Chingasos

Immigration is once again on the front burner of political inaction as Republicans run from their record over the last six years and search for an issue to run on in 2006. Their is nothing new about this strategy as immigration bashing is a tried and true method to scare the "homeland" into voting against immigrants. Historically this is a slam dunk political move as immigrants have no political sway, cannot vote, and are easily characterized as unknown villians. Yesterday, this political stunt ran into a huge brick immigrant wall. In Los Angeles, 500,000 people marched in support of immigrants. The march in Los Angeles was mirrored, albeit in smaller numbers, by marches in many major cities in the US and follows a massive demonstration in Chicago. Politicians are loath to lose their political positions the group in power has proven repeatedly that they are willing to sell out every principle their party stands for in order to protect their asses. Prediction - immigration bill goes down in flames and disappears just like vouchers and social security reform. Despite the political babbling, there is clearly a need to have a clear and concise immigration policy and not just in reference to our friends to the South.

I believe that there are deeper problems at issue in this debate other than the simplistic "their illegal and therefore wrong" argument we are hearing a lot of these days. The economic, social and political ramifications of immigration are far more complex and important to be dismissed so easily. I have no numbers or studies to support my thoughts on these issues but I do believe that most of these ideas and thoughts are self evident with a bit of logic.


CHEAP LABOR

America is in the process of slowly bleeding low skill low cost jobs that have been the economic life line of the lower to lower middle classes of America since WW II. Our current economic system relies on on tariffs and subsidies to remain competitive in the world market. While other countries also rely on these methods, they do so openly and without the propoganda which floods Americans on a daily basis. Illegal immigrants are an economic buffer between the US and the rest of the world (ROW). The average American does not earn enough money to afford the level of comfort that we currently enjoy.

I will finish later.......work calls

This has been beat to death and no need for another comment by yet another idiot blogger. I will however repeat my prediction that regardless of what laws are passed the status quo will prevail.

Lovelia

My Aunt, Lovelia, passed on this afternoon around 1:30 P.M. Central in Austin, Texas. She was 66 years old today. Lovelia was one of a kind. A great sense of humor, true spiritual awareness, and a strong moral compass defined her character. She has two incredible children, Driana and Carlos, each of whom are wonderful people in the mold of their mother. In addition, She leaves here two sisters, Estela and Berta, and her mother, Francisca. She was preceded in passing by two brothers, Nestor and Nemesio Jr. and her Father, Nemesio Sr.

Lovelia searched for spiritual fulfillment and enlightenment for many years and was a source of inspiration and knowledge in my own search. Her search covered many facets of human spirituality and religious belief. Lovelia was a literal library of information and an open book to those who were searching for answers to the old and unanswerable questions. She was and is now an ancient. I feel proud and lucky to have known her and to have had her influence in my life. I am sure we will meet again to continue our discussions but with the benefit of a new and welcome perspective.

I've tried to find sorrow in my heart for her passing but instead I feel a sense of wonderment at her courage and acceptance. She carried herself with dignity through this life and through the end. I am sure she will start her new life with her head held high, her heart full of love, and a smile and laugh on her lips. She is already missed.

During one of our conversations, Lovelia directed me towards Sufism as a point of reference. As a result I found this brief excerpt from a poem one day and I pass it on to all.


The Tavern (excerpt)

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
And I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
But who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home....

Rumi.

Depression. Recession. Progression.

Depression.

I've been out of the writing mood for some time as I'm putting in long hours on horrible cases with difficult clients. Yesterday's indictments managed to get me on the computer this morning and since the wife had trouble sleeping last night I might manage to get a post done today.

The indictment of Libby was so depressing. One would like to think that mature, balanced people run this country and instead we are treated to a front row seat to an adult demonstration of how a junior high girls' click would decide to ruin another teenagers life. Good God. I have little sympathy for the Bush crowd because it is clear at this point that they lied us into war regardless of whether not it was based on a "Good faith" belief in WMDs or not. It seems rather clear that the administration was informed of and had access to facts and people who could provide at least as strong a case against invading Iraq as the administrations case for invading Iraq. Rather than doing what rational leaders and managers do, which is to weigh the pros and cons of a problem and solution and balance this weighing with a cost /benefit analysis, this administration chose to simply destroy the "cons" and therefore eliminate, at least in their minds, the need to conduct a cost / benefit analysis. One would think, given the Republican mantra and platform position that all government actions should be subject to this type of analysis, that the administration would have done so.

At the heart of the problem is that George desperately wants to be seen as "better" than Ronald. The psychoanalysis of his Reagan obsession would be fascinating to read. I believe it would go something like this:

Ronnie took on Daddy as his back up QB.

Ronnie was the All-American QB / boy next door, loved by the whole town.

Daddy was the runt side kick who worked hard, did his duty but never really had a chance to shine because Ronnie hogged all the glory.

George looked up to his daddy, like we all do, and was pissed by Ronnie stealing his daddy's thunder.

Nancy disses Mommy and Daddy!!!! George is burning inside.

George also, deeply and secretly, loved Ronnie for showing him that it was possible to overshadow Daddy, something he desperately wants to do.

