Mother Nature can take only so much abuse (0.00 / 0)
Some of you might remember the popular poster of the 1970's with the picture of Earth in lovely blues and greens and a message begging us not to "rape" our mother. I've been thinking about that poster recently as I watch news about mine disasters, memorial services, oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and volcanic ash grounding airplanes in Europe. I know these things are not related (are they?) but I'm sure I can hear Mother Earth crying, screaming actually - "STOP - Stop hurting me. I give you life and you are killing me." Anyone who gives two seconds' thought to what a tiny little corner of the galaxy we live in and how many galaxies are out there that don't give a damn about us should pause a moment and pray that the younger generation will atone for our sins and save what's left of Life on Earth.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
The essential difference - caring
There was a wonderful article in Saturday's PD by columnist Tim Townsend about progressive religious leaders meeting to discuss cuts in the state budget. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/keepthefaith/story/98D43B7FB459814486257707008265A2?OpenDocumentSome of our favorite people, like Amy Smoucha of Jobs with Justice, are mentioned in the article. She came right out and warned attendees to watch out for Rex Sinquefeld, but that's not a surprise to those of us in WCD. She also mentioned the American Legislative Exchange Council. We learned about ALEC a few yrs ago because of Jane Cunningham's involvement with it, particularly in regards to defunding public education. While I was thinking about looking ALEC up again just for old times sake, I came across another article that mentions it. This one has to do with a lawsuit brought against Massey Energy because of the horrible working conditions in the mine where 29 Americans died two weeks ago. AND how cold-hearted millionaires think widows are just looking for "free money." http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/04/18/corporate-front-group-funded-by-coal-industry-scorns-widow-of-mine-disaster-%e2%80%98everyone-wants-free-money%e2%80%99/I've been having a running discussion with an acquaintance out here in Franklin County who is a leader of the local tea party group. I'm trying to tell him, in the gentlest way possible, that the essential difference between those of us who side with the miners and those who side with the coal company is that we care about other human beings and they don't. I could go on about that difference, but that can wait until later. Just think of it as a mighty oak that has been split by lightning. The roots are still there. Some self-surviving new limbs are growing out of the two halves. But the tree will never be intact again. If you can't share another's pain, you'll probably never grow up.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sedition doesn't solve our problems
Letter to the editor:
Like many other Americans, I am trying to understand the recent public displays of outrage against our government, especially that of the UNITED STATES of America. Our troops are fighting and dying to defend not only Americans in all 50 states and overseas, but also the legitimate government established by our democratic process. They are in foreign countries trying to convince people who have never had a chance to take part in making decisions affecting their lives that democracy is the best way to go.
I wonder if the people who attend anti-government rallies realize that what they are doing has a name. "Sedition: Crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction." (Brittanica Concise Dictionary)
There have been many acts of violence against our elected officials in recent weeks. The FBI is working overtime to break up terrorist groups in our own country and charging them with sedition. The militia group arrested in Michigan last week planned to kill policemen. What those people did was spelled out in the indictment against them. They conspired "to levy war against the United States, and to prevent, hinder, and delay by force the execution of any United States law." If the police are fair game, the next target could be our soldiers and other members of the armed services State officials passing resolutions calling for defiance of federal laws is no less seditious than armed insurrection. It may play to some kind of gut level passion, but it does nothing to solve our problems.
Ask any speaker at a protest rally how he or she plans to create millions of new jobs? How are they going to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" by destroying the fabric of our democracy? Slogans don't pay the bills. The excitement created by passionate but empty speeches fades quickly. We all love a parade, but most of us know they don't keep the country functioning.
If I could only understand why the anti-government radicals decided to organize now instead of when the damage to our country was being done years ago. They didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us. They didn't get mad when Congress wrote blank checks for wars that we now can't seem to end. (And don't even ask how much of our money ended up in the hands of corrupt contractors.) The debt everyone is screaming about was caused by increasing spending, mostly on wars, and giving a $900 billion tax break to the rich. Anyone who pays bills knows you can't increase spending and reduce income without going into debt.
