When President Barak Obama walked into a subdued House Chamber just over twenty-four hours ago, he quickly noted that he was among a different crowd from the previous year. But did everyone notice? It seems to me that he really did not care! He delivered what is arguably a good speech among a crowd that included about eighty people from a Party that, for many, do not even believe he is entitled to be the President of the United States. Oh, those pesky little “Birthers.” You know who I am referring to, right? The group that insists the President does not have the appropriate documentation to be a citizen of the United States, and, therefore not able to truly be the President of the United States. Personally, I hate when folks simply call him “Obama.” Do we no longer have the decency in society to recognize one whom has obtained the highest office in our Country? In any event, the President did not seem to miss a beat. He provided a speech that superceded the politics of the day, spoke directly to the American people while encouraging them to innovate, create, and seize the day. All of this on top of a “stern” warning that “together we will move forward or we will not move forward at all.” I have to confess that at first, I did not feel all warm and fuzzy. I wanted to hear something about gun control; especially after the heinous crime committed out in Tuscon. I also would have loved to hear our President discuss his previous accomplishments. Afterall, if you listen to some people in this Country, he has done nothing in two years. Forget the fact that he pushed through more legislation in two years than his predecessor did in two years. I also would have loved to hear more about the two wars we are currently engaged in. But folks, that is not what the State of the Union is all about. It is not about me, and it is not about you. The State of the Union is well, all about the current State of the Union. And that is precisely my point: The President clearly has a clear grasp on our current state and realizes what must be done in order to move forward. So, tell me: Why all of the criticism against this President’s speech? As a contributor to another site, I have heard all sorts of accusations such as “he did not really address the current needs of our problems,” to “it was the same old speech he provides every time.” But was it? Really? Were you watching the same speech I watched?
Here is the reality of the President’s situation: He is working with a divided house that is now comprised of three parties; republican, democratic, and tea parties. Of course, one can argue that there really is no difference between the Republican and Tea Parties and I would have to agree. But it is precisely this fact that lends credibility to my argument: The President inspired a Nation wanting answers to the current economic, housing, and unemployment issues. Did he deliver? I think so. The message according to our President is to “work together,” move forward, and stop looking in our rear view mirrors. Yet, there are many that I truly believe will not be able to do this simple task. You know who I am speaking about? Yep, the Congressman Paul Ryan’s and Michele Bachmann’s of this Country. See, these folks, it seems to me, do not want this President to succeed. Take all three of the delivered speeches made that night, and you tell me which one(s) were optimistic and which ones were the same ol, same ol! Of course, Congressman Ryan wants to inject fear into the American electorate by telling us that we are in big trouble if we don’t cut spending NOW! Think about it for a moment: He and his party already got what they wanted for the wealthiest of our Country in the Congress’s last session; an extension of tax cuts for Americans, especially for the upper two percent earners and corporations of our Country. Now, Congressman Ryan, who proposes the privatization of Social Security for those under the age of fifty-five, and the elimination of Medicare as we know it today, wants us to believe it is okay to take funds away from the middle class working people in our Country, but to allow those wealthiest of our land to remain untouched. We all have seen this picture before and it didn’t work. The good old “trickle down” theory that says we need to get government out of the way, provide more power to corporate America, in order to see job creation. Hogwash! Didn’t the former President George W. Bush ascribe to this theory only to land us in the worst economic situation since the Great Depression? And what did the Republican minority do in the Senate for the previous two years? They stonewalled every single piece of legislation they could get their hands on. In some cases, they fillibustered only to end up passing these s0 called controversial pieces of legislation with overwhelming support. In my estimation the Republican Party remains the Party of “no.” And worse than this, they utilized the same old play out of their playbook: inject fear in the American electorate, tell the electorate that they have the single solution to the problem, and go after every single program that allows the Government to do what it was designed to do; assist the American people. Even the President discussed this in his message along with his concerns that the Government needs to be streamlined in order to be more efficient, however, he did so in optimistic fashion rather than the negative tone carried forward by the Republican response. And what about partisanship? Did Congressman Ryan from Wisconsin even hear what the President had to say? I mean really! In order for our Country to move forward, it will require every single one of us to get in the game. President Obama may not have said it just as I will here, but as Bob Dylan said: “The times, they are a changin.”
