Who says so? Money or your vote?

Everyone wants to feel that their votes do count but sadly a great portion of this country has grown skeptical and believe their vote is overshadowed by dirty politics or corporate sponsorship through donations that require favors in return.   Others feel that "special interest" lobbying and funding controls the way our leaders are elected . They have lost their taste for getting off their butts and wasting gas to go vote.

Then along comes a special election in the state of California where the replacement Governor of California said, "Any of those kinds of real big, powerful special interests, if you take money from them, you owe them something."

Once elected, he went back on his promises and began taking millions of dollars from special interest sponsors to get some of his initiatives passed which all favored, guess who...his sponsors.  See the below link.

 California Clean Money Campaign Problems: Sacramento Bee, August 28th, 2005     http://www.caclean.org/problem/sacbee_2005-08-28.php

Most of us who believe our vote doesn't count are ready to make the case for the Popular Vote in National Elections but I say that still isn't enough.  This is supposed to be a government of the people for the people and by the people.  If this were the case, we must ask ourselves why it is that most of our elected officals serving at the federal level are wealthy.  If you follow the money, you see that they accept donations up to $21,000 from each doner.  How many of us have that kind of money to send to those we believe in?  Campaign caps should be lowered to a more reasonable amount that will disempower the corporations and special interest groups and favor the individual constituents.  Still, this is not enough.

Arizona and Maine found a more viable solution.  See these links.

http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/cleanelections.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec02/arizona_10-30.html

Even Marc Spitzer (R Arizona) strongly opposed their move to block the Clean Money Campaign.  The people of Arizona got the measure passed and Marc Spitzer realized that Clean Money Campaigning is the only way to go.  He cited that in past years prior to the Act passing, he spent time at country clubs and anywhere the wealthy were throwing bashes in his name to garnish donations for his campaign.  Now he is relieved to get to the grass-roots issues of his constituents rather than have to sweat it out trying to pass policy the corporate and special interest groups expected him too.  He now has joy in his political career.

This is echoed throughout other states who have Clean Money Campaigning. In California at the beginning of next year a measure titled AB 583 will be decided on.  Please write your assemblymen now. 

For more information, call (800) 566-3780 and visit www.CAclean.org

For all others, check in your area.  Several states are gearing up for Clean Money Campaignings to help the people have a fair chance at representation and having their votes count.  If there aren't any such things started and you want to start one in your state, contact the above number or web site.

Thank you so much for reading.  Empowerment=Transformation. Let us be active in such matters-together.

Think Globally:Act Locally

The stylists in town shaved the firefighters bald to help J.P. Taft get through his leukemia.  Also, the town of El Sobrante closed off their main road to bring people together in celebration of life.  The week was busy for me but it was all worth it.  Enjoy some of the pics.

Sunday morning 9a.m.

When I need to get away, I sit in my car and smoke a clove.  I think of many things.  This morning I have company.  It is a beautiful shiny black raven.  My noisy friend's head bobs as it bellows out a "Caw-caw-caw."  From where it is perched, at least three blocks can be seen-maybe more.  I caw back and we have a conversation.  I'm not sure what I'm saying but I decide to listen for awhile so that I can say it better. <smile>

Suddenly the raven starts a procession of long drawn out caws and when it finally stops, I hear a raven a few blocks away.  They jibe back and forth for a little bit, these guardians of our neighborhood. They go quiet.  I hear the annoying tinkling of the icecream truck as it rounds our corner.  Icecream at 9a.m.?  It makes it's noisy retreat down and around onto the next block.  The raven leaves me.

Out of the recess of my mind comes some thoughts I'm unable to shake off.  One thought was about the men driving those trucks possibly being terrorists, or those passing messages along to those involved in terrorism.  They say terrorists are amongst us and they live in every ghetto as well as subdivision.  Could that be true?  I tell myself, that this is a crazy thought with absolutely no merit.  Then I ask myself as I try to drum up shame, "What do you have against Icecream men?"

The future answers back, "Yes, messages can be transferred via men in icecream trucks and never be noticed."

I respond, "That is an unreasonable notion."

My past argues on behalf of the future, "Remember Mr. Jolly that icecream man back in San Pablo?"

I'm transported back to 1964-65is to a time when I played with a gal named Wanda Clark. Mr. Jolly rented the small house in their backyard and had an icecream truck. He would always come to Davis Park where we played with hundreds of other kids.  We had rules at Davis Park.  If you were on the merry-go-round,  you had to push it for the next riders.  That way everyone who rode had to push too.

Just as it was my turn, all those who were supposed to push went running to Jolly's truck which had just pulled up.  Only they took a long time while the rest of us were waiting to be pushed. I went to see why they weren't coming back.  As I approached the crowd of little girls gathered around I saw the sign that said Not In Service.  I asked them what they were doing?  I was shushed as a little girl explained that Mr. Jolly had a pet mouse that if we made noise, it would disappear.  She said everyone was waiting their turn to pet it.