When I see signs at rallies protesting how much debt we are passing on to our grandchildren, I wonder if the people holding those signs know that ExxonMobil paid NO income tax to the United States of America last year. So every time we fill up, we pay more in federal tax for a single gallon of gasoline (18.4 cents) than ExxonMobil paid in U.S. income taxes in 2009. That's in spite of the fact that the world's second largest company had a gross operating profit of nearly $53 billion.ExxonMobil did pay $15 billion in income taxes. But not a dime of it went to the IRS, however, because they are allowed to set up subsidiaries with offices in other countries and pay taxes to them. And Exxon is just one example.Why aren't people organizing protests about this blatant disregard for the solvency of our country? Do those who will attend local rallies in coming weeks know or care about how huge corporations walk away from their responsiblities and leave us carrying the full load?
I hope those who are conspiring to overthrow our government, either by armed force or by obstruction of process, give some serious thought to all those yellow ribbons we displayed years ago and the parades we held for our military heroes. We are embarrassed now about the way our Vietnam era troops were treated when they came home. In some ways, we are dishonoring our brave men and women in uniform now by spitting, not on them personally, but on the government they risk their lives to defend.
Please think twice before preaching secession. We still haven't fully recovered from our first Civil War.
Like many other Americans, I am trying to understand the recent public displays of outrage against our government, especially that of the UNITED STATES of America. Our troops are fighting and dying to defend not only Americans in all 50 states and overseas, but also the legitimate government established by our democratic process. They are in foreign countries trying to convince people who have never had a chance to take part in making decisions affecting their lives that democracy is the best way to go.
I wonder if the people who attend anti-government rallies realize that what they are doing has a name. "Sedition: Crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction." (Brittanica Concise Dictionary)
There have been many acts of violence against our elected officials in recent weeks. The FBI is working overtime to break up terrorist groups in our own country and charging them with sedition. The militia group arrested in Michigan last week planned to kill policemen. What those people did was spelled out in the indictment against them. They conspired "to levy war against the United States, and to prevent, hinder, and delay by force the execution of any United States law." If the police are fair game, the next target could be our soldiers and other members of the armed services State officials passing resolutions calling for defiance of federal laws is no less seditious than armed insurrection. It may play to some kind of gut level passion, but it does nothing to solve our problems.
Ask any speaker at a protest rally how he or she plans to create millions of new jobs? How are they going to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" by destroying the fabric of our democracy? Slogans don't pay the bills. The excitement created by passionate but empty speeches fades quickly. We all love a parade, but most of us know they don't keep the country functioning.
If I could only understand why the anti-government radicals decided to organize now instead of when the damage to our country was being done years ago. They didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us. They didn't get mad when Congress wrote blank checks for wars that we now can't seem to end. (And don't even ask how much of our money ended up in the hands of corrupt contractors.) The debt everyone is screaming about was caused by increasing spending, mostly on wars, and giving a $900 billion tax break to the rich. Anyone who pays bills knows you can't increase spending and reduce income without going into debt.
When I see signs at rallies protesting how much debt we are passing on to our grandchildren, I wonder if the people holding those signs know that ExxonMobil paid NO income tax to the United States of America last year. So every time we fill up, we pay more in federal tax for a single gallon of gasoline (18.4 cents) than ExxonMobil paid in U.S. income taxes in 2009. That's in spite of the fact that the world's second largest company had a gross operating profit of nearly $53 billion.ExxonMobil did pay $15 billion in income taxes. But not a dime of it went to the IRS, however, because they are allowed to set up subsidiaries with offices in other countries and pay taxes to them. And Exxon is just one example.Why aren't people organizing protests about this blatant disregard for the solvency of our country? Do those who will attend local rallies in coming weeks know or care about how huge corporations walk away from their responsiblities and leave us carrying the full load?
I hope those who are conspiring to overthrow our government, either by armed force or by obstruction of process, give some serious thought to all those yellow ribbons we displayed years ago and the parades we held for our military heroes. We are embarrassed now about the way our Vietnam era troops were treated when they came home. In some ways, we are dishonoring our brave men and women in uniform now by spitting, not on them personally, but on the government they risk their lives to defend.
