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DFA organizer, Democratic Precinct Committee Officer, writer, and programmer. My op-ed pieces have appeared in the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and elsewhere. See http://WALiberals.org and http://TruthSite.org for my writing, my musical creations, and my animations.
Friday, February 10, 2012 The myth that the Dems are as bad as the Repugs (151 comments)
Many leftists like to say that the Dems are as bad as the Republicans. Not so! As bad as the Dems often are, the Repugs are even worse. Here's why and some thoughts how we should react.
Saturday, December 31, 2011 The Mitt Romney Weather Vane
Buy the Mitt Romney Weather Vane. Tracks the winds of political expediency. Yours for only $399.99 (plus installation).
Sunday, November 27, 2011 On Occupying the Democratic Party (51 comments)
Can the further Left (Occupiers, anarchists, and Socialists) work, in some fashion, with the nearer Left (progressive Democrats, Labor, and groups like MoveOn.org)? Can the Occupy Movement find allies without getting co-opted?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Occupy Denver Elects a Leader (3 comments)
In response to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's insistence that Occupy Denver choose leadership to deal with City and State officials, and drawing inspiration from the notion that corporations are people, Occupy Denver's General Assembly has elected a leader: Shelby, a three year old Border Collie. "Shelby is closer to a person than any corporation: She can bleed, she can breed, and she can show emotion. Either Shelby is a pers
Saturday, October 15, 2011 Tea Party versus the Occupy Movement (12 comments)
Republicans were able to absorb, co-opt, and be transformed by the Tea Party movement.
But it seems that many people in the Occupy Movement don't trust the Democratic Party and are suspicious of its support.
Can this be fixed?
Friday, August 26, 2011 How to stop the Tea Party: a response to Sam Harris (18 comments)
To stop the Tea Party, progressives need to both take over the Democratic Party and market the ideas of good government and fair taxation. To win that argument, progressives need to frame the issues correctly.
Sunday, July 24, 2011 Kucinich, Ron Reagan, Jr, Randi Rhodes and others speak at forum, mostly defend Obama (2 comments)
On Saturday about a thousand people went to the Showare Center in Kent, WA to hear speeches and a panel discussion by Dennis Kucinich, Ron Reagan, Jr., Norman Goldman, Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller, Mike Malloy, and Mike Papantonio. They both criticized and defended President Obama and the Democrats.
Sunday, July 10, 2011 Dennis Kucinich looking for a political home, needs our help? (16 comments)
Dennis Kucinich has been holding speaking engagements in Washington State, apparently in an effort to test the waters about relocating here and running for Congress. But support for him is lukewarm. Should progressives be advocating for him?
Sunday, July 3, 2011 Scary reports from Bev Harris's Black Box Voting (2 comments)
Bev Harris' book Black Box Voting describes how electronic voting machines open up our electoral system to risks of error and fraud.
Monday, June 27, 2011 Coverups concerning former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel (2 comments)
There are credible allegations of a coverup concerning former Republican US Senator Chuck Hagel. He hid his ownership in AIS (a voting machine manufacturer), even though his machines counted the votes in the election that Hagel won in an upset. Someone removed this story from the wikipedia article about Hagel.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 MoveOn's plan for a mass movement (5 comments)
MoveOn aims to build a mass movement. But they're always asking for money, and do they have the correct approach?
Sunday, June 12, 2011 Interactive 3D Visualizations of 111th Congress Voting Records (3 comments)
This interactive 3D visualization of US Senators' voting records is based on public voting records. The visualization allows you to navigate in 3D space to see individual senators' and representatives' positions.
Saturday, February 12, 2011 The Market for Progressive Groups and Websites (11 comments)
The sale of HuffPost to AOL raises questions about corporate ownership of progressive infrastructure. House Republicans' efforts to defund NPR and CPB further threaten the Left's ability to get its message out.
How can the left build an effective media and political infrastructure outside the market system?
Saturday, January 15, 2011 Washington State's Unconstitutional Initiative: I-1053 (2 comments)
Constitutions exist to protect the People from unjust laws and initiatives.
The Washington State Constitution specifies that a bill becomes law if a majority of legislators support it. Hence I-1053 (the voter initiative requiring 2/3 majorities of legislators to approve tax increases) would appear to be unconstitutional, as would many or all of Tim Eyman's similar initiatives.
