A rare moment of clarity

Possibly the most commonsense thing said by a Republican member of Congress in a very long time:

"Hopefully we're gonna end the attaching of bullshit to essential items of the government" - Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL)

Net Neutrality is NOT socialism, no matter what Fox News or Pat Robertson say

Today, the FCC -- in a 3-2 party lines vote -- decided in favor of Net Neutrality. What does this mean?
It means...
...that everyone, from the largest corporation to the smallest household, is guaranteed equal access to the internet.
...that internet providers can't limit or block access to some customers nor give special consideration to others.
...that internet providers can't give faster delivery to some websites (and charge high fees for the privilege) while slowing the ability to load from other websites.
...that internet providers CAN STILL charge consumers different fees for different speeds, just like they already do.
...that consumers can expect to be treated to a quality product.

What does it NOT mean?

It does not mean...
...that the government will be controlling what you can and cannot see on the Web.
...that internet service providers will suddenly not be able to offer delivery.
...that companies like Comcast, AT&T, Cox, etc will lose money (unless you count the massive profits they would have made by allowing some content providers to buy up bandwidth at the expense of others).

Of course, Right Wing talk radio & websites, Fox News, and a host of politicians and personalities -- I'm looking at YOU, "Rev" Pat -- are telling their collective sheeple that the notion of maintaining a fair and equitable internet is SOCIALISM! and EVIL! and JOB KILLING! and everything else including the END! OF! AMERICA! AS! WE! KNOW! IT!

Baloney.

The people who are angry at today's FCC decision are the same ones that want corporations to have no limits and no regulations... granting outrageous power to the few at the expense of the many.

Net Neutrality... in a nutshell... gives each one of us the freedom to access the internet just the same as we can access telephones, electricity, or water.
YES, we still have to pay for the service... but we're not prevented from getting our money's worth.

We REALLY Don't Need No Edumacation

White House wannabe Jeb Bush, never a friend of public schools (see his record as Florida governor where he tried to slash teaching positions and drastically increase the number of students per classroom), recently had a few harsh things to say about America's schools... calling them "government-run, unionized monopolies."

Not surprising. As a way of doubling-down on his efforts in Florida, Bush is joining the ranks of the haters like Scott Walker and Rick Santorum in portraying America's schools in a bad light.

As Steve Benen writes:

We rarely hear this king of talk about other parts of the public sector. For example, Republicans don't usually run around chastising police departments or fire departments as "government-run, unionized monopolies." Conservatives do, however, direct this ire at public education.

Why would Bush and Company want to damage public schools and their teachers? Could it have anything to do with efforts to privatize education... turning over the instruction of our children to for-profit corporations?

That's my guess.

We Don't Need No Education... (updated)

Just a couple thoughts regarding the big stink some pundits are making about Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the fact that he never graduated college...

...a degree by itself is no measurement nor guarantee that the person is capable of good job performance...

...eleven U.S. Presidents never earned a college degree, including George Washington and Abraham Lincoln...

...one of the least-capable presidents of all time holds an MBA from an Ivy League school...

...Sarah Palin has a college degree...

So let's just call a halt to all this foolishness. There are many good reasons to keep Walker from gaining the Oval Office.... but the lack of a college degree is not one of them.

UPDATE: Scott Walker is picking the wrong fight.

Not long after I wrote this column, Gov. Walker appeared in an interview with Fox News' Megyn Kelly... and decided to take the Santorum Approach to the idea of a college education.  Prompted by Kelly's remark that Sec. Hillary Clinton has a degree from Yale, Walker chimed:

"I think there's a lot of Americans who have looked at some of the leaders we've had over the last few years who've come out of those Ivy League schools and said, 'Maybe it's time we got people who are in touch with people all across the rest of America'."

Granted, one of those recent leaders was Pres. George W. Bush (BA, Yale and MBA, Harvard). Still, Walker's need to criticize those who were successful in earning a post-secondary degree is a bad strategy. No one who aspires to be the Commander in Chief should try to get there by ridiculing the education accomplishments of others.

Then again, this is the same Gov. Walker who wants to make massive cuts to his state's education system. Perhaps his lack of a degree has caused some personal bitterness...?

Object, but Respect

Remember back in 2009 when then-unknown Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted "You Lie!" during President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress?

He became an instant hero to the Tea Party and other low-information 'Muricans... despite the fact that he threw the whole notion of civility and gentlemanly behavior out the window. Imagine the reaction if a Democrat had done this when President George W. Bush stood before Congress and lied about those WMDs in Iraq... or when President Ronald Reagan looked into the cameras on Nov. 13, 1986, and told this whopper: “We did not — repeat — did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages — nor will we.”