Please think twice before preaching secession. We still haven't fully recovered from our first Civil War.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Long Day's Journey into Appalachia
Long day's journey into Appalachia
Fri 4/02/10 6:51 AM
Hi guys, (family)
Got home safely yesterday (April Fool's Day) around 5 p.m. Wide awake this morning at 5 a.m. although it's still dark out. SO glad to wake up in my own bed. We left Raleigh Wed morning eagerly looking forward to getting home by mid-day on Thursday. Not to be. South of Beckley, W. Va., interstate 77 was blocked. After taking an hour to go 4 miles, we got off as soon as an exit was available to use a restroom. A woman waiting with me in the line told me she had come from Louisville (opposite direction from the way we were going) and that the road was blocked all the way back to 64. So, rather than sit in traffic for another several hours, we decided to take the back roads. BIG MISTAKE - it took us 6 hours to go 140 miles - OMG, we saw what coal mining towns in rural West Virginia really look like. I've seen movies about the poverty and the oppressive presence of mining operations, but this was really depressing. Hairpin turns going up mountains, down again on the other side. Only one road and no road signs. (I guess they figure since there's only one road it doesn't need to be labeled.) But the signs for the streets, lanes, and gulches were clearly marked which helps if you're looking for one of those. After what seemed like forever, we still hadn't found Mullens, so I stopped and asked a young girl playing in her yard. She said "just keep going straight up this road." Straight???? Are you kidding? What seemed like an hour later (or maybe it really was an hour) we found Mullens, so we knew we were heading NW to Huntington which was our goal for the night. The areas that aren't big enough to call towns are labeled "unincorporated ________." Every few miles, we saw a cluster of houses, a PO and a church. Although we left the interstate at 1:15 p.m., by the time we got deep into mining country, school was letting out, and kids were happily greeting their dogs. One young boy with a shaved head was playing in the yard with a man, probably his dad, who also had a shaved head. They seemed very happy. From my perspective, these people are incredibly poor and deprived. From their perspective, they don't seem to notice.There are evidently no waste hauling companies or landfills because everything that's not currently being used is strewn about the yards and hills. Not just old cars and appliances, but actual trash. The homes have to be built right next to the road because the mountains are so steep. At one point, we saw a big sign proudly advertising "Six flat acres" for sale. With the houses so close to the road, we felt like we were driving through their yards. I could literally have reached out and touched chain link fences. The mining operations consist of lots of dark buildings, long conveyor tubes and huge piles of black stuff which I didn't stop to identify. Train cars filled with coal are everywhere, some moving, some sitting still. Ironically, I am involved with a local group of citizens trying to prevent our electric company from building a coal combustion waste landfill next to the Missouri River, and my assignment is to research uses for "fly ash" (waste product of coal combustion.) AND what was on the news when we finally found a motel? Ads for "clean coal technology." Another big lie. When we finally found a town big enough to have a gas station/convenience store, we asked how far to Huntington. The man with no front teeth told us 85 miles but said it was "good road." And, after what we had been through, it really was a good road - reasonably straight and two wide lanes. It was almost 7 p.m. by the time we got to Huntington and found a motel. We ate the leftovers from the restaurant meals we'd enjoyed the day before by warming them in the microwave in the breakfast room. We were NOT about to get in that car again to go look for food. Lesson learned: next time the interstate is blocked, DON'T take the side roads. My big fear was that the car would break down or we'd run out of gas and have to find someone to help us. I'm sure the people are very nice and helpful, but I have to admit that whole side trip was so depressing, I just wanted to get back to something familiar.
Later: On Monday, April 5, there was an explosion in a Massey mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia. That is just a few miles from the route we took through Mingo County. I looked up the median household income for those two counties online. People in that area live on less than $25,000 a year. Given how much the owner of the mine makes (tens of millions per year,) one can only conclude that he uses the miners as disposable pieces of equipment. Twenty-five miners are dead and four still unaccounted for. Everyone is up in arms over the fact that the mine owner ignored warnings and fines that were issued. But the outrage will die down and more miners will be killed by the insatiable greed perpetuated by our "free enterprise" system.