Friday, December 24, 2010 Thoughts on Bob Woodward's book "Obama's Wars" (1 comments)
Bob Woodward's book "Obama's Wars" concerns not just the war in Afghanistan but also the ideological war in the White House between hawks and doves, as well as the war that occurred inside the President's head.
Thursday, December 9, 2010 The straw that breaks, or strengthens, the Donkey's back (3 comments)
Is President Obama's compromise on the Bush tax cuts for the super-rich the final straw, the one that breaks the Donkey's back?
In fact, it's a great opportunity for progressives to revitalize the Democratic Party.
Will the Party allow progressives to share some power? Will progressives flee to a third party?
Thursday, December 2, 2010 Democrats and Progressives Need Each Other (2 comments)
Angry conservatives take over the GOP. Angry progressives join a third party or an advocacy group.
Thursday, November 18, 2010 The Reagan Revolution Redux (6 comments)
The Right Wing plan to drown government in a bathtub is coming to fruition right before our eyes, especially here in Washington State. Here's how conservatives did it, with help from the feckless Democrats.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 How the Left can better market its message (17 comments)
The disappointing outcome of the 2010 general election was a result of various factors: the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, an influx of corporate cash into the elections, superior organization and party discipline on the Right, and weak leadership, messaging, and media access on the Left. We can ameliorate the problem locally, in various states: adopt standard, shared, community-owned websites.
Sunday, October 24, 2010 Why do believers pray? (16 comments)
If God is all-knowing and all-loving, why should believers need to pray to Him for results?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010 On Punishing the Dems (18 comments)
Many progressives want to "punish the Dems" by refusing to vote, or by voting for a third party candidate this November.
I can respect such progressives, because I too am upset with Obama.
But I wonder: have these hardcore progressives really thought through the costs of their choice? Moreover, are they willing to respect other progressives who choose not to follow their (risky) st
Friday, September 24, 2010 The Battle over I-1098 in Washington State (4 comments)
In Washington State there's a fierce battle underway between supporters and opponents of ballot Initiative 1098. I-1098 will establish an income tax on the wealthiest 1.2% of Washingtonians, while lowering taxes for the middle class and for small businesses. Recently newspapers, blogs, and the airwaves have been filled with pleas for and against I-1098.
Sunday, September 19, 2010 A conservative's plea for low taxes and small government
Will the middle class figure out that conservative talking points about big government and low taxes do not reflect their interests?
Conservatives WANT government to be corrupt and WANT government to fail.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 President Obama is looking forward -- to a Republican-controlled Congress (7 comments)
Are the Dems gonna stand up and defend themselves or not?
Apparently not. President Obama is looking forward ---- to a GOP-controlled Congress. He's gotta look back and tell the Americans what happened!
Monday, August 23, 2010 Why Obama can't blame the GOP for his inability to pass progressive legislation (61 comments)
President Obama and the Democratic leadership blame their inability to effect progressive change on the recalcitrance of the conservative opposition. This effort to deflect blame is belied by one salient fact: had Obama and the Democratic leadership prosecuted the Republicans for their numerous serious criminal acts, then the GOP would no longer be in a position to mount an effective resurgence.
Saturday, August 14, 2010 Undividing the Left: Hard-core and Soft-core progressives (13 comments)
The animosity between soft-core and medium hard-core progressives is kinda silly. Both factions share the same goals and values (economic justice, civil rights, women's rights, gay rights, environmentalism, unionism, an end to militarism, and justice & accountability). They just disagree on techniques.
Sunday, June 27, 2010 Report on the 2010 Washington State Democratic Convention (2 comments)
On the weekend of June 25 I attended the Washington State Democratic Convention, in Vancouver, WA. Here's a report of some of what I observed and learned.
Thursday, May 27, 2010 The banal evil of predatory capitalism (5 comments)
Many left-wingers decry the evilness of corporations. Yes, they're often evil, but not necessarily in the black-and-white way that left-wingers often portray them. The evil is mostly a banal, bureaucratic evil that arises not, typically, from any malice towards others so much as from uncontrolled greed.
On the other hand, some actions by politicians and corporations are evil in an active, non-banal way.
Saturday, May 1, 2010 Ruminations on Four Types of Love (1 comments)
I share some thoughts and invite feedback about four types of love: baby love, romantic love, universal benevolence, and toxic love. Is love real? Should we worry about love?
