September 2008 Archives

With several political issues becoming more and more important as the presidential race progresses, PBS takes a look at health care. On Tuesday, September 30th the evening starts at 9pm with POV's "Critical Condition." The program "puts a human face on the nation's growing health care crisis by capturing the harrowing struggles of four critically ill Americans who discover that being uninsured can cost them their jobs, health, home, savings, even their lives."

The night continues at 10:30pm with "RX for Change," which is a "follow-up to POV's 'Critical Condition' [that] outlines the presidential candidates' stands on health care reform and features a discussion with experts who evaluate the plans." Now is your chance to see where McCain and Obama stand on the issue.

On September 10th, Matt Damon described the likelihood of Sarah Palin becoming our 45th president as "a really bad Disney movie."

"I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska," he said, imitating Palin. "And she's the president, facing down Vladimir Putin, using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's absurd. It's totally absurd."

He was right.

Even lots of Republicans are turning against Palin, and GOP strategists are more than a little rankled by her recent media gaffes -- most notably her embarrassing interview on CBS last week with Katie Couric.

Leave it to the acerbic, brilliant wit of the folks at College Humor to bring Damon's comment to life, illustrating just how much of a madcap, zany, outrageous, trite and -- dare I say it -- contrived situation this really is.

Here's the trailer for Head of State, a nonexistent but yet all-too-real movie, coming soon to a network news station near you:

Caricatures -- to use a word Sarah Palin recently had a hard time remembering in her interview with Katie Couric -- are par for the course in political satire. And Saturday Night Live has been doing them pretty damn well for more than 30 years.

But usually they're silly -- i.e., great spoofs, but not mirrors of reality.

It seems that John McCain's pick for a VP has changed that, giving SNL's writers and Tina Fey something of a break -- at least while she's playing Sarah Palin. No longer do they need to write parodies of speeches and quotes -- all they have to do is have Tina recite Palin's words verbatim.

In this clip from CNN, we see Tina Fey's Sarah Palin followed by Sarah Palin herself. Just watch:

It's funny, no doubt about it. But wait a second: We're likely to have a vice president whose own words make us laugh when delivered by a comedienne, whose caricature is a photo-real portrait, and whose power in this country will be second only to one person's. And if McCain succumbs, as many fear he will, she'll be the most powerful.

Suddenly I'm not laughing anymore.

This photo "A Sustainable Forest" is an upward view showing the array of small wind turbines and photovoltaic panels outside the Arc building in my home town of Hull in the UK. The Arc is a radically designed carbon-neutral exhibition space, intended to champion architectural excellence. It was built as part of an ongoing program of regeneration in the city. I have always been struck by the vision of the architect, and I couldn't get the idea out of my mind that the collection of mast mounted turbines and panels was forest-like, which resonated with the environmental ideals upon which the building is founded. I had had this shot in mind for a while, and on this particular day the blue sky broken with cloud provided the perfect complementary backdrop for the bright yellow of the solar panels.

For me, Paul Newman will always be Cool Hand Luke, the title character of Stuart Rosenberg's 1967 film. As a kid, I was obsessed with prisons: I read everything I could about Alcatraz, watched all the movies I could find, and even turned my bedroom into one, complete with a holding cell, a solitary confinement "room" and a gas chamber. Naturally, none of these were functioning -- I had neither locks on the doors nor gas in the chamber. Once, I got in pretty serious trouble for putting my brother in "solitary" on a particularly hot summer day. My dad tore up the cell (which was little more than a 6'x8' piece of foam bended into a semi-circular tube between my bed and the wall), thus putting an end to that incarnation of my bedroom. I think the closet/holding cell remained in use for a few more months, but then I was off to a new pastime -- skateboarding.

Granted, it was a weird hobby -- I know my babysitters thought so -- but I was fascinated by prisons, and to my young mind, Cool Hand Luke was the quintessential prison movie.

Mr. Newman, who died on Saturday at age 83 after a long fight with cancer, of course made dozens of other major films during his 56 years in the business. But he was also a dedicated philanthropist and humanitarian. His Newman's Own food line donates a portion of its proceeds to charity. In 2003, he and his business partner, the writer A.E. Hotchner, wrote a memoir on the venture titled Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common Good.

Over the years, Newman gave millions to camps, organizations, charities, and schools in a lifelong effort to improve the lives of those without the means to do it alone.

The indomitable spirit on display in Cool Hand Luke may have been evidence of Newman's exceptional acting skill, but I venture to say it was also pure Newman.

[Image: Paul Newman in Exodus, 1960]

Yesterday afternoon, in the heart of the Financial District just north of Battery Park, a few hundred people gathered on a small median outside of 26 Broadway to protest the $700 billion government bailout.

Surrounding the iconic bull -- the inert mascot of Wall Street -- groups from Code Pink, Picture the Homeless, the Yes Men and numerous other organizations rallied against the proposal that could save us all from financial collapse in the short term.

Buy My Sh*t Pile, which organized the protest, has a simple message for the bankers: "If you're going to dump your worthless investments on me, then maybe you'd like to take some of the crap I've got lying around the house off my hands -- you know, snow globes, old puzzles, a broken bicycle tire pump..."

