Breathe

Breathe in...

hope, strength, power, freedom

Breathe out...

FEAR

Fifteen Essential Issues

Gary Null has one of the country's longest running radio programs about health, nutrition and politics. I highly recommend these shows that are available as itunes podcasts.

Ralph Nader was a guest on the show this week to provide and update on the direction of his controversial green party/independent campaign. In the coming weeks, Gary plans to also feature Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul.

Gary's view is that we must offer Barack Obama the mandate and courage to raise the bar to go beyond talking change to living it. When elected, he will have the chance to create a cabinet that includes the various progressives who have the ability to enact true change...Kucinich, Nader, Paul, Edwards (to name a few).

Why not make the coming years a transformative time unlike anything since the 1700s?

Ralph Nader's platform addresses several issues that are not on the table for HC, BO, or JM...

1) Single-payer health care plan

2) Cut bloated military spending

3) No nuclear power -- solar power

4) Crack down on corporate crime and welfare

5) Open presidential debates to include alternative candidates

6) Adopt carbon pollution tax

7) Reverse U.S. Middle East policy

8) Impeach Bush and Cheney

9) Repeal Taft-Hartley anti-union law

10) Adopt Wall Street security speculation tax

11) End ballot access obstructionism

12) Work to end corporate personalhood

13) Strengthen investor rights to control CEO's gigantic profit/salaries

14) Allow direct democracy

15) Restore and strengthen civil justice system

The Nader/Gonzalez campaign is support by progressive and idealist voters who recognize that the two-party system does not represent them.

Dissent and alternatives are blocked out of the public debate.

A deep pathology of politics is developing due to growing political bigotry against any small thrid-party candidates who try to address majoritarian positions when the mainstream press totally overlooks them.

Not Good Enough ???

Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez are Independent Party candidates for the 2008 election. We will not see or hear much of them, but they are touring and talking to groups.

Their position is that the Republicans are unacceptable, but the Democrats are simply not a good enough alternative.

Just as Obama is closing in to lead the Democrats, this is a good time to remember that Obama says he plans to withdraw from Iraq. Still, he also plans to leave 150,000 troops in Iraq. Is this leaving????

His senatorial voting record is also questionable. While Hillary and McCain voted agains the 2005 Energy Policy Act that offered enormous giveaways to oil companies, tax breaks, and other subsidies, Obama voted FOR the act.

Nader and Gonzalez say he speaks like Martin Luther King, but votes like George W. Bush.

Many view this bid as detrimental to the anti-McCain effort....

http://news.sfweekly.com/2008-04-30/news/party-crashers-08/print

http://samspadesf.blogspot.com/2008/02/matt-gonzales-plans-to-siphon-votes-for.html

Nader is a great watchdog pointing to the writing on the wall...reminds us to keep the independent view in sight...reminds us that Obama is not offering the entirety of what is called for.

We must ask more of Obama.

21st Century Dilemma

Thich Nhat Hanh tells us that the only hope for the 21st Century is spirituality.

The question then is what kind of spirituality? We need one unified view that considers the benefit of all beings on the planet.

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Five million homeless in post-earthquake China. Thirty thousand children nearing starvation due to lack food and water in post-cyclone Mayanmar. Six million children starving in Ethiopia due to ongoing drought and high cost of food there. Areas of the United States looking more and more like a third-world country. The US is paying high-price contractors $100 to wash and dry one duffle bag of clothing for our military in Iraq....$250,000 for a mess-hall cook.

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Strange forces are at work. Millions of dollars are spent on election campaigns...trillions of dollars are spent in the middle east mayhem.

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This may be our last chance to take a real stand. Hillary is doing her best to position herself for 2012 after Obama fails to deliver.

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Obama sounds good and he looks good, but maybe it is time to wake up.

Enough Already Or Not Enough Yet

Yes.....we are all quite done with the election.

Yet......now is the time to remain present and attentive....and involved.

We would not want John McCain to slip in while we slept.

John Edwards has finally commit his support. Hopefully, he will be selected as a running mate.

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Power To The People (or, like my bumper sticker says) Power To The Peaceful.

http://www.my.barackobama.com/meetBarack

R-68

Re-create 68 is organizing a counter-event during the Democratic Convention in Denver during August....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0pLYvwTKDv0

But Seriously

Barack Obama is our best hope right now. On a lighter note, he even danced with Ellen on daytime television!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RsWpvkLCvu4

A More Perfect Union

This April 18th Philadelphia speech is quite beautiful....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QORZY11IHMo

Finally

Three months since my last post.

I drifted away from this blog just as DK lost his footing in this race. HC is carrying on admirably. BO will likely be presiding over the Denver convention. He remains thoughtful and gracious.

We need a Democrat to beat McCain, but The Green Party is a much-needed presence. Ralph Nader stopped in Buffalo a couple weeks ago and spoke to about fifty people who managed to show up for a friday afternoon talk in an out-fo-the-way location. I missed it. Hopefully, his voice will enlighten some of the upcoming dialogue.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CyfSN7B4lYI