Friday, February 26, 2010 Obama, Democrats playing into Republicans' hands (3 comments)
My response to a local conservative journalist: Until Obama and Democrats nationwide turn decisively against conservative rhetoric and policies, the people will continue to get the short end of the stick.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Why we need public financing of investigative journalism (4 comments)
The decline of privately funded journalism is to be expected. I present the case for public funding of journalism. Perhaps most importantly, I address libertarian objections to such public funding. We need government-funded journalism to act as a watchdog on both private and public corruption.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 Aiding and abetting the enemy: a response to Hendrik Hertzberg (1 comments)
A response to Hendrik Hertzberg of the New Yorker, who criticized leftists and blog sites like OpEdNews. Hertzberg thinks the "system" is to blame, not Obama and the Democrats. Here's why he's wrong.
Saturday, February 6, 2010 The Battle for Good Government: Why I canceled my Seattle Times subscription (10 comments)
The conservative plan to drown government in a bathtub of debt, mismanagement, and corruption is nearing completion. In this context, I have canceled my subscription to the Seattle Times, and I encourage others to do the same.
Thursday, November 12, 2009 Understanding political anger (21 comments)
Why are people so angry about politics? How has anger affected your life?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Good news from the (upper) left coast
In Washington State, voters expanded gay rights, rejected an anti-tax initiative, and elected a progressive to be King County executive.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 "They're out to get us!" On trust, distrust, and organizing for change (28 comments)
People have lost trust in the institutions of society. Like libertarians, many progressives no longer trust government. What can we trust? How can we rebuild trust? (Plus, some cool fractal images that demonstrate self-similarity needed in politics.)
Sunday, October 4, 2009 White House spurns Mad As Hell Docs, invites "friendlier" docs (3 comments)
On September 30th, the Mad As Hell Docs arrived in Washington, D.C., and held a rally in Lafayette Park in front of the White House. Doctors from across the country attended. They told the crowd why they believed, based on their years of practicing medicine and the stories Their voices were not heard in the White House. Or were they?
Thursday, September 24, 2009 The Real Meaning of Accountability: Reflections on Obama's UN Speech (4 comments)
Accountability is not just a matter of throwing a few Bush Administration officials in jail. Not at all. The real meaning of accountability is this: will America face the past and repudiate the ideologies, policies, and individuals who brought the nation to the brink of disaster? Torture and lying about war are just the tip of the iceberg. Many of the people responsible for crimes and for mismanagement remain in office.
Saturday, September 19, 2009 Arguing with conservatives about health care (18 comments)
My response to a conservative's call for more "market-based competition" in health care. Market-based competition is unlikely to work, and Singapore is a poor example.
This article summarizes the case against Big Insurance and Big Pharma.
Monday, September 14, 2009 Book review: Mark Buchanan's The Social Atom
Mark Buchanan's The Social Atom has insightful things to say about politics, economics, and human cooperation.
Sunday, September 13, 2009 Market-based competition in medical care?
Some conservatives think that the way to control medical costs is to have market-based competition between health care providers. I don't think so, and this one-minute animation shows why.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Mad as Hell Doctors stop in Seattle (1 comments)
The Mad As Hell Doctors are touring the country. They stopped in Seattle this afternoon. Impressive people and energy. Will the American people learn the truth?
Please check out a great video they produced: OurAilingHealthcare.com .
Saturday, September 5, 2009 Shouting conservative accused of assaulting elderly woman at health care rally (4 comments)
At a health care rally on Mercer Island, WA, a shouting conservative woman disrupted a speech and is alleged to have assaulted a 74 year old woman. I tell the story and make comments on nonprofessional journalism on a blog like OpEdNews.
I also identify at least one valid point made by the angry conservative.
Friday, September 4, 2009 Close friendships: why so few? (3 comments)
Many Americans have trouble maintaining close non-romantic friendships. Why is that?
Saturday, August 29, 2009 Failure to prosecute: why Obama is having trouble passing health care reform (38 comments)
President Obama apparently believes that prosecuting Bush Administration officials for torture and other crimes would be a "distraction" from more important matters, such as health care reform.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Thursday, August 27, 2009 Conservative bullies, progressive wimps? No more! (1 comments)
Some ways in which progressives can kick conservative butt.