Folks, let’s face it: we do live in a new age, with technological advances requiring new skills, that for many are simply intolerable. But we have a choice: We can either sit here griping and moaning or we can jump on the President’s challenge and actually do something about it. I do not see the Republicans seriously dealing with these challenges, nor, do I see them actually accepting the will of the American people. Their first issue they dealt with was to repeal the current Affordable Health Care Act of 2010. Okay! Now what? Or, as I like to shout out in other blogs: Where are the jobs Speaker Boehner? I mean that is really what the Republicans campaigned on isn’t it? Every single time I turned my television set on during the previous two years, all I heard the then Minority Leader say was: “Mr. President, where are the jobs?” I think it only fair that as Americans, we challenge the Republican party to the same standard. Repealing the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 will not create jobs or put food on American’s tables. Obviously, I was less inspired by Congressman Ryan’s Republican response than I was the President’s speech. And, lest your wondering: this is not due to my polticial inclincations. I just don’t think you win over the American public when they are struggling so badly, with sharp criticism of the current President by laying blame for the current economic deficit in our Country solely at his feet. Does the Congressman think the American public is that stupid?
Furthermore, I find Congressman Ryan’s message to be vague. Just where do you want to make these cuts, Congressman? And furthermore, why don’t you just fess up and tell the American public the truth: You want to overhaul Social Security and Medicare. And just what products are these seniors supposed to purchase with those vouchers Congressman Ryan? Currently, there is no product out there for Seniors and with the way the Insurance Companies “cherry pick” their policy-holders, I sincerely doubt our Seniors, who worked so hard to establish themselves will find themselves with the same quality health care that the current Medicare system provides. And, lest we all forget: It was the failed Bush economic policy that got us into this mess in the first place. The last I recall, the former President Clinton handed over a surplus with a balanced budget to President Bush. Now, that President Obama is in office, I imagine the Republican party would like to see our President wave a majic wand making all of our current problems disappear. Furthermore, as our current President took on this great economic crisis, perhaps even saving it from going off a cliff, all the Republican party could do was to sit on the sidelines and remain the party of obstruction while criticizing his every move. Where is their creativity? Mr. President: I really hate to inform you, but it seems to me that the Republicans will not assist you or our Country in our time of need. They will continue to fight you on every investment you as many other Americans see as essential, while relabeling your efforts from “investing in America,” to spending.
And then we had the incomprable Michele Bachmann provide us with her Tea Party Republican response. Did she even know which camera to look into when she spoke that night? Or, was she looking at the Koch Brothers standing there nodding their heads in support? Of course, I realize the Koch Brothers were probably nowhere near Congressman Bachmann, but you can bet one thing, they have provided a large amount of resources towards her Tea Party acitivities over the previous two years. In my estimation, it is this group of people that poses the greatest challenge to our President and Country. They consistently marginalize the Presidents legitimacy, insist they need to “reclaim America,” and utilize the most heated rhetoric that I personally have witnessed in decades. And what about Fox News, with Rupert Murdoch at the helm? That network is anything but “fair and balanced” when they allow people such as Glenn Beck and his colleagues speak into the camera. Yet, the network has provided a “safe haven” for the tea party crowd to make their case to the American people. Please! This group of people has sold the American electorate a check that is basically worthless. And lest their group doesn’t follow the polls: Their favorability rating in this Country has plummeted to an all time low. Michele Bachman and Sarah Palin ended up at the bottom of a straw poll conducted in Iowa. Yet, the Tea Party persists in selling the American people on the idea that somehow this Country has been taken hostage and that “domestic terrorists exist in Washington.” How can we as Americans fall for such rhetoric? And tell me this: Where DID the America go that they want to reclaim as a group of people. Folks like Dick Armey and organizations such as Citizens United, Americans for Prosperity, the Heritage Foundation, and a wide array of other contributors are lining the pockets of this movement. I just wonder when they are going to realize that they have been used by the Republican Party in order to gain leadership in the House? Or, even more disconcerting, perhaps the Tea Party wasn’t used at all, and they and the Republican Party are now one? Either way: I see no hope, optimism or challenge from this group of people. Don’t get me wrong: There are many good people participating in this movement, and, quite frankly, anytime you get people to move in this Country, engaging in the issues of the day, well, I think it is a true accomplishment. But make no mistake: These people are not the “grass roots movement” they proclaim to be. Further, I simply cannot get beyond the heated lunacy and rhetoric from the leaders of this group to hear what they might do if they secured the Presidency in 2012. Moreover, I am afriad to find out. What I do see is negativity, a lack of promise and the creation of policies that would take this Country backwards. But hey, “never underestimate the power of we the people, huh?” You betcha! <wink>
