Day: January 30, 2009

Obama and Biden, and Labor and the Middle Class

Barack Obama has set into motion a series of actions that will revive the American labor movement, which has been in dire straits since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.

This is great news, and Obama has commissioned Vice President Joe Biden to promote the interests of the middle class, which has been in decline since its peak economically in 1973.  No one better than the Vice President could be selected, as Biden was well known as the "poorest" Senator with the fewest assets of any senator and emerging from a working class family that struggled to succeed. 

We are fortunate that our President and Vice President come from "common man" backgrounds.  We have had enough of politicians who do not understand the problems of labor and the middle class and only have cared about the bottom line for the wealthy.  Obama is emerging as in the tradition of FDR and LBJ in his plans to bring necessary domestic reform, which will go beyond the New Deal and Great Society!

Rudy Guiliani and Wall Street Bonuses

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani has just demonstrated why we should be so thankful that his presidential campaign flopped so badly early in 2008.

At a time when the nation is falling into the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Guiliani is insensitive enough to remark that taking away multi million dollar bonuses from Wall Street executives will hurt the NYC economy.  This is stated as President Obama rightfully denounces the total arrogance of the wealthy elite on Wall Street who have shown total irresponsibility and insensitivity to what they have wrought by their unethical and often illegal financial practices.

Thank goodness that at this time of trouble that we have a man of principle and appropriate outrage as our President, instead of a man who seems not to care about the suffering caused by his party as they led the Congress for 14 years and the White House for the last eight years.  More comments like this and the country will become more Blue than it is already!

Michael Steele, the New GOP National Chairman

The Republican party has taken a wise step by selecting Michael Steele, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, and a leading African American conservative, as their national chairman.

Naming Steele was by far the best choice the GOP had out of the six available candidates.  While I do not agree with Steele on many issues, if any, he is a reasonable political figure who will improve the image of the Republican party and make it possible over time for the GOP to appeal to African Americans and other minorities, an urgent need if they are to have a future other than in the old South and the Mormon West.

This puts the burden on the Obama administration to insure that the Democratic party does not live on its laurels and to realize that Steele poses a real challenge to what is now the Blue Majority in America as a result of the 2008 presidential election.

A Commentary on Religiosity in America

A new survey that has emerged rates the 50 states by the extent of their religiosity.  The results, particularly on the top and bottom, are very revealing.

The top three "religious" states are Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina.  The least "religious" states are Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

The above statement speaks volumes.  The most "religious" states have a long history of being the most backward economically, the most prejudicial on the issue of race and religion and immigration and the role of women in society.  The least "religious" states are precisely the opposite. 

It is ironic that so called "religious" people have no problem historically in promoting discrimination, hate, prejudice, narrow mindedness and intolerance.  This demonstrates perfectly why religion MUST be kept separate from government policy.  Freedom of religion means the right of everyone to pray as they wish or not pray and believe.  It should NOT mean that they should be engaged in making government policy at any level, as their record historically is a true disgrace when they have been allowed by politicians to have undue influence!

The Economic Stimulus Bill and Senate Republicans

With the Economic Stimulus bill having passed the US House of Representatives but with not one Republican supporter, the bill now goes to the US Senate.

The hope is that some Republican senators will give their backing to some version of the bill acceptable to the Democratic majority in both houses and to President Obama.  One can imagine the possibility that at least a few–Susan Collins of Maine, Olympia Snowe of Maine, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and George Voinovich of Ohio–might give their weight in support of the bill and therefore promote bipartisanship.  Also, it can be hoped that some other GOP senators might surprise the country and also support the bill and that this will prompt some GOP House members to give their support after the conference committee report is drawn up in a couple of weeks.

At a crucial time such as now, with the country in dire economic straits, Obama’s call for bipartisanship comes across as genuine, and the nation needs such a spirit on the part of the Republican party to promote what is good for the future of the nation.