Fri 4/02/10 6:51 AM
Hi guys, (family)
Got home safely yesterday (April Fool's Day) around 5 p.m. Wide awake this morning at 5 a.m. although it's still dark out. SO glad to wake up in my own bed. We left Raleigh Wed morning eagerly looking forward to getting home by mid-day on Thursday. Not to be. South of Beckley, W. Va., interstate 77 was blocked. After taking an hour to go 4 miles, we got off as soon as an exit was available to use a restroom. A woman waiting with me in the line told me she had come from Louisville (opposite direction from the way we were going) and that the road was blocked all the way back to 64. So, rather than sit in traffic for another several hours, we decided to take the back roads. BIG MISTAKE - it took us 6 hours to go 140 miles - OMG, we saw what coal mining towns in rural West Virginia really look like. I've seen movies about the poverty and the oppressive presence of mining operations, but this was really depressing. Hairpin turns going up mountains, down again on the other side. Only one road and no road signs. (I guess they figure since there's only one road it doesn't need to be labeled.) But the signs for the streets, lanes, and gulches were clearly marked which helps if you're looking for one of those. After what seemed like forever, we still hadn't found Mullens, so I stopped and asked a young girl playing in her yard. She said "just keep going straight up this road." Straight???? Are you kidding? What seemed like an hour later (or maybe it really was an hour) we found Mullens, so we knew we were heading NW to Huntington which was our goal for the night. The areas that aren't big enough to call towns are labeled "unincorporated ________." Every few miles, we saw a cluster of houses, a PO and a church. Although we left the interstate at 1:15 p.m., by the time we got deep into mining country, school was letting out, and kids were happily greeting their dogs. One young boy with a shaved head was playing in the yard with a man, probably his dad, who also had a shaved head. They seemed very happy. From my perspective, these people are incredibly poor and deprived. From their perspective, they don't seem to notice.There are evidently no waste hauling companies or landfills because everything that's not currently being used is strewn about the yards and hills. Not just old cars and appliances, but actual trash. The homes have to be built right next to the road because the mountains are so steep. At one point, we saw a big sign proudly advertising "Six flat acres" for sale. With the houses so close to the road, we felt like we were driving through their yards. I could literally have reached out and touched chain link fences. The mining operations consist of lots of dark buildings, long conveyor tubes and huge piles of black stuff which I didn't stop to identify. Train cars filled with coal are everywhere, some moving, some sitting still. Ironically, I am involved with a local group of citizens trying to prevent our electric company from building a coal combustion waste landfill next to the Missouri River, and my assignment is to research uses for "fly ash" (waste product of coal combustion.) AND what was on the news when we finally found a motel? Ads for "clean coal technology." Another big lie. When we finally found a town big enough to have a gas station/convenience store, we asked how far to Huntington. The man with no front teeth told us 85 miles but said it was "good road." And, after what we had been through, it really was a good road - reasonably straight and two wide lanes. It was almost 7 p.m. by the time we got to Huntington and found a motel. We ate the leftovers from the restaurant meals we'd enjoyed the day before by warming them in the microwave in the breakfast room. We were NOT about to get in that car again to go look for food. Lesson learned: next time the interstate is blocked, DON'T take the side roads. My big fear was that the car would break down or we'd run out of gas and have to find someone to help us. I'm sure the people are very nice and helpful, but I have to admit that whole side trip was so depressing, I just wanted to get back to something familiar.
Later: On Monday, April 5, there was an explosion in a Massey mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia. That is just a few miles from the route we took through Mingo County. I looked up the median household income for those two counties online. People in that area live on less than $25,000 a year. Given how much the owner of the mine makes (tens of millions per year,) one can only conclude that he uses the miners as disposable pieces of equipment. Twenty-five miners are dead and four still unaccounted for. Everyone is up in arms over the fact that the mine owner ignored warnings and fines that were issued. But the outrage will die down and more miners will be killed by the insatiable greed perpetuated by our "free enterprise" system.
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