ModernMusings.com

I absolutely love being able to say those words “Got what I wanted.” playing Go Fish.

Performing my daily check up on Amy Goodman, I learned that Ralph Nader has created a presidential exploratory committee.

Today, I got what I wanted.

I tend to overflow a comment section from time to time.

Here’s an example:
I enjoyed this piece, {from CampusProgress.org} very much. Your analysis is quite on point.

Ralph Nader’s legacy encompasses the spectrum of his life long work, especially his presidential candidacies. He has started a presidential exploratory committee www.naderexplore08.com

My political and civic identity was born through exposure to the candidate for whom I caucused for in Nevada, Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Not only was I going on a limb, scrambling to educate myself on his record, bio, the issues, his campaign style not to mention volunteering for a political campaign, calling radio shows, canvassing, going to a town conference, and attending a free speech rally where I was interviewed for a published newspaper article.

Wooo!

A lot to absorb and digest to say the least.

Part of this process was owning my power as a citizen.

I, after 31 years, affirm:

• Politicians are public servants. They are elected to serve the public. We are the public. We are their Boss.

• When does a Boss grovel at the feet of their employee?

• A vote cast is duty. The highest level of civic participation in this democratic republic. The highest level of critical thinking is a mandatory prerequisite.

• The media’s power lies within the scope of communicative channels of distribution. The more channels accessed produces the variety of information and opinion necessary to serve as background information. Independent research is equally necessary.

Our future, the future of my three boys, everyone, everywhere is deeply affected by civic, social administration and control; in simpler terms, politics and government.

If we are to honor our existence and our time on Earth than we must participate.

Fight off all urges or coercion to be satisfied with the role of spectator.

A long comment, I know.

I strongly support Ralph Nader as an activist, and as a President candidate.

Dennis Kucinich had to drop out today to save his congressional seat. His fight continues for Americans with impeachment though.

So what now for the Americans he has forever changed?

read more | digg story

It was interesting to see my horoscope for today:

Your goals are changing, but this is a long and drawn-out process, so don’t expect to know where you are heading anytime soon. It’s not that you can’t make any plans; it’s just that the map is undergoing revisions as you are traveling. You might not be able to rely on your previous experience. Instead, trust your ability to respond to the circumstances, even as they morph into something else.

From Tarot.com
Friday, January 25, 2008

Since I have started this blog, first on blogspot and now here, I have started a maturation process regarding politics. By hopefully inspiring others to take an active part in the political process, I have taken the leap of logic realizing my vote is as worthy as the research that goes into it.

Stumbling upon an piece written by Betsy Angert author of Bethink.org introduced me to my candidate Dennis Kucinich. I researched into his voting records, his policies and his vision and placed him upon a pedestal. So much so that when I had the opportunity to speak directly to him in a town hall meeting I became a dumbstruck groupie.

Then came statements made by Kucinich that Ron Paul would make a good running mate, trying to get off the Michigan ballot adhering to the Democratic National Committee’s sanctions on state’s moving their primaries forward on the calender, a cherry picked excerpt from a editorial from the Nation omitting criticism of the Kucinich campaign spread as a press release, and most recently an endorsement of Obama for Iowans also released as a national press release which was explained to me by campaign headquarters as a Michigan strategy since Obama met the deadline to remove his name and Kucinich did not, though the Obama campaign has not confirmed acceptance of such a scheme.

I found myself looking at Kucinich surrounded by a pile of pedestal rubble. My disappointment of the above was deep but I have vowed not to be reactionary in any aspect of my life but to absorb information and situations slowly in order to make a more critical decision.

I have realized that Kucinich is human. A progressive human politician who has made the decision to remain within the constricts of the Democratic Party, especially since he is running for his Congressional seat in 2008 as well as President. That is the reality of this essentially two party race since the Green Party doesn’t have ballot access in all 50 states.

My individual choices are caucus for Kucinich and work to achieve the 15% of the caucus participants in my precinct to achieve viability, be counted as undecided, or throw my developing conscience out the window and chose the so called lesser evil. Since I am late to political awareness, I cannot go with my true second choice Cynthia McKinney [former Representative of Georgia] since at this time the Green Party has lost ballot access in Nevada.

