[PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

Tue Nov 16 14:19:26 EST 2010

Massoud, it isn't true that a good Dem candidate would be out of the party.
there are many in there now, working to stop war, repair habeas corpus, save
medicare and SS. And they could be risking their lives; just ask the
Wellstone brothers -- and Caroline Kennedy! . I wish we had a European
system with many parties -- even NYCity has that system -- but we don't.
Sitting on the sideline is not for me. And I do wish that I were optimistic.
sometimes I am, sometimes I am not. I am glad there are people like you and
Kris who care. But each of us is doing what our heart and conscience and
intellect helps us determine is the best choice for us. Glad you love the
HPN. I think I have done some pretty important editions but there are always
articles I haven't room for and want to share! Take care, I love and
appreciate you, too. Lee

  _____  

From: Massoud [mailto:massoud1 at windstream.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 1:09 PM
To: 'Lee Loe'
Subject: RE: [PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

My dear Lee,

I repeat what I've said before already in so many ways and that is when you
vote for a good Democrat candidate you are actually voting for the WAR
party. A good Democrat candidate would be out of the Democratic Party by
now. I'm sorry, you still hope for the best from a Party that is pro-WAR. No
matter how you slice or dice it, Innocent people are dying in Afghanistan
and there are hungry children in the U.S. because of the Democrats and
Republicans' policies. It is time to change not reform. I know it is hard
for you to accept this, but there is no other solution.

Regardless of our different opinion, I always admire your feisty spirit and
optimistic outlook. That is why I love to have Houston Peace News. More
power to you my friend.

Massoud

*Feel free to post my reply to the list. I want everybody know that I LOVE
and admire you very much. 

From: Lee Loe [mailto:leeloe at igc.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 11:54 AM
To: 'Massoud'
Subject: RE: [PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

Massoud, Kris criticised Stan for his comments which insulted folks who
didn't vote. there were a number of good people to vote for in Texas in this
election and I voted for them. Wish there had been more, of course. I don't
think that you can paint everyone in the Democratic Party with the same
brush, altho that is an easy way out. I think that at big part of the
problem of trying to have a true democracy is what I have mentioned before:
the complexity of life, both individually and in the ideas and concepts that
one must understand in order to vote intelligently and to live with
compassion and empathy. guess that is why we have the Houston Peace News: to
help fill that void. Lee

  _____  

From: Massoud [mailto:massoud1 at windstream.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 11:22 AM
To: 'Lee Loe'
Cc: Discuss at paa-tx.org
Subject: RE: [PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

I don't want to defend Kris here, since I have my own criticisms to her
views and more importantly she doesn't need anyone to defend her. I just
want to explain what I understand from what Kris is saying. In short, she is
saying (if I'm correct) that time to reform the system is over. If you want
to vote, then vote for someone that represents you. If you don't have such a
candidate, then either form a new party or run yourself as an independent
candidate. Otherwise you are just hoping for the best from the same people
that have disappointed you so many times. The Democratic and Republican
Parties are the Party of WAR. You can't reform them. Period.

Massoud

* And about Kris "insulting" style, well I've learned to filter that and
just read her points.

From: discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org] On
Behalf Of Lee Loe
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 10:17 AM
To: graham2639 at mindspring.com
Cc: Discuss at paa-tx.org
Subject: Re: [PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

Kris, you insult those of us who believe it is better to take part than to
drop out and to try to change the system. But hey you were successful in
putting into office so many folks who have contempt rather than compassion
for the general public. On another subject, I think that the complexity of
individual lives and of the issues one must understand in order to vote
intelligently is part of the problem in being a "good" citizen. Lee

  _____  

From: discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org] On
Behalf Of Ron and Kris Graham
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 7:26 AM
To: 'PAA Discussion List'
Subject: [PAA-Discuss] Comatose Texas

Well, here's one Democrat who FINALLY has something to say about the
election results. I've been waiting for him to go through his depression
stage and get to the anger and blame stage. He's finally arrived there it
would seem. Feel free to read his post and comment on his blogsite if you
are so inclined. It's probably a waste of time, but many things seem to be
these days. I replied because I'm not going to let him get away with
insulting people who refused to participate in this sham of an electoral
system we have.

Kris

http://pitchforksandpopulists.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 15, 2010

Comatose Texas 

The November 2 election locally reveals a most disturbing condition of the
Texas electorate. Over l million registered voters in Harris County chose a
comatose state and did not vote. That is nearly 60% of registered voters. I
won't even deal with the roughly half million eligible but unregistered
voters in this county who are apparently totally brain dead. Combined, these
two categories of non-participants would comprise about a million and a half
persons. The comatose allowed about 100,000 enraged Tea Baggers and right
wingers to set our local, state and national agenda. Those who perceive our
nation's problems as caused by our first black President decided to sweep
most Democratic office holders or candidates out of office locally. I guess
either they wish to punish us for electing President Obama or punish him by
eliminating his local allies. 

Let's first explore the local Tea Baggers and their profoundly ignorant
influence on the outcome of the election. They did get one thing
right....the Democratic federal administration's complicity with the Wall
Street heist of America's wealth and their very quick response to "restore
order to the markets" and their near non-existent and glacial response to
those permanently damaged by Wall Street's betrayal of their fellow
citizens. One has to wonder, though to what degree anti-Semitism with this
crowd plays a role in their contempt for Wall Streeters. What they got wrong
was that the now well documented cause of erosion of the American dream
rests with Corporate America, who paid for the removal of government
regulatory policies, causing those of us who live on main street to pay an
even dearer price. Tax and trade policy too are major contributors to the
decline of our middle class and off shoring of our industry. Yet, you hear
little from them on these issues, excepting that taxes are too high, though
they are actually reduced for the middle class, them. Tea Baggers got it
wrong that the enabling of the laissez-faire status of Corporate America
mainly rests with our black President, rather than a succession of
Presidents, starting with Ronald Reagan forward to the current time,
including Democratic presidents. Americans were never great students of
history, even our own. What Tea Baggers also didn't get was that their
movement was largely funded by Corporate America. 