So why would these folks be against something the media is reporting as a way to save us from another Great Depression? Because if the government spends that money now, guess who'll have to pay it back later. That's right: John Q. Taxpayer. And if the government bails out these firms, doesn't that just send the message that it's okay to spend money you don't have, stupidly invest other people's money, and provide egregious salaries and bonuses to a huge percentage of your employees?

As protests go, it wasn't too dramatic: I saw no arrests, and no traffic was disrupted -- even though the action all took place on an island in the middle of a major thoroughfare in Lower Manhattan.

These were law-abiding folks, but that didn't diminish their passion to be heard by the "fat cats" in the buildings all around them.

And for all you New Yorkers: If you don't agree with the bailout either, but aren't one for demonstrations, you can write directly to Congressman Chuck Schumer or Senator Hillary Clinton.

One would think that with all the hub-bub over same sex marriage and gender-neutral marriage licenses that the United States was a sanctuary for LGBT persons. Yet one just has to travel down memory lane to high school to remember that we have a long way to go. This week the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GPAC) released a listing of K-12 schools and colleges that directly address gender identity in their rules and regulations:

The 3rd edition of GENIUS reports results from 940 respondents at 348 U.S. campuses. The Index found a broad increase in schools embracing greater gender protections. For instance, among the key findings:

* 88% of "Top 25" colleges and universities now include gender identity and expression and sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies (up from 65% in 2007);

* Campuses including gender identity and expression and sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies jumped 53% since 2007;

* Campuses offering gender-neutral restrooms almost doubled, to 271 from 141 in 2007;

* Campuses offering gender-neutral housing also nearly double, from 30 to 56; and

* Over 4.25 million K-12 students now attend public schools in districts covered by anti-bullying policies that address gender identity and expression and sexual orientation

As younger and younger people come out as LGBT or even question their sexuality, it is necessary to protect them in order to allow them to feel their way through life the same way heterosexual persons are allowed (slut-shaming aside). It was just earlier this year that a gay middle school boy was shot in school. Who was to blame? Him for wearing feminine clothing. According to the LA Times:

Students and other witnesses told investigators that tension had been simmering for days between the two eighth-graders. Lawrence had announced that he was gay and sometimes dressed in feminine clothing, said students, who added that [Brandon] McInerney was annoyed by Lawrence's public interest in him.

Students need this extra protection as school should be a safe place to learn and grow. On a larger scale, there is hope that by embracing the right for everyone to figure out their own gender identity on their own terms just might allow boys to escape the tight box of masculinity.

Check out the listings and see if your college or state addresses gender identity.

John McCain requested that both his and Barack Obama's campaigns take a hiatus and postpone Friday's debate so that both candidates can hightail it to Capitol Hill to work on a bi-partisan bailout plan for Wall Street.

Obama said no.

His reasons are solid, though: "Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," he said. "It is not necessary for us to think we can do only one thing and suspend everything else."

Obama further argued that now is a critical time for Americans to be hearing from the man who in just about 40 days will be responsible for this mess, that is, cleaning it up or making it worse, depending on what happens then. It's not the time to shut-up.

McCain's public position is that both nominees should meet with the President and Congressional leaders to work out a plan, but some suspect that his proposal is more an effort to buy time in order to regain the offensive against Obama's strengthening campaign.

Depending on what happens in November and beyond -- with our economy -- this could become the stuff of political lore.

If Obama gets elected and the economy improves, he could be hailed as a multi-tasking visionary. If he gets elected and the economy worsens, he could be attacked -- and quoted ad infinitum -- for not reacting as McCain wanted.

If McCain is elected and the economy improves, people will say his request was duplicitous and cowardly. If he's elected and it worsens, his maverick persona could get a boost: Woe to the rebel who wanted to save the day but no one would let him.

As with so many things right now, we'll just have to wait and see. I just hope this doesn't turn into another $87 billion noose, like the one that helped hang John Kerry in 2004.

It is home to the Spurs, the Road Runners, the River Walk and the Alamo -- the site of one of history's most famous "last stands." Who knew that so much of San Antonio's cultural and historic touchstones were rooted in the common need for good footwear?

As proof that not all Texans limit their reading to friendly one-page memos prepared by their neoconservative advisers, I received a comment on one of my last blog entries -- addressing the need to update FDR's New Deal -- from a graphic designer in San Antonio, who asked me to elaborate on practical ways an average citizen could make a difference: "Invest yes," my dear reader asked, "but where? How can individuals contribute?"

As one always eager to stand in someone else's shoes -- particularly those with a good soul -- let me offer a few thoughts on something that is always in season: volunteering.

Over the past eight years, you didn't need a 90210-like mailing address to notice a rumble in the ground underfoot. That sound you hear is the center of gravity of social change shifting, from the public sector back to the people -- if, indeed, it every really left us in the first place. Red state or blue state, leather pump or suede heel, most Americans today recognize a simple reality: our brand of market capitalism -- combined with the natural limits of compassionate government -- has left too many big problems unsolved. From health to education to the environment, there are gaps everywhere you look -- and people are getting involved in new ways to give America the kick-start it needs to solve them.