In sum: The President may not have provided his most powerful speech, however when you consider what he had to deal with walking in that Chamber, I say Mr. President, you have my support. I heard you loud and clear! We do need innovation, specifically in the areas you discussed. We do need to tap into the creativity of our people in order to have our Sputnik moment. We do need to develop our infrastructure, develop better teachers, be concerned about the quality of education in our Country, develop fast rail systems, and all of the other things you proposed. And yes, we do have the greatest Country in the world: We do big things as you stated so clearly! The only question I have is this: With a Republican majority in the House coupled with an angry mob of Tea Party people, will they cooperate with you and your agenda? This question is so relevant to the post I make folks, because I see our President consistently reaching across the aisle in an attempt to bring the people of this Country and her elected leaders along, only to have his hand slapped too many times. We need to tell the Republicans that they need to come up with a plan, any plan, to promote growth in this Country without taking resources away from the middle class which is the backbone of our Country. We also need to tell the Tea Party that if they want to have credibility in our Country’s dialogue then they better get quality leaders, more informed than Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Michele Bachman, before we can take them seriously. And finally folks: We need to remain involved in our current debate. We need to take the President at his word and finally realize that perhaps, just perhaps, he CAN lead us through this mess which was created by the former Republican establishment. So, let me ask all of you: Who gave the most effective speech that night? Was it the President? Or, was it Congressman Ryan? Or, perhaps it was Michelle Bachman? Personally, the President has my vote. How about you? Can he count on you for your vote? I would love to know your thoughts and look forward to hearing from you.
Till then,
Mark Bear
I believe the best thing for President Obama to do now, is not once a year State of the Union Addresses, but rather would be better served to have a series of fireside chats. We need him to be more visible in these times of dissent and uncertainty. We need him to clearly address the 99er’s and all the other disenfranchised. We need him to talk to us, not in pleasanties, but in real hard and frank discussions. We want to hear the real truth. We, like teenagers, need to hear the truth.
I was thinking tonight about how our economy is like Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty (the middle class US citizen or the economy—you decide) sat on a Wall (street). Humpty Dumpty had a great fall (The largest economic meltdown since the Great Depression–and I actually think this is worse). All the king’s horses ( the US Congress) and all the king’s men ( The CEO and CFO’s, banks and others getting huge bonuses and sitting on 2 trillion dollars while not hiring) REFUSED to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
Education is not really the answer to our economic woes. I am not sure why, but no one seems to want to admit how many of the unemployed are highly educated. More educated adults are out of work now than at any time in history. I know engineers who are out of work and have been for months. These are people educated in math and science. I know physics teachers out of work. I myself was a science teacher before I lost my job. I know of hundreds of teachers out of work. How can educating and hiring 100,000 more teachers be of any help.There are thousands of teachers now that are out of work. The teachers that are still employed have seen their class sizes rise to more than 45 in a classroom. I will tell you that in a science classroom, especially, this is highly dangerous. I had 32 students in my classroom last year, and I will tell you there were many things I did not do with my students due to safety factors. All this is happening at a time when students are coming more and more unprepared to learn and are more challenging than ever. There are LD students, Autistic students, and EBD students in classrooms with no aide there for support, not to mention many other at risk kids. All of these students deserve teacher attention, but cannot get it. It is harder and harder to teach every year. I was staying at school last year most nights until 7pm, neglecting my own family, just to keep up with the demands. Some of my former colleagues are still doing this today.