True bipartisanship means: opposition to conservatives whether they're Democrats or Republicans.
Thursday, August 20, 2009 Where are the religious protesters? (10 comments)
Abolitionism and the civil rights movement benefited from the support of religious folks. Where are the religious folks in the anti-war, accountability, and health care reform movements? Is their absence one reason why current progressive movements have failed?
Friday, August 14, 2009 Where's the music? (22 comments)
In the 1960s protest songs inspired the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. Where are the popular protest songs for the current progressive movements?
Thursday, August 13, 2009 Thoughts on the White House chain letter (1 comments)
I got the White House chain letter on health care reform. What it proposes is very unsatisfactory, but it is a step forward.
Monday, August 10, 2009 Song for Rahm Emanuel (5 comments)
Song for Rahm Emanuel (to the tune of the Christmas carol "O Come, O Come, Emannuel")
Friday, August 7, 2009 H.R. 676: a stronger public option than expected (3 comments)
H.R. 676 prohibits private insurance that competes with the government plan. H.R. 676 also prohibits private, for-profit institutional providers. Must progressives support such a single-play plan or can they gladly settle for a strong public option that competes successfully with private insurance companies and providers? Are progressives allowing the perfect to be the enemy of the good?
Monday, July 27, 2009 Conservative moles, lesser of two evils (3 comments)
Some progressives are more interested in criticizing Democrats than in criticizing Republicans. Are some of these progressives really conservative moles trying to incite division on the Left? Given a choice between two evils, isn't it sometimes wise to choose the lesser of the two?
Monday, July 20, 2009 Reclaim the Media: Take action to support Local Community Radio
The Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147) will expand the ability of local, low-power community radio stations to compete with huge corporate radio stations. Big Media has been able to convince Congress that low-power radio stations pose a threat of "interference." The real reason is they don't want the competition. Please phone your congressperson.
Friday, July 17, 2009 FAIR: Censored By ABC, Obama's Longtime Doctor Speaks Out (on single-payer)
FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting) is accusing of ABC of suppressing participation by a single-payer supporter. This article has some powerful facts about the high support for single-payer and the low coverage by media of single-payer supporters. The article also has a petition to sign.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Single-payer versus a strong public option: division within the progressive movement (5 comments)
Over the last couple of months, I've observed increasing disagreement, bordering on acrimony, within the progressive movement between those, like PDA (Progressive Democratics of America), who are pushing exclusively for single-payer health care and those, like MoveOn.org, DFA (Democracy for America), and Organizing for America (OFA) who are settling for some sort of "public option."
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Bipartisanship 101: look forward, not backwards (3 comments)
Leaked internal Obama Administration training document reveals rationale behind President's slow, bipartisan approach to progressive reform.
Sunday, July 5, 2009 Holding Dems like Baucus and Cantwell Accountable on Health Care (18 comments)
Senator Maria Cantwell and other "moderate" Democrats are coming under increasing criticism within the Democratic Party for their wishy-washy stance on health care reform and other issues.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Conservatives are scared that government-run health care will work (3 comments)
Conservatives are scared of real health care reform because they fear that a government-run health care system will work! And conservatives don't want government to succeed or else people will vote for progressives.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 Dick Cheney for President in 2012 (14 comments)
A conservative group is distributing a petition to nominate Dick Cheney for the GOP presidential candidate in 2012.
Monday, June 15, 2009 Your money or your life! Health care or thievery? (12 comments)
Thieves and pirates say "Your money or your life!" The for-profit health care industry is not much better. This image expresses the analogy between thievery and America's heatlh care industry. Support single-payer health care!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 Government: Unproductive? Wasteful? Corrupt?
This essay defends government against the relentless attacks by conservatives about government waste and alleged unproductiveness. The article enumerates many of the ways we depend on government for essential services. It address the question of corruption and waste by pointing out that corruption and waste are present in the private sector too, and we need government also to play a watchdog role on the private sector.
Thursday, May 21, 2009 Why Abortion Isn't Murder (6 comments)
Abortion isn't murder because until there's a mature nervous system, there's no conscious person, just a potential consciousness (a clump of cells). Nor is there a pre-existing (dormant) consciousness, as there'd be in the case of a sleeping or comatose person. Consciousness and preciousness emerge gradually, along with the gradual development of a mature nervous. The essay elaborates on these ideas in defense of choice.
