The congressional elections of 2006 brought notional Democratic Party control of Congress. Election Day 2008 brought the Democrats the White House, firm control of the House of Representatives, and a strong but not filibuster proof majority in the United States Senate. The last two years have seen a protracted war of attrition featuring Republican party filibusters, stalling tactics in Congress, and an assault on reason featuring angry Tea Party rallies, talk of death panels, government tyranny, and calls for 2nd Amendment remedies. Our founding fathers would be ashamed. And yet, the energy and enthusiasm that brought President Obama into power in November 2008 has seemed strangely and frustratingly missing-in-action.
Electoral Nullification in 2010
In my March 13, 2010 blog post, I wrote about Republican attempts to nullify the results of the 2006 and 2008 elections through the use of the filibuster and stalling tactics in congressional committees. I suggested an analogy between the world of jurisprudence in which the concept of jury nullification raises the specter of tainted justice — of juries overlooking evidence and the facts to deliver questionable innocent verdicts – to the tactics used by Republicans to nullify recent electoral results by questioning the motives, patriotism, and allegiance to country of those who oppose their conservative views.
Posted in American Politics
Tagged economic insecurity, environmental disasters, market crash
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Career Watchdog To Lead Reorganized Minerals Management Service
President Obama has selected Michael Bromwich as his new watchdog for the oil and gas industry. Bromwich’s selection coincided with Interior Secretary Salazar’s announcement that he is restructuring the Minerals Management Service (MMS) and renaming the agency Bromwich will lead as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.
The Decline of Entrepreneurial Capitalism
What do the following have in common: Budweiser Beer; CITGO gasoline; Good Humor, Ben and Jerry’s, and Breyer’s ice creams; French’s mustard; Frigidaire refrigerators; Adidas and Reebok shoes; New York’s Plaza Hotel and Chrysler Building; Caribou Coffee and Church’s Chicken; Trader Joe’s; 7-Eleven; Holiday Inn; Dial Soap; T-Mobile; Firestone tires; the Sunglass Hut; the Indiana Toll Road — part of the interstate Route 80; and Toll House Cookies? The answer is that each of these seemingly American brands and assets is actually owned and controlled by a foreign corporation. The selling off of the United States of America has been going on for some time, and foreign owned corporations now control 50% or more of many important US industries: Continue reading
The Politics of the Petroleum Economy (2)
When BP CEO Tony Hayward went before Congress and refused to answer questions asked by both Democratic and Republican members, you had to wonder whether we were finally going to see some bipartisanship. When Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, blasted President Obama for his “shakedown” of BP, we got a good example of what ails the Republican Party.
Posted in American Politics, Economic Policy
Tagged Bp, deepwater drilling, limited government, oil spill, petroleum economy, shakedown of BP
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The Politics of the Petroleum Economy
As a matter of principle and practice, I believe in Win-Win solutions whenever possible, and that life presents us with a virtually unlimited number of opportunities to break out of “zero-sum” assumptions to create abundance. In fact, this is the magic of American-style capitalism. The economic decisions of millions of individuals throughout our society have for generations created sufficient wealth to ensure an American standard of living that has been the envy of the world. To be sure, oil is not yet a scarce resource, but is becoming more costly to produce, and the politics of petroleum in the world today threatens the very foundation of our national wealth.
The Morality of the Petroleum Economy
Petroleum has been a critical component of world economic growth for generations. The strong growth of the U.S. economy since the end of World War II has been in large part made possible by the availability of cheap oil. But at what cost? The recent oil disaster off the Louisiana coast has brought into sharp focus that this economic prosperity comes at a price.
Our Fearful Middle Class
A growing, thriving middle class has long been understood as the key to political stability. That’s been true throughout history, just as it is today. You look around the world and where you see a middle class population under stress, you see signs of political unrest.
Get Real, Tea Party Fans
So you think being an angry voter is cool? Well, you now have a voice in American politics. The newly founded Tea Party has with the help of the media become a symbol for those of us who “don’t want to take it anymore,” and “want our country back.” But is the anger appropriate? Are we directing that anger at the people, institutions, and circumstances that have created the turmoil we are experiencing as a nation? The answer is emphatically NO! So let’s take a quick look at where we are.
Posted in American Politics
Tagged American Politics, tea party, tea party beliefs, tea party events, tea party republicans
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Elena Kagan — Judicial Experience Not A Prerequisite
As the first female Dean of the Harvard Law School and the first woman to serve as U.S. Solicitor General, Elena Kagan has a track record of setting precedents. If confirmed, Ms. Kagan will become the youngest justice on the court, the third woman, and the third Jewish justice. Her confirmation would mark the first time in U.S. history that there would not be a Protestant on the high court. There are now six Catholics sitting on the court.