I pushed my way through and stood on the first step.  One little girl jumped off Mr. Jolly's lap quickly and it was Wanda's turn. I watched as Wanda reached into the baby blanket on Mr. Jolly's lap so she could pet his mouse.  Mr. Jolly kept cooing, "That's nice.  He likes that. Yes."  Then he told her she could jump up and the mouse would tickle her.  Wanda asked if that wouldn't hurt the mouse and Mr. Jolly explained that mouses like warm places that they miss their moms. I watched her dress fly up as she sat on his lap.  She felt it and wiggled and giggled some too.Mr. Jolly said, "The mouse especially likes you, Wanda.  You are special. Oh yes."

Wanda said, "The mouse wants to get inside me."

Mr. Jolly said, "Its Ok.  The mouse likes your warmth because he misses his mommy very much.  He likes you best of all, Wanda.  Does this feel good?"

She said, "It feels kind of funny.  Yeah, it feels good too."  She giggled and said the mouse was really tickling her. She was on his lap for a very long time and was bouncing.  I was getting impatient and told her we had a turn coming that it was her turn to push.  She said, "Oh, all right."  When she jumped down, I saw that Mr. Jolly didn't have a mouse, it was more like a snake.  He smiled at me and asked me to pet his mouse.  I felt sick, but wasn't sure why.  I explained that I had to go home.  I ran home and told my babysitter about Mr. Jolly's mouse in his lap that was really a snake and that he had been tricking the girls with it.  They all thought they were really petting a mouse.  My babysitter got angry and called some parents then ran next door to her house and spoke to her mother.  Next thing we knew Mr. Jolly was taken away. 

A few days later we all went to help Wanda's mom clean Mr. Jolly's house and we found so many newspapers with pictures of men and girls and men and boys and some painted women doing terrible things.  Turns out Mr. Jolly was a pediophile (sp).  Pediophiles are terrorists, right?

I never have cared for Icecream Men in trucks since that date.  Their songs announcing sweet treats are more of an evil invitation.

Being Gay From This Heterosexual Christian Chick's POV

Gov. Arnold Swarzenegger has decided to meet with representatives with the gay caucus declaring his announcement to veto gay marriages was premature.  He must have considered how fundamentalist Christians would react to gay marriage. 

What do fundamentalists believe in with all their heart?
They believe in family and God.  They believe children have the right to cultural enrichment and identification from having a solid family base.  They believe in family benefits.  They also believe in the right to life and oppose a woman's right to choose.  They are against gay marriage as well.

The irony is this.  Gay people are parents, too.  Are children of gay people to be disallowed the same cultural identification and enrichment the children of heterosexuals have?  Are children of gay parents supposed to be ok with the fact that one parent may have health benefits while the other does not?  Are children of gay parents supposed to suffer the  agenda and judgments of fundamentalists?

What say you?

Sincerely,
Chelle Stockman

Touched by An Angel

The Damsels of Dissent were on a hunt for women who had things to say about the way we Americans are conducting ourselves in this world.  Jenny and I took some time out to go to the Brownsville Blues Fest last Sunday, a mere week ago.

On the way there we passed a 40 mph speed sign and I said to Jen, "You know how 40 mph means nothing over 40 where you live?  Perhaps we ought to practice driving as the sign suggest since we don't know this area." 

She patted me on my knee and said, "Thank you, Chelle-Chelle. You are right."  She slowed down and its a good thing, too.  Up around the bend was a young man in the middle of the 2-lane road waving his arms like a windmill.  We slowed down and stopped for him. I rolled my window down and this dairy-farm wholesome looking baby-faced kid of no more than 15 looked at me, then Jen. 

He said, "Ladies (in a totally southern accent), there's a real bad accident up around the bend. Man on a motorcycle down."

I asked, "Can you tell me if there is safe passage through?"

He said, "Well, yeah, if you hang far to the left but you might drive through some wreckage.  You can make it."

With that we kept going and just as he told us, there was a terrible wreck! The injured man was just layed out and folks were running to him.  He looked me in the eyes and Jen said, "Whoa, what's that all about?"

I said, "A man in a lot of pain, Jen."  We prayed and mused for about 3/4 of a mile when up ahead was another man walking in the middle of the road, going up the mountain as we were.  He looked back at us and blew our minds.  He was the same kid that stopped us almost a mile back.  No way he could have made it that far. Then the red emergency truck came barreling down toward the accident behind us.

After the blues fest I asked an officer about that man and he told me the dude didn't make it.  I was so bummed.  I figured the man had to be only 51 ish.  I told Jen the bad news.   We checked the papers the next day-nothing.  I told her that maybe the fellow who stopped us was an angel.  Afterall, Jen remarked that he wasn't from our area and I had said he was sure a sweet kid.  We both considered that we might have had a visit with an angel who came for that man. We were there and I looked Mr. Beaver in his eyes as we inched our way through.  Here goes the Biker'sstory from the Union in Nevada City.