Yes, education is important, obvioulsly. My son would like to go to college but we cannot afford it at this time, due to my employment situation. I know many other students who would like to pursue an education, but don’t want to be saddled with 10′s of thousands of dollars of debt, only to never recoup the cost when they finally get a job. There are thousands and thousands of college graduates who cannot find work right now, but whom are not counted on any unemployment roster. Where is the incentive to attend higher learning when so many cannot get jobs. Moreover, many military people are returning from war and were given promises of employment that cannot be met. I feel badly that the President and others “in power” cannot, or will not address these serious employment issues.
Still, I do continue to believe in this president. He has inherited a train wreck and Denzel Washington is not there to help. No one is there to help and some in Congress are trying to make the train go even faster to its demise.
Dr. B, I am taking your advice and putting all of this rant here on this post, only because you encouraged me to do so.
I know of a man with a PhD who worked in drug research, out of a job and cannot find anything. He has post doctorate degrees, as well. He is overqualified for everything, and is told so at interviews. The latest advice he got, from someone who is employed, was to start his own business. What is he going to do? Make drugs out of his garage? How long do you think that would last?
I know of an attorney out of work, smart capable woman with lots of experience who cannot find a job in her late 50′s early 60′s. I met another out of work attorney at the unemployment office (oh sorry, it is now called the workforce center–please). All of us have lost our health insurance once we lost our jobs. We are living on borrowed time and no one seems to care. My whole family lost their health care when I lost my job. I don’t even go to the doctor anymore when I am sick….I look on the internet and treat myself. Probably not good policy, but better than nothing. I could go on about that…it is a whole other issue.
The President’s speech truly left me wanting more drastic measures on the unemployment issue. I would have liked to have seen him discuss incentives to hire. There are many great ideas out there on how to get companies and corporations to hire. No one seems to want to listen to the “little guy” on how to solve some of these problems. Why is that corporations have come back from the brink of disaster and have made more profits than at any time in history, but unemployment remains at all time historic lows? Why are corporations allowed to get huge tax cuts all at a time when profits have skyrocketed and cities, towns, and states, not to mention federal programs, are failing because of a decreased tax base-due to people being unemployed?
Why are corporations sitting on more than a trilion dollars, but refuse to hire? Why is it that in other countries the jobs have returned, but corporate profits have not returned as greatly? It is by all accounts, in my opinion, criminal. We have allowed our country to be taken over by corporations and Wall Street. Maybe this was bound to happen at some point, based on our capatilistic society and innate human greed.
Following are a few of my observations from the past 20 years re the reality of the ever-increasing number of “overqualified,” highly-educated unemployed in the U.S. grows. Most variations of the problem relate to the various prejudices (“-isms” and discriminations) which have always plagued our nation, our addictions (especially to our mythology of invincibility and macho heroes–male or female):
1. It affects mostly men who are past age of 50–other than CEO’s, and in other top level positions, able to make lateral transfers and/or who are wealthy–and for women in the same category past 35. Root cause? Ageism. We definitely are afflicted with youth addiction, dread looking older and, far from valuing and respecting the experience and wisdom of our elders and honoring their contributions to present life, we consider them burdens, bothersome, unattractive,uninteresting and prove it by building more and more “retirement centers’ (for the well-to-do) or “nursing homes” (for the poor, barely alive or unwanted). The only exceptions are “heroes,” (who often are anything but), movie stars who have conformed to our stereotypes of what “real men” should be, such as John Wayne and Ronald Reagan, or “gorgeous”–definitely sexy–”leading ladies, ” such as MM, Lana Turner and a whole array of Hollywood “stars.”