In 2007, a record 61 million Americans volunteered in their communities, giving 8.1 billion hours of service worth more than $158 billion to America's communities. At the same time, Americans gave $295 billion in direct contributions -- serious walking-around money -- and less than 2 percent came from mega-givers like Warren Buffet. If the 2000s were about the democratization of technology, the 2010s may very likely be about the democratization of giving -- a new era in which the way people care, and how they show they care, is changing faster than Us Magazine headlines about Britney Spears.

In fact, as a small effort to celebrate my company's 25-year effort to raise social awareness, we embarked on a small project to compile a few inspiring stories of volunteerism and public service to include in a book. But as the process evolved, each story led to many others, and I realized that the number of selfless and heroic individuals working to make change is virtually limitless.

The book, called Awearness (I believe strongly in recycling), comes out this fall. The stories -- from Lance Armstrong to Ashley Judd to Elton John to Ludacris -- may inspire you to get involved. If they do, dear reader in San Antonio, here are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about where to apply your talent and time:

Find What Is Most Fashionable to You. Think about why you want to volunteer. Do you want to change the world, or just your block? Do you want to meet new people, learn new skills, or apply the ones you already have? Choose a cause that is most meaningful to you. If HIV/AIDS work is important, find a local clinic, or a local organization working to make change.

Make Sure To Try Things On. Don't commit to a 12-week program mentoring a child without trying a few one-on-one sessions first. Be honest: if you find something that's not quite you, other people will be able to tell, too.

Find the Size That Fits. Not all organizations require a long commitment. If you have a busy schedule, volunteer for an hour or two each week, or maybe just a few times each month. If you find you have more time and want to pursue it, do it gradually.

Reach for the name brand first. If you're not sure about opportunities in your area, contact a national organization of whatever cause you are interested in. Chances are, they can suggest local options.

Don't be a Lone Star, even in Texas. If you find an organization that inspires you, encourage friends and neighbors with similar interests to join.

We can all be the change we want to see in the world. It's up to you decide if making change -- or donating change -- is the change most meaningful for you.

The word on the street -- namely, Wall Street -- is that we're in trouble. Some analysts are predicting the current financial crisis to be worse than the Great Depression. Others are saying at the very least it's the worst situation they've seen in their lifetimes. All agree that the financial industry can't get out of this mess alone, and that we're all going to experience the fallout.

You don't have to have a degree in economics to understand this basic equation: nearly 25 percent of the total income in New York City is in the financial sector, which comprises only 3 percent of the total workforce.

This means that once that handful of people who earn a whole lot of money suddenly lose their salaries, or worse, their jobs, all the places they used to spend their fortunes suffer too.

Restaurants, bars, strip-clubs, salons, theaters, boutiques -- you name it. If it's part of commercial society, it'll be affected.

Walk by any restaurant that specializes in steak -- and no, I'm not being facetious -- and you'll see a lot of empty seats.

Even the MTA is panicking, as it looks at a $900 million deficit that could get worse if the economy doesn't improve.

This means lots of other people lose their jobs, too, or if they're in the service industry, have to survive on much fewer or lower tips.

And this is just the beginning. Yesterday, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson pleaded the Senate to pass a bill granting $700 billion to bail the financial industry out of its self-made crisis without further ado. We can discuss future regulation later, he told lawmakers.

Hillary Rosen, of the Huffington Post, offers the following suggestions for getting out of this quagmire before it drowns us, and for ensuring that nothing like it happens again:

1. Taxpayers need equity in the companies we are saving. If the government is guaranteeing rather than buying the "bad" paper, once those investments pay off -- and many of them eventually will -- we will have gotten nothing for our money. We will absorb the losses but get nothing for the gains.

2. Executive pay must be limited. Executives of the firms we save must not be allowed to be the ones benefiting. If the firms' stock prices and profits increase during the time we are guaranteeing against their losses, there should be a pool where that money goes to ALL employees after the taxpayers are paid back equity on our investment.

3. Congress must have continued oversight. The authority should sunset after six months. There should be a special committee of members of Congress on an oversight board and they should be forbidden from taking political contributions from the financial sector.

4. Stimulus funds that focus on more than just mortgages -- we need jobs. If sufficient authority already rests within the Federal Housing Authority, the Bush administration must be required to act on it to help regular folks from losing their houses due to bad loan practices, and if it is not adequate, it must be increased.

But the other key point of our economic emergency is that too many people are losing their jobs based on financial decisions beyond their control. We have historically high job losses over the past few months. What could be more of an emergency than to address this now rather than wait another six months for Congress and a new president?

[Image: Unemployment March, photographer unknown]

In this clip from Roundtable on ABC.com, veteran political analysts and pundits discuss the recent controversy surrounding John McCain's dubious understanding of the US economy. The journalists in the clip are united on one key point: the Republican nominee's positions change with the wind, and he doesn't seem to have anything close to a clear agenda for getting us out of the mess we're in -- especially now, with the federal government getting involved to bail Wall Street firms out of the nasty predicament they've gotten themselves into after years of egregious spending. What's more? There is one damning aspect of McCain that will only lessen his already slippery grasp of our economy: his age.