This is a crappy
story, yet a worthy movement with
which to be involved despite the doodoo and all that crap.
Now to the point ~ more
people in the world have access to cell phones than to decent toilets. NPR reports 2.6
billion people lack clean facilities which leads to diarrhea which is the 2nd
leading cause of death of children under 5. Bill and Melinda Gates are involved
with the World Toilet Association. Recently there was a gathering in Seattle
where the Gates Foundation presented a video, followed by journalist Rose George,
author of the Big Necessity said, “Let’s
talk poop.”
As bizarre as all this
sounds it is a very significant problem for the world.
It also reflects the
way I feel about the recent recall vote in Wisconsin; a crappy result, but so
much for my sour grapes. I guess if you are full of it, money in this case, and
can outspend the opposition 8 to 1 you can do well. I’m more concerned about
what this means for the future.
Our plutocracy is
flourishing at the expense of our democracy. It used to be that unions could
keep the ultra wealthy in check, but with unions pretty much busted, thanks in
part to our governor, that part of checks and balances is gone. But even if
union had more that 12% of the population in membership, it still would be a
spending war and that is of little benefit to anyone aside from the media. We
need to find some way of being able to cap campaign spending, but as long as it
is working for the moneyed folk there seems little hope of change.
Crap!
From a historical perspective, it sort of makes one wonder...
ReplyDelete"There was no "class equalibrium" in 1932. The working class was cowed and broken by Depression, its organizations enfeebled and powerless. But the ruling groups did not have the mass support to maximize their ascendency and destroy once and for all the power of organized labor. Hitler was brought in to do the job for them."
'Hitler, A Biography', Ian Kershaw
"We need to find some way of being able to cap campaign spending"
ReplyDeleteHow about if you don't like what someone says, ignore it?
"Our plutocracy is flourishing at the expense of our democracy."
The plutocrats are in Congress. The definition of the word plutocrat:
"Government by the wealthy."
The ruling elites in Washington are indeed almost all of them wealthy, including Obama, Boehner, and Pelosi.
I am very pleased with the recall result in Wisconsin, anyway. Good ideas won out over greed. Public service won out as the #1 priority of government, instead of enriching government employees. It was also a great victory for workers rights. Before Walker, workers were forced into unions against their will. Now that workers have the choice of whether or not to belong to public sector unions, more than half have fled. The choice is theirs now.
And with its higher voter turnout, the recall was a triumph for democracy.
Triumph for democracy. In a way. Perhaps, though, the beginnings of plutonomy and neofeudalism?
ReplyDeleteIt is a trend away from both.
ReplyDeletedmarks, I've talking for some times about the evils of plutocracy and its definition. Of course the government is a plutocracy because it has been manipulated by the rich. How on earth you see Walker victory as counter this movement is beyond me. Where do you think he got his money? The rich, that makes Walker a part of Plutocracy.
ReplyDeleteAs to being forced into unions and little data would be helpful to make your point. And if you don't want to be a plumber and belong to the union, do something else.