2. The number grew exponentially with the rise of unregulated, under-taxed, unbridled, corrupt greed in capitalism, which took democracy over from republicanism and federalism through Eisenhower’s well-named “military-industrial complex.” For example, I can remember well my Father, his relatives (almost all in the family business of distilling) and friends, speaking repeatedly of the end of prohibition and the coming of World War II as the most powerful forces that “reversed the Great Depression.” They were and are adamantly against unions, socialism (which they equated with communism), government regulations of almost any kind that interfered with business practices, for example. Elitism? Of course. Why keep paying a high salary, arrived at over many years of excellent contributions to his enterprise, which also often gave him stock options, a substantial pension, etc. to a man whose “best years are behind him,” when young, eager-to-oblige, fresh-in-the-field (and less expensive) replacements are abundant?
Good morning Morgaine,
First, just a quick note of gratitude for you taking time out of your busy schedule to contribute to my blog. I realize that in this day and age, one is confronted with many choices as to where to place their opinion, and I am indebted to every single individual who took time to post here.
I think you provide a real keen insight to the current problems of our day when it comes to the workforce. While not a socialist by any stretch of the imagination (although I am certain many would disagree with me here), I have witnessed the problems “deregulation, unbridled, and corrupt greed in capitalism first hand. I come from working at a major corporation which is in the automotive industry. While this organization was not specifically guilty of greed at the top ranks, it is certain that this organization in particular, is guilty of what you refer to in your post.
I would be highly interested in hearing more about this and am hoping that you somehow are able to get it onto the Board. Your analysis of ageism is spot on in my humble opinion. Let me ask: Do you think this is the result of the Baby Boomer generation coming of age, fighting with all of their might to hold onto times past? I come from that specific generation, and I have to say that I have observed on more than one occasion this phenomenon at work. It seems that people in my demographic have been irresponsible with the ecology entrusted to us, have been hyper-competitive, hyper-consuming, and did not take into consideration where all of this would lead us.
An author who is a good friend of mine, George Ritzer wrote two books that I feel are relevant to this discussion. One is called the McDonaldization of America and the other is The Globalization of Nothing. Both works address the situation you hint at here. I look forward to seeing and hearing more from you on the matter and once again, many thanks!
So Morgaine, your comment kinda left me hanging. I felt you should have said more. There is a thread going on in the White House group on LinkedIn about how to make the boomers move over and retire..already. Where would this person like all of between the ages of 46-67 to go?
Denise,
Sorry about the truncated comment! For some reason, the automatic editor only would let about half of my comment post. I tried at least 5 times and had Zach’s help, too. Nothing worked. Who knows? I have a copy of the rest of what I had to say and when I have a little time more this evening or tomorrow I’ll try to get it on again. What you are talking about and I am responding about is, in my opinion, one of the top-of-the-list problems that this country faces at present. Thanks for initiating this aspect of the discussion.
Of greater concern is the mind numbing parade of pseudo issues thrown about by Obamas opponents as a distraction in an era of emergency after emergency.
I wish that people would get it that the existence of the republic is at stake and cut the BS now.
This is well said.
More to the point, we have individuals whom make a career out of phony issues, and whom love the adrenalin rush.
Sarah Palin being the outstanding example.
While it gets adulation, and notoriety, it also makes those doing it completely incapable of responding to real emergencies rationally.
Good morning Andrew,
Once again, you hit the proverbial nail on the head here. If the Tea Party would discuss the issues, in other words, their disagreement with the policies set forth by the current President, without the innuendos and other tactics used by them so frequently, I really and sincerely believe they would have more credibility with those (like myself) who are critical of them as a movement. However, as I will allude to in my new article today, there exist way too many correlations between their stated rhetoric and the uneasy feeling that they are actually trying to say something more; something more sinister. Perhaps they are not. If that is the case, then why in the heck do they not just come out and state their differences of opinon without these innuendos? It seems to me that this group of people could actually be the very first third party in years to have an affect on the politic of our Country. So, my question is this: What is it that they really are complaining about. You may have seen my comment on the White House thread started by me about 45 days ago which now has over 7000 comments combined between the older one which was sent to the promotions side, and the current thread. I stated to Debra the samy analysis that I share with you here. Many thanks for contributing again Andrew. Be well!
Hi people
Back from DC and I got on TV!!! ABC Channel 7 about the censorship at the Smithsonian. The news at DC from Politico, is that in their first few weeks in office the Republicans have advanced NO ideas for job creation but instead are focused on banning abortion.
Not to mention that their ideas are also to abolish the EPA ….the NEA and all signs of intelligent life in government. I guess we are to be treated to the prospect of religious leaders telling Museum curators what to show and what not to show.
ABC told me to rephrase as their viewers would not know what I was talking about when I mentioned George Orwell. The Director of the Smithsonian, who completely caved to Boehner’s demands when he took down the classic video “Fire in my Belly”, said he was only protecting the show as a whole. He also said it was not an act of censorship as he had never seen the video!
Does anybody on here know what Orwellian thinking is?
Reynolds,
Yes, of course I know about Orwellian thinking and that of most of the other male Utopians! You have discovered one of the main reasons that our country is in the trouble it is in. Male thinking, which dominates in social, business, political and other settings (including most of LinkedIn discussions) literally, because of the construct of their brains, prefers the abstract. It is easier on the emotions than is dealing with concrete realities. (Who changes most diapers in most families? for example.) Also, preferring one-thing-at-a-time rather than multi-tasking, male thinking, except in the most well-balanced men, such as President Obama, has difficulty, therefore, in seeing the larger picture or inferring from the particular–a priori vs a posteriori. Additionally, there is the retreat into adolescent fantasy, even “fantasy football,” by male adults.
The main weakness of an adolescent macho society such as the culture in the U.S. and in too many other parts of the world, is that, in addition to the preoccupation with the sex act and idealized female bodies in porn mags, videos, etc., super-heroes who are totally unreal and day-dreams of “scoring” in football, other sports or otherwise, too many men who are not macho and all women are undervalued and, with wile, guile, abuse, force, etc. are kept out of decision-making and leadership. The mess we are in now is an example of where that leads–politically, socially, morally, economically, etc.
The “Myth and Misogyny of an Insecure America,” as Susan Faludi describes our predicament generators, is reflected accurately in the commenters in most of these discussions. Now, how do we change that?
It is not an exclusive property of Male thinking to not multi task.
You should look at Squeaky Fromme of the Manson family for an example of a singularly focused individual
Winnifred, I know you do not like what men do, but the problem is much more generic than you are painting it to be.
Winnifred
I presume you know the DSM diagnostics. Why are you male gendering a problem with perseverative thinking as exclusively MALE?
It is not.
andrew,
Let’s have a conversation/dialogue about Orwellian/Utopian thinking in terms of the majority of people who have been and still are in positions of leadership in the U.S. Quibbling over terminology is an activity I eschew. Exploring one another’s learning and ideas is much more productive of value, don’t you think?
Let me explain more fully what I mean:
My main point is the LACK OF BALANCE which is an inevitable result when one part of a person’s physical makeup, one gender, one “type,” through power-over (legal, cultural and social domination) prevails and excludes the other(s).
In terms of the preference of abstract vs.concrete thinking and one-thing-at-a-time vs. multi-tasking, brain research with which I am familiar clearly points to structurally-based, gender-related differences in thinking. We know that individual men and women have both male and female hormones and bodily variances as well as thinking styles and other manifestations which occur as a result. A culture’s products are reflective of the individuals who make it up, particularly of the groups which are and have been in positions of power and, therefore, whose values and thinking that derives from those values, are preserved and become determinants of what that society’s persona is.