Need we recount the abuse of democracy perpetrated by the King Street
Patriots who swarmed only African American precincts, with no prior history
of voter fraud, to intimidate and suppress the vote? Did they swarm Anglo or
even Hispanic precincts? No. I think my case is made for their overt racism,
repeating that there are no documented cases of voter fraud in African
American, Hispanic or Anglo precincts. The only documented cases of election
fraud in Harris County are in the bowels of the County Clerk's election
division, perpetrated by Anglo Republicans. Having some significant history
on this issue of voter intimidation going back to the 60's and 70's here, I
found myself this November 2nd poll watching for intimidators in a black
precinct near where I performed the same service 40 years ago overseeing
John Birch Society nut jobs doing the same stuff, for the same reasons.
Their victims were African American. The Birchers were angry and very, very
afraid, just like the King Street Patriots.

But, let's now deal with the comatose and totally brain dead; those who
registered and didn't vote and those who didn't even bother to register.
These people have a myriad of excuses to not participate. You've heard them
all, so I won't repeat most of them. None of them are coherent or
justifiable. But let's deal with the most egregious. "My vote won't make any
difference". Au contraire. Here is how your life is impacted locally.

-You lost our only Latina county commissioner.
-You swept out of office a court administrator who was implementing some of
the most cost efficient and innovative administration management systems in
county government.
-Your tax collection, voter registration and elections, though I know you
don't vote, are now in the hands of right wing ideologues who profess to
hate government and have histories of doing everything possible to suppress
the vote of minority persons and using their government offices to push
their ideology.
-Your state legislature is now totally dominated by government haters who
are bent on gutting social services many of your friends, neighbors and
relatives count on for basic needs for survival.
-You've given us a Railroad commissioner who has little regard for
environmental protections from abuses in energy exploration and production.
-Your Agriculture commissioner has no regard for protection of consumers
from poisoning from toxins.
-The criminal courts you and your neighbors depend on for justice are
dedicated to a philosophy of harsh punishment and disproportionate
punishment of minority persons, making our state the leader in worldwide
incarceration rates.
-The civil courts you might look to for fairness for the consumer and little
guy will continue to show partiality to the businesses that are cheating and
stealing from you.
-Your children will continue to go to sub-standard schools with among the
most poorly paid teachers in the nation and experience among the highest
dropout rates in the world.
-The public universities some of you hope your children will attend will
continue to drive the cost of a college education into un-affordability. 
-You as taxpayers will pay a disproportionate share of the total tax
compared to businesses when you combine the property, sales and other taxes
you pay.
-Your insurance rates, including homeowners and auto will be among the
highest in the nation, and climbing.
-Your utility rates will continue to be among the highest in the county.

On a national level, the Texas comatose's counterparts have given us perhaps
the most entertaining but potentially destructive federal legislature in
memory; a new Republican majority in the House and a weakened Democratic
majority in the Senate. Grid lock is sure to prevail, so if these folks had
any hope for jobs and an improved economy, those hopes are dead on arrival.
They may read about lower taxes, but not their taxes, but the taxes of the
super wealthy for whom they work. They may hope for fairer elections, but
the people they sent to office will make sure that Corporate America
controls the national agenda without regard for their puny needs. Their
social security and health care may well be in jeopardy. Congratulations.
Your non-participation has allowed the crazy 10% of the voters to undermine
not only their own economic security but that of the rest of us who fought
tooth and nail at the polls to keep the wolf pack at bay. So, the vote you
did not cast really did have impact, didn't it? 

Posted by progressive populist at 2:46
<http://pitchforksandpopulists.blogspot.com/2010/11/comatose-texas....html>
PM
<http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1271866006160143927&postID=573320
8399642073653> 

2 comments: 

 <http://www.blogger.com/profile/00308326373999393221> 

John Coby <http://www.blogger.com/profile/00308326373999393221>  said... 

Good post, but long. I could have summed it up in just this: "Never
misunderestimate the power of ignorance."

But great post nevertheless. 

November
<http://pitchforksandpopulists.blogspot.com/2010/11/comatose-texas....html?s
howComment=1289868047503#c6420952705130160427> 15, 2010 4:40 PM
<http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=1271866006160143927&postID=6
420952705130160427> 

Kris Graham said... 

John Cobarruvias said a mouthful with his statement. I assume he knows that
"misunderestimate" is not a word, but one can never be sure about these
things. One can never underestimate the ignorance of people that continue to
vote for those who represent a party that does not represent the majority of
the people. The problem is the capitalist imperialist system and the corrupt
two party political system.

I disagree with you, Stan, that people who did not vote or register to vote
are comatose or brain dead, as you put it. I would expect that derogatory
latter term from you because I know you are seething that your precious
Democrats lost the House and most of their state and local seats, and you
are looking for someone to blame. How easy it is for those who are loyal to
party instead of principle to blame those who see through the ruse
perpetuated by the corrupt system and refuse to participate in it. What
intellectual laziness you display!

Contrary to what you assert, those of us that did not vote are wide awake
and see the economic and political systems for what they are. You, on the
other hand, continue to encourage people to participate within a completely
inequitable and corrupt system and you continue to participate in said
system as well. I would counter that it is you who is in a self induced
coma. It's time to wake up, Stan and stop being part of the problem. 

November
<http://pitchforksandpopulists.blogspot.com/2010/11/comatose-texas....html?s
howComment=1289913551323#c7534841077642413419> 16, 2010 5:19 AM 

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