Yet, Fox News and other political organizations masquerading as media outlets paraded Wilson as some sort of champion, giving him plenty of coverage (and boosting his fundraising as a result of that outburst).

By the way... what was the "lie" that inspired Wilson to interrupt the president? It was the moment when President Obama made it clear that the Affordable Care Act would not mandate coverage for undocumented immigrants. Despite Rep. Wilson's interruption caused by his ignorance... the president's statement was, indeed, truthful. But, to an audience eager to have its own disgust justified, Wilson remains idealized.

Look, there’s nothing wrong with disagreeing with our elected officials. From 2001-2009, I tolerated the Bush/Cheney administration. I spoke out when they led us into war in Iraq by making Americans believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11. I spoke out when they abused their Homeland Security credentials in order to win re-election. I spoke out when that administration's economic policies led us to the brink of depression.

But... through it all... I maintained respect for President Bush because... whether I liked his politics or not... he was the president. Given the opportunity, I would have gladly shaken his hand... and I still would today... but I would also use that opportunity to express my feelings in a respectful manner.

Yes, you will see political writings from me that point out what I consider to be outrageous actions and comments... and, yes, most of them will probably be about people from the 'Right'… or, at least, the ‘Far Right’. But everything I publish is based in fact, and I'll gladly enter into a debate on the issues with you any day, any time.

Today... if you disagree with President Barack Obama... that's your right. But if you wish to disrespect the office of President of the United States, you’re on shaky ground. Intelligent, mature discussions have no room for conspiracy theories, 'funny' pictures that are hate-fueled, or personal attacks on members of the president's family.

And let’s dispense with the idea that American politics and religion have to be inseparable. The Constitution -- specifically, Article VI, paragraph 3 -- forbids the concept of any religious litmus test. The Founders made it clear that religious favoritism, which was a key factor in 18th Century England, would not be tolerated in the United States of America. The Framers’ intention was to prevent the government from involving itself in its citizens’ religious beliefs and practices.

Of course, a person’s character can come into play when he or she seeks office, but how they choose to worship… or if they choose not to… is not to be a means to prevent them from holding office.

Now, I do have questions for President Obama regarding Jeremiah Wright...why he remained seated in that church, not speaking out against Wright’s assorted tirades until the pressures of the 2008 campaign made it clear that such a break was necessary. But we can’t criticize one politician and one preacher while ignoring the harsh words of others.

Just this week, Pat Robertson continued his repeated attacks on President Obama’s personal faith, suggesting that the imposition of Sharia law in the United States is imminent and that because the president spent part of his childhood in Indonesia that he is in on the imagined plot. John Hagee, who infamously preached that Adolf Hitler personified the fulfillment of God's will, had the audacity just last month to declare that our president is anti-Semitic.

And Franklin Graham has gone so far as to propose that Russian President Vladimir Putin, a one-time KGB agent of known ruthlessness, is leading his nation to a higher moral standard than the USA, a country that has made Rev. Graham very rich and very famous.

Who are we to condemn Wright… yet allow Robertson, Hagee, and Graham to make such pronouncements without objection?

Yes, they have the right to express their opinions, just as the rest of us have the obligation to challenge them to be honest.

(Originally published in the Morrisons Cove Herald on February 5, 2015.)

About my newspaper column...

As you may have noticed, some of my blog posts are tagged with a line that reads "Originally published in the Morrisons Cove Herald" and you may have wondered why those columns aren't available right away on this site.

It's common practice for a publisher to have first dibs on materials submitted to a newspaper and, as a courtesy, I delay posting those columns for a week.

If you appreciate seeing my column in the Morrisons Cove Herald (it appears on the first Thursday each month), please let them know by sending an email to publisher@mcheraldonline.com or drop a letter to:

Of course, you can also contact me directly via email: snotragdave@gmail.com

Washed-up Singer Tries Political Humor

Today, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy had a gab-fest with former country music star Larry Gatlin. I say "former" because it's been a very long time (27 years, in fact) since he's had a hit song... so it's safe to say that Mr. Gatlin isn't all that entertaining to today's country music audience.

These days, Gatlin is billed as a "political and social commentator" for Fox News and Fox Business Network. Based on his performance today, Mr. Gatlin should stick to rehashing his old songs.

See for yourself: Doocy chuckles at Gatlin's "humor"

One more thing... once upon a time, Larry Gatlin looked like this: