January 14, 2009 archive

Jan 14 2009

When everyone does a little…

I would imagine that many of you reading this will agree with me when I say that I think we’ve got a pretty good thing going here at Docudharma. Its a special place with VERY special people where we can talk politics, but often go way beyond the limited way that most people envision that subject. We’ve got some of the brightest minds and compassionate hearts right here in our midst who keep us going through the tough times and inspire us to be better.

I say all of that because it takes all of us working together to make this place work. No one of us could do it on our own and that is the definition of collective action. But there are a couple of people who shoulder a little bit of an extra burden for this place. Of course there is our inspirational leader and sometimes zen dictator, buhdydharma. And then there’s the person who keeps the wheels on this bus going, OTB. There are responsibilities that come with their commitment to this place that we can support, but don’t necessarily share.

One of their responsibilities is to pay the bills so this place can keep running. I’d like to suggest that, while they are the primary ones who shoulder that burden, we as a collective can take more ownership for making sure that happens.  

Jan 14 2009

Frostbite victims for peace?

How many cases of frostbite will it take to end the war and occupation of Iraq?

Iraq Moratorium activists in Wisconsin ponder that, with the weather forecast for Friday, Jan. 16, this month’s Iraq Moratorium day, for subzero temperatures and even worse wind-chill readings.  There are warnings about frostbite and hypothermia.

Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin noted, in an email to organizers:

While standing at a vigil in sub-zero temperatures may be an expression of our commitment, frostbite and hypothermia will not end the war and occupation of Iraq.

This is not to suggest canceling planned events for Friday; our experience in Milwaukee is that it is almost impossible to get the word out to everyone even when a decision is made to cancel.  Some people will come anyway.

However, if it is really as cold as the forecast indicates, it might make sense to think about shortening up the vigil and moving indoors after 15-30 minutes to a nearby coffee shop, restaurant or other location.  Use the time to discuss the war, plan a February Moratorium event, write a letter, circulate a petition to bring the National Guard home, or take some other action to help get US troops out of Iraq.

Here’s a list of scheduled Wisconsin events on Friday: Iraq Moratorium-Wisconsin.

It may fall on peace-loving people in warmer climes to pick up the slack this week.  You’ll find a list of events in your area, ideas for individual action, and more on the national website.

We’re hardy in Wisconsin, but even we have our limits.

UPDATE: They didn’t exactly say it, but methinks the folks in Wyandott, MI think we’re wimpy.

Jan 14 2009

Pony Party – Open Thread!

This Pony Party is an open thread!  Please do not rec the Pony Party!  If you do…we’ll have to add more exclamation points!!!

Jan 14 2009

Building a smarter planet — really…

This diary starts with the IBM slogan, as viewers were exposed to it in the telecasts of the NFL playoffs this weekend, and speculates on what it would really take to “build a smarter planet.”  Thus I will embark upon a critique of the notion that being “smarter” is the same as being more informed, or cleverer, and suggest a version of “building a smarter planet” that has some planetary wisdom built into it.

(Crossposted at Big Orange)

Jan 14 2009

Duh!

Criticisms, political pressure and Barack Obama

by Glenn Greenwald, Salon

Tuesday Jan. 13, 2009 08:47 EST

Politicians, by definition, respond to political pressure. Those who decide that it’s best to keep quiet and simply trust in the goodness and just nature of their leader are certain to have their political goals ignored. It’s always better — far better — for a politician to know that he’s being scrutinized closely and will be praised and supported only when his actions warrant that, and will be criticized and opposed when they don’t.

Right this moment, there are enormous pressures being exerted on Obama not to make significant changes in the areas of civil liberties, intelligence policy and foreign affairs.  That pressure is being exerted by the intelligence community, by the permanent Pentagon structures, by status-quo-loving leaders of both political parties, by authority-worshipping Beltway “journalists” and pundits (such as the ones who wrote the wretched though illustrative “What Would Dick Do?” cover story for this week’s Newsweek).

If those who want fundamental reform in these areas adopt the view that they will not criticize Barack Obama because to do so is to “help Republicans,” or because he deserves more time, or because criticisms are unnecessary because we can trust in him to do the right thing, or because criticizing him is to “tear him down” or “create a circular firing squad” or “be a Naderite purist” or any of those other empty platitudes, then they are ceding the field to the very powerful factions who are going to fight vehemently against any changes.  Do you think that those who want the CIA to retain “robust” interrogation powers and who want the federal surveillance state maintained, or want a hard-line towards Iran and a continuation of our Middle East policies, or who want to maintain corporate-lobbyist-domination of Washington, are sitting back saying:  “it’s not right to pressure Obama too much right now; give him some time”?

It’s critical that Obama — and the rest of the political establishment — hear loud objections, not reverential silence, when he flirts with ideas like the ones he suggested on Sunday.  This dynamic prevails with all political issues.  Where political pressure comes only from one side, that is the side that wins — period.

…

Obama is about to become one of the world’s most powerful political leaders, if not the single most powerful.  He begins with sky-high approval ratings, his political party in control of Congress by a large margin, and enjoys reverence so intense from certain quarters that such a loyal following hasn’t been seen since the imperial glow around George Bush circa 2002.  He’s not going to crumble or melt away like the Wicked Witch if he’s pressured or criticized.  The far more substantial danger is that he won’t be pressured or criticized enough by those who are eager to see meaningful changes in Washington, and then — either by desire or necessity — those are the voices he will ignore most easily.

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