the complexities of evolution. Did we ever doubt it?
Have compared the U.S of A.’s solar return last summer to this full moon and looked at the future solar return coming in July, and all in all we will be dealing with the likes of ISIS for the next 2 years for sure. At least, the Universe is providing some understanding of it’s PLAN though, which is better than just judging from the news reports which are so depressing. I’m so glad you are propping us up with the news of ground gained this week and hopefully, more to come.
So why are they eating Brian Williams alive? Good grief, CNN is making it a major news event. Well, now he knows how Dan Rather felt, eh?
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Found myself in a strange position this morning, watching the Sunday roundtables — I agreed with twitmeister David Brooks, who thought the remarks made by the Prez regarding the history of Christianity entirely appropriate. Said when religion is injected into militarism against an evil foe like ISIS, it’s is ALWAYS best to be reminded of our own historical fanaticism and manipulation of the hive-mind. After I got over the shock, this set me pondering and connecting dots and I think it’s a big enough topic to be next weeks piece, so I’ll sit on much of it.
And part of it, be, includes the Brian Williams debacle so my comments will be clipped, but I agree with you, it’s difficult to watch the frenzied go after him like this but THAT’S WHAT WE ARE now; media thugs of a sort, quick to opinion and quick to condemn, mostly anonymously and thanks to that free Interwebs we’re working to keep equal. Free speech is a bitch — ask the ACLU.
There are a couple of reads I appreciated in William’s regard, links below. As Eric has said, the ‘story’ is just that: a perception of what the story was from one angle or another. In an industry (news) that has become competitive as infotainment, it’s pretty short-sighted and hysterical of us to go after the guy who was ‘imbedded for exactly that reason. I’m giving him a pass, with concerns about the industry that has shaped him. As Marianne Williamson said, on Maher this Friday night, it’s the industry that we can no longer trust; why try to kill its messenger?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-brenoff/brian-williams-misremembering-legit_b_6630680.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/02/05/the-science-behind-brian-williams-mortifying-memory-flub/
[And by the way, I’m duplicating remarks I made about the vaccine issue, posted on Eric’s subscription piece this week, at the end of this post … because I want them on the record and useful to next week. Skip over, everyone, if you’ve already read them.]*
Yes, Aword — appropriate to the retro to ‘finish up’ these projects, if we can. Although … gotta say … I feel like Jan Brady (Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!) when I say, retro, retro, retro! I’m pretty much sick and tired of going over the same old territory again and again, waiting for the sleepers to ‘get it.’ My first awareness of that nut to crack came in the 70’s with the Seals and Crofts lyric, “Til we all fly together, what sense does it make?” Had a little meltdown then, too. Ha! Have to confess that I would really REALLY like to get on with that Brave New World awaitng us (and how is your BNW, my dear? Still majikal and exciting?)
Hey Jere. Yes, Koch’s — a misery, and suddenly the enormous wealth they’ve funneled into their own pockets and those of their friends has become a political football as well … one I’d like to see deflated quickly, but I doubt it. Here’s a Luckovich ‘toon that sez it all:
http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/the_kochs_20150202
Almost choked on the bile watching Ted Cruz’ smug mug this a.m. on Sunday pundit TV. He sez that while Obama’s recovering economy has made his elite (a.k.a. rich) friends happy, it’s been at the cost of the flailing middle class, poor things! He and most of the Wanna Be Pub prez contenders are suddenly channeling Elizabeth Warren on the ruthlessness of not banksters, but BIG GUB’MNT taking our Cheerios and leaving us nothing but the bowl! (My son sez you know it’s Sunday when Mom’s screaming at the television set!) It’s almost too much to bear, this level of hypocrisy, so I’m with you kiddo, I’d sure like to call the game on this party and the family that finances them (and Sam Walton’s too.) It’s always always always always about the money and, these days, capitalism gone berserk.