My perception is that Reynolds initial comment was about how Orwell recognized that censorship and over-regulation together with intolerance of diversity was an inevitable outcome of the thinking trends of his time of writing. My response to her query as to whether anyone knew about Orwellian thinking gave my understanding of how the thinking Orwell was speaking about as unbalanced came to be dominant.
I look forward to reading with which of my statements you agree and which ones differ from your viewpoints on the subject of Utopian thinking and its roots. Maybe we can come up with something useful for both of us and the discussion.
Partially Blue/
You know what? I would agree with you except as we all know Obama is not going to get any specifics passed in the next two years with the Repubs.
It was bad enough in the last two years when they had the majority and I am NOT blaming HR or NP but rather the “moderate” Dems who stalled around and dragged the party down with their dissension and dysfunction. Stupak !!!!!! Ben Nelson!!!!! What was Obama to do tie them up and make them vote? OK I wish, he had kicked their asses a little more but that’s me and not him. They are NOT BABIES no matter how they acted.
So I just wanted a nice hopeful speech before the Repub doom and gloom and their scare tactics. (first terrorism and now the deficit.) And he delivered. The hopey changey thing is going pretty well for me, thank you very much, despite Boehner’s fascism/.
The Republicans are not racist, but the Tea Party definitely IS a racist organization. IMO, their main problem with Obama is that he is Black.
I expect weird dynamics between a generally non racist Republican party and the racist Tea Party. Either the Tea Party takes over the Republican party and interjects racial politics in the government on an on going basis, or the Tea Party will be marginalized.
That will add to the difficulties of governance in 2011 to 2012
Winifred
I am not interested in that conversation.
It bores me.
I have other things to do.
Lets stick to the topics here.
Thank you for your consideration.
Andrew Beckwtih
I want the line to investigate the current craziness in Congress with HR 3/ Currently there are many lies being made by the same far right people who “acorned” Acorn.
I also am confused about how bills proceed. I called Nancy Pelosi’s office and they told me that this bill, even if passed in Congress,(which it is likely to be) will have no traction unless the Senate takes it up.
But according to MY understanding, if Congress wants to defund Planned Parenthood and the entire EPA and abolish the NEA they can do so.
Author: Andrew Walcott Beckwith
“It is not an exclusive property of Male thinking to not multi task.”
Nor did I say it was. I pointed out that (a) female brains are constructed in such a way that multi-tasking is easier and (b) those people, male or female, who have higher amounts of female hormones are more likely to utilize multi-tasking.
“You should look at Squeaky Fromme of the Manson family for an example of a singularly focused individual.”
??? This comment seems irrelevant to the statements I made, which did not include anything about “singular focus.”
“Winnifred, I know you do not like what men do, but the problem is much more generic than you are painting it to be.”
Andrew I very much like what many well-balanced men do and think: for example, President Obama, Carl Jung, Dwight Eisenhower–to name only a few whom I admire. Nowhere in my comments did I say that I “do not like what men do;” that is an invalid inference from what I did say, which is that there is imbalance in an individual who does not have both the so-called male and female qualities of thinking activated, exercised and contributed to any group: in family, community, business, education or in any situatiion. For example, I see in the discussion on LinkedIn re “Wjat would happen if women ruled the world?” a growing number of commentors who give the opinion that if there were more women and more well-balanced men in positions of power, there would be fewer wars or violence employed in human relations. I know well that many women (such as Palin most recently,who present themselves as gun lovers/users, and understanding and accepting of many behaviors appealing to men (sometimes called women’s “wiles”) in order to ingratiate herself and gain power in ways similar to those of men. That has been the way most women who want to be “accepted” in a status quo situation think that they must behave. Our own discussion has some women who exhibit these survival behaviors learned in a sexist culture.
.