Daddy gets elected to be QB of the nation!

Daddy gets unelected to be QB of the nation after four years.

George hates the snobby conservatives for leaving Daddy.

George runs for QB to prove that a Bush man can beat Ronnie.

George caters to the wacko conservatives and blows right past the snobby conservatives.

GB is QB!!!!! "I will beat Ronnie..... I will beat Ronnie..... I will beat Ronnie."

George does everything he can to mimic Ronnie only with a "bigger and better" plan... Everyone knows bigger is better and size matters... (that's a whole different psychoanalysis that we will leave until another day)

George invokes Ronnie every time he talks.....showing that he is doing what Ronnie would do... only bigger and better.

Wacko-conservatives start to say things George likes... "He is the best QB ever." "You are the best Governor ever!" etc.

George, although he doesn't read the news or much of anything other than western novels, likes what he hears.

George has strange dreams involving Ronnie's large conservative staff.

George doesn't care about policy or soldiers or deficits or gas prices..... he is beating the socks of Ronnie.

I AM THE GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER!!!

(analysis - - - Illusions of grandeur)


Anyway, the whole thing is sick, twisted and depressing. Not unlike Clinton but only a bit more perverse (which is really saying something considering Clinton's taste in cigars).


recession.

Although I have more than my share of undergraduate and graduate level economic credits I do not have time and definitely do not have the inclination to keep up with this crazy economy information that is coming at us. With that caveat, I have a dreadful fear of a major economic collapse in the US. It will be unlike anything we have seen in the past but that is hardly surprising given the strange economic behavior we have seen in the last four years.

Let's try to make a good analogy that more than a few of us can relate to.

You're a young professional, single, good looking and you have a two years in at the big law firm. You still are sitting on the $130,000 student loans you incurred in law school. You are living good! Steaks, dates, beers and betting trifectas, life is awesome. Your only concern is that three days before each payday you run out of cash but no worries, you still have $5,000 credit available on your credit card. Each month after you pay the minimum on the card, you have a little less credit available... Jezz, did I start out with a $10,000 limit? Oh well.

Then, one day, four years out of law school. Your out on the town with a hot date, you just finished up a really nice steak dinner and a nice bottle of red. Of course it is the end of the month so you put it on your card. No problem... Where to next, I'm not ready to go home yet. Of course at home I have some nice Coors light beer and it is the end of the month.... naaa, let's hit that new swanky bar with the $20 martinis...

Later, at 2:00 a.m., drunk off your ass from four years of partying the tab comes from the bartender at closing time. $300??? Jesus, did we really drink that much? Oh well, put it on my card...... Sorry sir, your credit card was rejected, perhaps you would like to pay cash..... No cash? No credit? Maybe you should consider filing for bankruptcy...

In a nutshell folks that is where we are headed. The American people, myself included, have exercised absolutely no control and our federal and state governments are right there with us. There is a movement in Congress to cut back on Medicare, food stamps etc. but we are kidding ourselves if we believe that making cuts that effect the lowest income earners in our economy is going to save our spoiled skin. No, the truth is that businesses are going to have to pony up as are the top one percent. Rather than rehashing the same old stuff, take a look at the The Contrary Investory website to get a good, easy to understand picture of what we are facing, without any political spin.

Progression.

In an effort to look at life and personal issues in the best light / glass half full, I have to say that perhaps a little bit of hardship is what we need as a society. The level of depravity, glutton and pursuit of wealth has become a sickness. I know because I'm a part of it and have the same problems. Adversity pulls people together, bonding us in suffering and making us stronger as a society. While I believe that George W Bush has been a disaster for this country for a morale, economic, and community point of view, I also believe that is we survive this administration we will become a better people and a better society as a result of having to work together as a country to undo the mess he has / is creating. I also believe that a Democratic president would not have made just as big a mess as George, but only because the republicans control Congress. One can only ponder the mess that the Dems would make if they controlled both the White House and Congress... Sorry for the digression from progression......

We will survive and will be stronger and better (can you hear the bionic man music?) but we have yet to start suffering. The worse is yet to come.

Pardon me (I'm begging you)

In an effort to get in front of the story I am going to make a few predictions.

First, the 2006 elections will cost the Republican party seats in both houses of Congress but they will still hold the majority in both houses.

Second, the 2008 elections will put the Senate in the hands of the Democratic party but the Presidency and the House of Representatives will still belong to the Republicans.

Third, President Bush, on his way out of office, will provide Executive Pardons to the extent of which we have never seen. The Clinton pardon embarrassment will pale in comparison.

My guess is that a few early pardons will be floated in early 2006 to test the waters and to prepare the rhetorical ground work.

A funny thing happened on my way

Time, the unforgiving fourth dimension, has a funny way of changing your perspective as you travel through it. It's amazing how Einstein's theory of relativity applies to life. When I ponder the question of who I am, I'm never quite sure because "I" is a work in progress. The question requires that I attempt to determine who I am at any given moment by summarizing who I was in the past but it leaves no room for the unknown - who I will be in the future. When I was "younger" I thought of myself as a conservative and was proud to be Mexican. As I have aged I've come to realize that while half of my family is Mexican in origins, it is not a true representation of who I am, the culture in which I was raised or who I have become. It is nevertheless a part of where I come from. Along the same lines, I considered myself conservative of many years but for the last ten years I've considered myself liberal. However, just as being "Mexican" doesn't completely fit who I am, the labels "conservative" or "liberal" fail to completely sum my beliefs.

