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Politics

Our world is what we make of it

by Tally on October 17, 2011

Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator, a Pre-WWII movieI am not the person I used to be. At 56 years of age, I know that I am vastly different than the person I was 30, 20, even 10 years ago. I noticed that many of the emotional changes came after I started restoring my foreskin. I do not know if that is the reason for the change or just a trigger that caused me to be a different person.

One manifestation of my change is empathy. This empathy allows me to feel the shared pain and the shared elation of others. I feel the pain of the 99 percent. It does not matter that I am one of the 99%. I am human. That is all that should be necessary to care for humanity.

While reading Occupy Wall Street Tumblr posts, I discovered the following video. The Great Dictator was released before the United States entered the Second World War. It was a daring movie, considering the times. It was also Charlie Chaplin's first talkie and the last film appearance of Chaplin's Little Tramp character. The video shows the climatic monologue where Chaplin, as the Jewish barber playing the dictator, addresses the world.

Each time I watch the video, I get goose bumps. Read more . . .

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I used to be proud to be an American

by Tally on July 28, 2011

y u no do right thing?I do not normally discuss politics. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I believe that it is the purpose of a government to provide certain services to its people, but I also believe that the government should be fiscally responsible. Those are not incompatible objectives.

There has always been strife with our politicians. But in the past 12 years, the pot went from being stirred vigorously to being really heated up to being almost ready to boil over.

The current problem first manifested itself during the 2000 Presidential elections. The Swiftboating of Senator Kerry was emblematic of the new way of winning. No need to have a good platform or a good track record. All that was necessary was to smear the other side, to go lower than the other side dared to go. The tactic was even named Swiftboating after the smear campaign against Kerry. Unfortunately, such tactics are successful in our sheeple society.

The 2008 Presidential elections saw the new Tea Party's rise. The Tea Party revitalized the Republican Party, but it also splintered it. The Tea Party has an extremist platform that is more fanatical than realistic. Unfortunately, the 2010 midterm elections saw the Tea Party move into the House, assuring the Republican Party a House majority, but only in number, not in the party platform. The Tea Party also assumed power in many states.

Now we have the politicians piggybacking solutions to the budget deficit to the debt ceiling. These are two issues that need not be joined. Raising the debt ceiling has traditionally been technical legislation with little fanfare. This time, though, we have the Republicans seeking to use the debt ceiling issue as a vehicle to move their agenda. It is backfiring on them. Read more . . .

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Federal Anti-anti-circumcision bill: H.R. 2400: Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011

by Tally on July 14, 2011

US House of Representatives HR 2400: the Anti-anti-circumcision BillThe Federal government is trying to limit states and local governments. A recent House Bill seeks to prohibit states from restricting male genital cutting, although most states have such restrictions for female genital cutting. United States Representative Brad Sherman introduced a Bill in the House seeking to prevent any government entity in the United States from prohibiting male infant circumcision. The Anti-anti-circumcision bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration.

US Representative Brad Sherman is a California Democrat for the 27th District. He is joined in the Bill by 9 co-sponsors. The names and contact information for the Congressmen are listed below. Everyone is encouraged to contact these Congressmen and let them know how ill-conceived the Bill is.

The Federal Bill is remarkably similar to California State Bill AB 768, which is an Anti-anti-circumcision Bill for the State of California.[1] Read more . . .

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California proposes an Anti-anti-circumcision bill

by Tally on July 9, 2011

California State AB 768: the Anti-anti-circumcision BillI am speechless. At least I can still write, though. I just found out that the state of California is proposing to outlaw any local effort to restrict male circumcision. California State Bill Number AB 768, amended, was introduced by Assembly Member Gatto.

Assemblyman Gatto is seeking to reform California's initiative process.[1] California allows members of the public to file ballot measures through the initiative process. Although subject to abuse by monied interests, the California initiative process allows the public to participate in governing themselves.[2]

Along with Assemblyman Gatto's initiative reform, he also seems to be targetting one initiative in particular, the San Francisco Male Infant Circumcision Ban that is coming up for a vote in November. Read more . . .

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