Grounded but not Dead

In 2006 in Humboldt County, California, Measure T was passed by the people to keep outside big-money from controlling our elections. It was also a challenge to the concept (which is already too much of a reality) of corporate personhood. Pacific Legal Foundation - sponsored entirely by large corporations to look after their corporate interests - stepped up and challenged our law. County supervisors chose to back down rather than bankrupt the county in defending Measure T. This completely subverted the will of 'We the People', which once again shows the current level of power these mega-corporations hold. This was my spoken response at October's Board of Supervisors meeting.

I’m here as one of ‘we the people’ to tell you that I want – no, I demand election reform.
When Humboldt County passed Measure T, I was proud. Proud because we were leading the way, I even bragged about it. Now that Measure T has been flushed down the toilet, I’m asking you to be Bold, do the Right Think and once again lead the way and make election reform happen. For too long and too far, we’ve gone down the road of ‘corporate America’. We need to correct this and reclaim government for the people. If I had my way, no business, no corporation could participate in or contribute financially to any campaign – only individuals – you know – people. The only way to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people is to have elections of, by and for the people. Thank You.

BTW: We have not given up this fight. We - I mean all of us - need to participate, get involved and vote in force if we want to retian our Constitutional Rights.

Footnote: Ecuador is in the process of rewritting/updating their country's constitution. They are recognizing and granting constitutional rights to the environment. A swamp has the right to exist, as does a forest and the many animals inhabiting therein. In a time when we in the USA are loosing our constitutional rights and reassigning those same rights to corporatations - I see Ecaudor is taking the lead, showing the way to a more benevolent, enlightened society. Where, my fellow Americans, have we gone so wrong? Can we now join together, rise up and set things right so that we may truly move ahead? Are you with us?

Proposition 8

I have a hard time believing that so many of my fellow Californians voted to define marriage as being only between one man & one woman. I suspect that many thought they were voting, “yes – let them get married,” not realizing they were actually voting, “yes, change our Constitution to redefine marriage.” The US Constitution, which of course predates California’s, says we have the right to the pursuit of happiness. What could possibly be more fundamental to happiness than the person you choose to share your life with? Why should one group of people have the right to impose their beliefs on everyone else? Wasn’t this country originally founded by those desiring to practice the religion of their choice? Isn’t that what this is really all about – freedom of choice? From what have I read, this anti-homosexual movement comes from the ranks of one segment of Christians and they apparently have not read the Bible. Nowhere in the (King James) Bible – Old or New Testaments – is there any injunction against same-sex couples. And yes – I have read the Bible many times over. Are these nay-sayers misinterpreting their Bible …. or making it up as they go along? The campaign this Christian minority waged with Proposition 8 was typical of what I expect from the Oil Mongers – dirty, nasty, filled with lies & half truths, and playing on the emotional heart-strings of us all. Shame on you Christians who played your part in this hate-crime, for that is what it is. A great deal of money was spent to deny to some the same basic family happiness and values you claim to champion. Who is next on your hit list - non-whites? the elderly?, all those born on a Thursday? Hate in any form is unacceptable, but to see this political maneuvering coming from those who claim God is about Love makes no sense – they should practice what they preach (Love, Compassion, Forgiveness) and leave the judging to God.