I realize this is tedious reading (if anyone is out there) but bear with me.

The labels, "liberal" and "conservative", have become synonymous with equal and opposite negatives with each side viewing themselves as absolutely right and the other as absolutely wrong. This split is as old as civilization, so far as I can tell, and has been addressed by far more advanced minds than my own. However, we live in an age in which ideas, words, and actions can been seen and distributed around the world instantaneously. Perhaps the mass and instant dissemination of information will allow us to over come this addiction to being "right" and concentrate on being better. I'm not holding my breath.

I have always defined "Conservative" as a philosophy which suggests that each person is personally and solely responsible for himself. A belief that society does not owe any specific person any special help or assistance. The idea of "personal responsibility", based on this philosophy, applies to each person regardless of age, sex, race, nationality, or physical limitation, with exceptions being made for those incapable of caring for themselves. From this basic idea has sprung the traditional tenets of conservatism: Small government, low tax rates, few regulations, strong pro business leanings, strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution and a healthy respect for the Federalist system of government.

Along the same train of thought I have and still define "Liberal" as a philosophy which suggests that society can and should perform many basic functions and provide support to the members of society, regardless of ability but with special consideration being given to various "deserving" sectors within the society. The idea being that society can and should provide help to any member of society despite an individual's poor decision making or mistakes. Likewise, this philosophy has lead to today's basic tenets of Liberalism: A social safety net, regulation of business and behavior, larger government roles in society, support for "labor" over business and a more flexible view of the role of the federal government in "State" affairs.

The dilemma I face in analyzing myself is that I am constantly at odds with the rhetoric heaped on me from the so called "Conservatives" and "Liberals". Both of these "groups" are represented by talking heads that insult my intelligence daily with circular arguments, bad logic, and worst of all - the straight, plain to see, bald-face lie. It is so depressing. The talking points are tossed around everywhere but mean nothing and representing nothing. I wish I knew the truth. I wish a politician would stand up and say "Things are messed up right now. They are messed up because we are spoiled little kids and the only way to fix this is to come together, work together, pull it together and act like adults". Would that be so difficult?

The one thing I am completely sure of is that neither party deserves the mantels they have chosen to identify themselves with. The Republican party has abandoned the conservative philosophy, despite their spin, likewise; the Democratic party has abandoned the liberal philosophy, despite all their talk. Both parties are in the pocket of big business and perhaps they always have been. I do not believe a word any of them say... I have no faith in our system. Because the Republicans are in complete power today it is easy to take shots at their open hypocrisy and lies but the Democrats are no better.

I recall a quote, some place or another, and I apologize for not recalling who to credit but the gist of the quote is "There is no limit to what a single man can accomplish, so long as he doesn't care who gets credit". Every..... Single..... Day..... I have to deal with and watch people who are more interested in getting credit than they are in doing what is right or doing what needs to be done.

"Liberals" - give "Conservatives" a chance, believe it or not, some of the conservative ideas and tenets are good and well founded. "Conservatives" - give "Liberals" a chance, many liberal ideas make a lot of sense and are necessary in todays world. Compromise. Winning political battles at the expense of destroying our country is just not worth it.

I am no longer content to being labeled Conservative or Liberal I am simply what I have become, a revolutionary. I feel a bit humble claiming such a title but then again this country was founded and made great by revolutionaries and I believe it is time to return to our roots.

A funny thing happened on my way to life.

This is a must read today.

http://cunningrealist.blogspot.com/

Like Stink on ____

It looks like the media's spine is continuing to stiffen. Paul Krugman of the New York Times jumps on the very same issue we addressed here on Saturday. While Krugman's article points out the obvious facts, I believe there is still a long way to go before we discover the true extent of the damage that this administration has done to Federal agencies, the Pentagon and thousands of private sector support organizations.

The simple fact is that these people came into power with the plan of massive tax cuts with the goal of "drowning" the federal government. They have done exactly what they set out to do and it is just pitiful to see so many Deep Red State folks now looking around and saying "We don't want this." A good friend of mine who still has family living in the little West Texas town where we went to school told me this morning that his family has had it with the Republicans. These are the real "Base" of the Republican party but they have finally had enough.

The real question in my mind is why isn't the POTUS screaming for more tax cuts right now? If the rationale he gave for the original tax cuts made any sense at all (which they don't) then now would be the perfect time for a second round of massive tax cuts for the top one percent. I'm not talking about extending the current cuts but fresh, new cuts that will really "stimulate the economy". Somehow, I doubt you will hear this request out his mouth but the question remains, WHY NOT? Either they believe in their Supply Side Voodoo poopoo or they don't. In Texas speak, "Folks, it's time for the Republicans to shit or get off the pot.