Good to find you here, be, pesky PC notwithstanding. It’s REALLY difficult for me to NOT deal with some of my ‘puter issues during this M retro, patience is something I’ve learned the hard way in this Sag incarnation, but not something that’s comes naturally. As regards my mood, its tough to be less than ‘serious’ when Saturn is exactly conjuncting your Sun — hopefully, I’ll get over it after awhile 🙂
Only appropriate that Dan Rather has been completely supportive of Brian Williams. Takes someone whose surname has been turned into a verb — i.e., to be ‘Rathered’ or publically stumble of ones own volition — to understand all this guy is feeling right now. Always thought Rather got the WORST drubbing on record because there’s no DOUBT Dubya was a little chickenshit deserter whose record was expunged by Poppy! And once again, we killed the messenger! Here’s a cartoon that I think might encourage us all to take a step backward, in terms of finger pointing, but … the pundits DO go brutal with blood in the water! Sad.
http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/another_iraq_apology_20150207
*[snipped from With Mercury Retrograde, A Week of Retro News]
As regards the MMR stuff, last night Maher brought up immunization, said he wasn’t completely accepting across the board and he resented the notion that people who refused them were complete idiots. Marianne Williamson spoke to the difference between trusting science and trusting Big Pharma — she said the latter needed to earn our trust at this point (to resounding applause.)
Maher also spoke to medicines ignorance on diet and natural immune boosters, said perhaps all these immunizations don’t allow for our bodies own ability to deal with these things, or evolve immunity (the short view v. the long.)
I agree that too much is too much in a tiny body, especially ‘cocktails’ of stuff but I see the other side as well. Here’s some ‘first person’ on the topic:
My father contracted polio when I was 6, wore braces when he was a young man going to college on the GI Bill. I remember the national — and personal — relief when we got a vaccine five or six years later. We were told to go to our local elementary schools to get sugar cubes saturated with the stuff (that one was painless, anyhow.)
In my first college semester, I came down with German measles (red or hard measles, the M in MMR) on the opening night of my first college play. I was devastated, but not for long; my high fever turned into delirium, then into pneumonia and days of opiate sedation that had me out, literally, for weeks. Medicine was a bit different in those days. Since my great-grandfather also lived in the home and was tended by a housekeeper with nursing experience, it was agreed that I would remain at home. A quarantine sign was slapped on the door and the living room was turned into a hospital.
The doctor came every day to treat the pneumonia — there was no treatment for measles, and evidently there still isn’t. It doesn’t respond to anti-b’s (we’ve built up such an immunity now, nothing much does.) That was one of my — as Sylvia Brown would have said — check out points; I came close, but, obviously, passed on it (and it’s a good thing I wasn’t pregnant, given the really dreadful birth defects attributed to measles in the first tri-mester … not to mention that at that point, abortion was not legal.)
When it came time for my own kids puppy shots, there were fewer of them for sure. I didn’t see the MMR as a problem or the DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) but the smallpox vaccination for my son was so difficult (with dramatic personality shifts, even at so young an age) that when it was no longer ‘required’ the year my daughter was born, I didn’t get her vaccinated. As time has worn on and society has gotten more global, I’ve wondered if that might not have been a mistake — but, because my mother was raised in a Christian Science home I didn’t get one either and I’m still here. So far so good, I guess.
As usual, Maher and I share the same mindset — I’m not entirely in either camp. And as you’ve pointed out in comments, we need the doctors that are open to the pro/con discussion and follow-up with appropriate actions. Unfortunately, it’s a game of “who do you trust?”
Still, when this topic comes up I flash on the early South Park episode where the kids parents put together a play-date so they’ll pass around the chicken pox virus (to get it over with.) I think that’s the first time I heard Kyle say, “This is fucked up, right here!” Amen and amen — and I wouldn’t wish hard measles on ANYONE!
Hey Jude, don’t make me sad! Took me forever to find this essay from Feb 7, and now I can’t find what should have been on the 14th, but I’ve been off line for a week so . . . . .
I feel the same about B. Williams and would have loved to see your “clipped comments” (wherever they are) and thanks for letting us know that Dan Rather sympathizes. Add another one to the list of regulars that have moved on to the Past. Told you this would be a helluva Full Moon! Watched some of the 1st hour of the 40th Anniversary of Saturday Night Live and so far, it’s a snoozer. Well, I’ve got Masterpiece Theatre’s Downton Abby as a backup. Only 3 more days to the 2nd Aquarius New Moon; hopefully things will settle down then. Meanwhile awaiting about 10 inches of snow here in the Ohio Valley and feeling snug as a bug in a rug.
be