Any form of idealism needs to be tempered with realism in order to produce any lasting results. Any campaign promises need to be tempered with verifiable research of voting records, policy incentives, campaign adviser choices and money trails. Any decision taken seriously cannot be based on reactionary emotions, doing so is a recipe in disaster.

I am not alone in my disapproval of the Kucinich campaign and have read former strong volunteers and supporters jump ship when the pedestal came tumbling down.

Here are some excerpts of comments circulating…

“That’s it. I’m out. I am no longer for Dennis. Ron Paul is against everything I stand for and for Kucinich to say he wants him for a running mate is a betrayal to our progressive cause. “

“I’m not supporting Kucinich anymore either. He doesn’t care about his progressive base one bit, is what I hear in that video. “

There are influential people as well in the Progressive Movement who seem easily swayed as well. I for one will not compromise my integrity due to bumbles from the Kucinich campaign. I won’t. I know too much now to compromise.

The secret the Republicans weld is that they do not compromise, they vote as a block helped by faux democrats, and they stay on message. The message is crafted and parroted through many voices picked up by the media and spread forth. That message is often picked up by Democrats.

Edwards, Clinton and Obama have all parroted Bush’s exact words in regards to Iran: “All options are on the table.” All options means nuclear weapons though we have not used nuclear weapons on a non-nuclear country, well we have used depleted uranium which is radioactive and generationally destructive.

The so called front runners in the Democratic race all say change, change, change. I say it is high time we evolve! Evolution is a lot more lasting than campaign promises spreading hope and change, especially since every non-incumbent pushes change while incumbents want us to stick with them to get the job done.

Kucinich realizes the dangers of genetically modified organisms, the health risks of factory farms, the vulnerability of electronic voting, media propaganda machines, the nature and origins of terrorism, and the connection between not for profit health care and the economy.

Health care should be considered INFRASTRUCTURE.

Education should be considered INFRASTRUCTURE.

Living Wages should be considered INFRASTRUCTURE.

A healthy Earth should be considered INFRASTRUCTURE.

These are the very foundations of a progressive society. If we are to progress, lasting progression, we need to realize this.

We must also realize that the government will not solve all our problems. We must be accountable. I have been struggling with ending my own hypocrisy in certain areas of my life. We must invest through introspection and reflection of ourselves and shake off despair and hopelessness.

Self improvement is not an easy task and takes commitment despite failures so why would Political Improvement be any easier?

Remember if the People Lead, the Leaders will follow.

William Scott Hunter
- info@december152007.com

Today December 15th, is the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights

During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a “bill of rights” that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.

The Bill of Rights

The Conventions of a number of the States having, at the time of adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added, and as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution;

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States; all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution, namely:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights and was inspired, in part, by the Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason.

George Mason became a strong voice of dissent against the ratification of the Constitution, today he would be labeled as unpatriotic. Why did Mason oppose the Constitution because “It has no declaration of rights.” James Madison relied heavily upon the Virginia Declaration of Rights penned by Mason in creating our Bill of Rights.

If George Mason would have accepted the Constitution at face value we would not have the liberty we are fighting to maintain today. Thomas Jefferson also relied upon Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence.
From Virginia Declaration of Rights:
Section 1. That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

The University of Chicago Press and the Liberty Fund have joined forces to bring the Founder’s Constitution containing primary documents concerning arguments on both sides of the issues pertaining to our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Using these documents I will attempt to illustrate the need we have for the Bill of Rights and why we should continue to fight for them to be upheld.

Amendment I:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Religion
In Maryland a person could expect death for speaking against the tenements of the Christian Religion, 1649. In Salem, Massachusetts many were slaughtered under the accusation of witchcraft legal under the laws of the time.

John Locke provided an excellent argument that remains truthtelling today:

“The care of souls cannot belong to the civil magistrate, because his power consists only in outward force; but true and saving religion consists in the inward persuasion of the mind, without which nothing can be acceptable to God. And such is the nature of the understanding, that it cannot be compelled to the belief of anything by outward force. Confiscation of estate, imprisonment, torments, nothing of that nature can have any such efficacy as to make men change the inward judgment that they have framed of things.”

Speech and Press
Thomas Jefferson’s Inaugural Address

“We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.”