By Trina Kleist, trinak@theunion.com
September 7, 2005

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Friends mourned Tuesday for David Michael "Chicago" Beaver, a North San Juan man who was killed when a motorist struck Beaver's motorcycle in Yuba County.

Beaver, 51, was on his way to a blues festival Sunday in the town of Brownsville when an 18-year-old driver hit him and the car behind him, the California Highway Patrol reported. Charges might be filed against the woman whostruck Beaver.

Friends described the Chicago-area native as down-to-earth, a hard worker who laid asphalt on roadways during the summer and looked after elderly neighbors in the winter. "He rode slow, didn't drink and drive on his bike, didn't let any dirt on his bike," said Rhonda Murphy, also of North San Juan.

"He was sweet as cherry pie. He loved women and rock 'n' roll," said friend Jan, who declined to give her last name. "He was part of my mountain and we'll miss him."

At 2:10 p.m. Sunday, Amanda Driggers of Yuba City was driving a 1996 Honda Civic south on Willow Glen road 2.6 miles north of Marysville Road. "She came around a curve in the roadway, failed to stay in her lane and hit the motorcyclist head-on," CHP Sgt. John Pettigrew said.

Beaver had been driving north on his 1994 Harley-Davidson "Fatboy," followed by friend Kathleen Whittlesey in a 1986 Toyota pickup.

The Honda hit the Harley, went on to hit the Toyota, then crumpled against the embankment with the airbags deployed and several windows shattered, the CHP reported.

Whittlesey was not injured and stopped to try to help her friend.

Units arrived from the Foothill Volunteer Fire Department and Bi-County Ambulance, trying unsuccessfully to treat Beaver. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the CHP reported.

Driggers was transported to Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville, where she was treated for moderate injuries and released, a nursing supervisor said. An arrest order against her has been issued and charges are expected to be filed after an investigation of the accident is finished, Pettigrew said.

Beaver's friends said there would be a rock 'n' roll wake held Saturday evening at the Brass Rail on Main Street in North San Juan.

ooo

Trina Kleist may be contacted at 477 4231 or trinak@theunion.com.

letter to Kathleen Babineaux Blanco-gov. of Louisianna

If I could hug you and our people there, I surely would.  Instead, I've been thinking. In the wake of Katrina, we don't have to perpetuate the horrors.  Instead we have an opportunity in New Orleans to accomplish what others have said would be too costly to do due to the fact we'd have to tear down and rebuild a new infrastructure.

You folks can build the first big-scale earth friendly energy center which would use "green" technology.  That alone would provide employment and it would be done so in American ethical form.

You could ask the engineers and scientists to step up to the plate and devise an environmentally friendly fuel source that we didn't need to barter or war for.  In addition, fuel conversion kits could be made for home and vehicle use and the industries could locate along the gulf states that require rebuilding.

Now is the time to build an infrastructure that will withstand natural catastrophes and will also slow, eventually end, the effects of global warming.
Imagine the jobs to be created here at home in America--living wages jobs for Americans building truly American products.  Even the industries could be environmentally friendly.

Where others see blame and no end in sight, I see an opportunity to change our country for the betterment of our universe.
Please, Madam Governor, lead us on.  Lead us Louisiana, lead us forward.

My heart's hopes are in your competent hands. God is with you folks.
Sincerely,

Chelle Stockman

September 6, 2005

Opinion

 

Our children choose to serve our country for many reasons. Lance Cpl. Phillip West asked his father, “If I don’t, then who will?”  Sadly, Edward West’s editorial reported that his son died in the line of duty.

My son goes into the military next year for what he hopes will be a long career because as he put it, “Our fathers knew when the Bill of Rights were drawn up, liberty would be a lifetime battle.”

People like Mrs. Sheehan and those who oppose her are proof that some of our liberties remain intact.  I thank them for using these rights and doing so without violence.

Real republicans have seen to it we still have our right to bear arms while the real democrats have seen to it that we still have our rights of free speech.  However, due to the necessity for Homeland Security, the one liberty that united both of the largest political parties has gone by the wayside, much as the credibility of both parties has.  High-tech crimes and policing, surveillance cameras on highways and tracking cards used for shoppers and gamblers, leave the average person stripped of privacy.

            Freedom and liberty come at a high price. If we don’t use them responsibly, we stand to lose them altogether which wouldn’t hurt the World Order’s agenda of globalization.  While our children are fighting wars this fast-tracking out-sourcing tax deferring corporate government creates and sponsors, it is up to us to secure our liberties so our children have some left to return home to.

A reminder: Governor George W. Bush’s words when Clinton was president. "Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is." --Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)