James Burgh, Political Disquisitions

“But it may be said, there is no necessity for a private writer to be indulged the liberty of attacking the conduct of those who take upon themselves to govern the state. The answer is easy, viz. That all history shews the necessity, in order to the preservation of liberty, of every subject’s having a watchful eye on the conduct of Kings, Ministers, and Parliament, and of every subject’s being not only secured, but encouraged in alarming his fellow-subjects on occasion of every attempt upon public liberty, and that private, independent subjects only are likely to give fair warning of such attempts; their betters (as to rank and fortune) being more likely to conceal, than detect the abuses committed by those in power. If, therefore, private writers are to be intimidated in shewing their fidelity to their country, the principal security of liberty is taken away.”

Petition and Assembly
The Magna Carta written in 1215 specifically installed the right to assemble and present grievances to the monarchy but limited this right to barons excluding the common people.
The Articles of the Confederation, the first step toward gaining Independence from England was indeed a petition and without such declaration would we, Americans, be today, citizens of Britain?

As I was preparing this post, I got out my history books, I am a History major and realized that some key points slipped my understanding completely.

The Bill of Rights were manifested due to the work of the anti-Federalists, those representing the common man, subsistence farmers, at the time. They were from an older generation and had a clear memory of the abuses felt under British rule and knew that power inherently corrupts if not checked. Fearful that the omission of civil liberties from the Constitution would make it possible for those inalienable rights to be trampled they fought to oppose the Constitution. They were labeled radicals that were trying to destroy the future of infant America, but they pressed on. As a compromise, they were promised that as soon as the Constitution was ratified, the Bill of Rights would be added.

I know of another radical today, going up against a King George. This radical believes that the Constitution should be upheld, that if our leaders mislead the public into an illegal war, they should be brought to justice. This radical believes that it is the people that should be heard before corporate interests. This radical believes that money spent on illegal occupations should be spent on healthcare for all not mandated health insurance premiums for all. This radical believes that if we have an educated people that we will rise once again as an economic giant among Nations. This radical believes that education for all is not a privilege but a necessity. This radical believes that government can and should be an engine of sustainablity.

This radical I speak of is Dennis Kucinich and today on the 216th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights I am showing my support by donating $100 as an investment in my country’s future. We need Dennis Kucinich’s ideas, policies, and vision, just as much as we needed George Mason, that unrelenting radical that pushed for the civil liberties to be written into our law of the land.

Join me in reclaiming the path toward excellence and vision of the American experiment.

$100 is a small investment for our future.

http://www.december152007.com/

http://www.dennis4president.com/home/

I have so much too share but here is a taste of the motivating force behind meeting my Presidential Candidate and yours, Dennis Kucinich.

Yesterday at a townhall meeting at UNLV, the fam and I met and heard the reality of a Kucinich administration. If you think I am a strong supporter, you haven’t met Raj. My support is personal and political, so we expressed our gratitude with a small collection of gifts for Kucinich and his lovely wife Elizabeth {a handmade Indian purse, a shawl chosen to compliment Mrs. Kucinich’s beautiful red hair, and a small Ganesh statue which has been with us for 7 years and was used to bless a travel venture in Jaisalmer, India}. Dennis thanked him in hindi while I chased my two youngest boys who were dead set on visiting an odd corner. I was able to briefly shake his hand but was caught up in his presence, yeah I’m a groupie. His speech was wonderful and he made eye contact with me several times. I was brought to tears for many reasons speaking with Diana Smith the co-chair for Nevadans for Kucinich, he truly creates hope. Hope is a rare commodity these days and is to be honored most high.

We came back more energized and strategizing Kucinich’s campaign, speaking politics and watching the rebroadcast of the Las Vegas Democratic debate. Family quality time at it’s best in my household. I picked up a copy of Kucinich’s book ” A Prayer for America” and a few how to activist books from Amazon.com.

I have set up a store for Modern Musers and used it to buy our textbooks and I was awarded $13.00 for saving serious money. Sounds small but I now have three important books coming soon that I wouldn’t have been able to purchase. You, of course, can help me further educate myself and in return others by using the Modern Musings portal for your shopping.

Below is a share I sent out to my care2 network. Please read further, visit the links, if you are already a Kucinich supporter visit the polls add your voice, if you are undecided please take your duty seriously, do your own research before supporting a candidate, and spend some time with Kucinich, and if you have made up your mind for someone other than Special K, one more time for me visit the youtube link and consider him one last time.

Being in Las Vegas we have experienced alot of excitement due to the recent Democratic Debate. I am a staunch Kucinich supporter and was blessed to see him in a town hall meeting with my family yesterday. It was truly a moving and motivating experience.

He showered love on my eldest son, who continues to brag that he got three hugs and a kiss from the President. “Not two hugs, Mom, three and don’t forget about the kiss.”

I just got a message from Nevadans for Kucinich directing me to a CSpan poll that Dennis Kucinich is winning. This is from CSpan!

Let us do what we did with the ABC debate poll and most recently the DFA poll. We enjoy a large community of supporters but we are spread far and wide. Numerous blind taste tests online have revealed Kucinich as their choice based on the issues.

Glassbooth is the most recent model and is enjoying widespread acclaim on the net and on network television.

Dandelion Salad shared Tucker on MSNBC speaking actually very highly of Kucinich, saying he represents the true Democratic Party ideals.

We are all busy there is no doubt about that, but we must invest our time in our communities especially those of us who have to caucus.

Meetups are a great place to start. The action center can connect you to your local Kucinich supporters.

We do not lack determination but perhaps our organization needs improving. This can be done only is we participate locally and put our collective intelligence together.

Do whatever you can and then DO MORE!
The investment you make today and tomorrow will surely pay off. Our prize is a viable future for us all!

dennis4president.com
See Kucinich on Youtube

Today is Hillary Clinton’s birthday and I was moved to lovingly gift her a CLUE.

An Interesting Quote

Okay, so politicians can make mistakes considering they are human. They can either hide the fact that they have made bad judgments, they can blame their judgments on false information provided to them or they can admit their faults in an attempt to rejoin humanity by inducing catharsis. Admitting one’s faults DOES NOT absolve one of them, not at all.

The following quote demonstrates Hillary Clinton’s choice of inducing catharsis, but the statement following said quote assures me of my decision of not backing her for the 2008 presidential candidacy. If there is another event similiar to 9/11 to occur and she is President; the world can expect the same mistakes made by George W. Bush.
On September 12, 2001, Hillary Clinton gave a speech on the Senate floor in which she sounded much like President Bush, saying that the country should “make very clear that not only those who harbor terrorists but those who in any way give any aid or comfort whatsoever will now face the wrath of our country.” She added, “You are either with America in our time of need or you are not.”

When we met recently in her office in the Russell building, I mentioned that speech, calling it “pretty pugnacious.”

“Well, I was pretty pugnacious,” she said, laughing. “Post-9/11, that was appropriate language.”

Same Old Song and Dance

January 22nd live webchat of Hillary Clinton: “I have said many times that, if we had known then, when the president
came to the Congress to ask for authority to pursue what he said would
be an effort to contain Saddam Hussein and put inspectors in to make
sure that he didn’t have weapons of mass destruction, if we had known
everything that we now know, the president would never have asked for
such authority, and the Congress would never have voted to give it to
him.”

The UN inspections launched in 2002 had not turned up evidence of ongoing programs in Iraq geared toward weapons of mass destruction, upon hearing the reports with the Coalition of the Willing, America attacked Iraq in 2003.

What assurance does Hillary have that the President would never have asked for such authority? Many in this country believe the contrary. Reasonable, conscious, unbiased sources of information need to be absorbed by the American people but should be mandatory for all elected officials.

“We” knew from the United Nations’ inspections that at the time of the US attack that to their well trained eyes based on independent research that Iraq had NO weapons of mass destruction, and NO weapons of mass destruction have been found.

The definition of mass is a considerable quantity, a number that causes one to stop and consider it based on it’s size. Consider fifty-four thousand four hundred thirty two Iraqis or three thousand sixty three American soldiers. I would consider them to be massive. The “sectarian” violence is also caused by the US attacks since they weren’t killing each other under Saddam who was executed for killing one hundred eighty four people. One hundred eighty four is not massive compared to the number of lives killed by the US attacks and the consequences.