Stay Awake, Be Aware, Become Informed

Bernie is working hard to bring about his New Year's resolutions. Are you?

Stay Awake, Be Aware, Become Informed
by Cindy A. Matthews

When we are mentally asleep, unaware of our surroundings, and don't work hard at staying informed as to what is happening in our world, nasty surprises have a way of catching up with us.


During the bustle of the holiday season, one such nasty surprise occurred in Ohio. As of December 19, 2016, Ohioans can no longer use Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) strategies against the Israeli government to protest its treatment of the Palestinians. Ohio House Bill 476, signed into law by Governor John Kasich, has made doing so illegal. The bill is seen by many as an unlawful reaction to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, a nonviolent global campaign which uses boycotts of Israeli goods and products to pressure the state of Israel to end its illegal occupation and collective punishment of, and violence against, Palestinian civilians. 

Ohio H.B 476 represses freedom of speech while extending a suspect economic benefit directly to a foreign government. A last-minute amendment to the bill doubled the amount of State of Ohio assets which may be invested in foreign nation debt instruments from 1% to 2%. Available state assets for investment were estimated at $13 to $14 billion. Coincidentally, Israel is the only nation capable of meeting the standards for the investment by the State of Ohio Treasurer. Besides critically undermining the free speech of its citizens, Ohio seeks to extend up to $260 million in credit to a foreign nation. 

Ohio H.B. 476 contradicts core free speech values and stifles debate. Telling others why your institution doesn't support the oppression of the Palestinian people is now a crime in Ohio. You cannot host pro-Palestinian rights speakers on your campus, for example. The punishment for violating the bill is the withdrawal of all state funding from your institution. 

And don't feel safe if you're not an Ohioan--similar federal legislation is currently in the works under the name of the "Anti-Semitism Awareness Act Bill."  In a Trump administration with a majority Republican Congress, its odds of being passed are seen as good. The title of the federal bill is extremely misleading. The BDS campaign against Israel is actually a criticism of the state or government, not of a religion or race. Palestinians are a related Semitic people after all, and American BDS actions are taken in their support, not against them because of their race or religion. 

So, where in our Constitution's First Amendment does it say every American must believe exactly as the government tells us to? Where in our First Amendment does it say the government of Israel can tell American citizens what strategies they can use to protest the mistreatment of Palestinians? Why are Palestinians treated as second class citizens in the first place? What other peoples are we to mistreat and ignore around the world simply because another government wishes Americans to mistreat and ignore them as well? 

Being asleep and not being aware of what is happening around us can lead us to losing our freedom of speech--and to the loss of freedom and life for others. Blissful ignorance of the facts isn't always blissful--it can be down right dangerous. As intelligent and compassionate progressives, we owe it to both ourselves and our communities (if not the entire planet) to become informed as to what is going on and what actions we can take to make the world a better place for all peoples.


Bern Notice now gives us some information on how a thorough civics education can open the door...

Opening the Door

by Bern Notice

Education is an important component of having a successful life in America. It opens the door to higher paying jobs like IT, electronics, engineering, law and many others. However, as much as Americans like to claim it’s the greatest country in the world, our quality of education clearly is not.

References:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/02/02/u-s-students-improving-slowly-in-math-and-science-but-still-lagging-internationally/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2016/11/29/far-east-strengthens-grip-on-math-science-rankings-u-s-students-slip-further-behind/#13db83c43719  

Much has been made about how the US is in the middle of the pack in subjects such as science and math. Little is mentioned about Americans' knowledge of civics.

The Annenberg Public Policy Center states:

 The survey, released for Constitution Day (September 17), found that 26 percent of people can name the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial), a statistically significant decline since 2011, when 38 percent could name all three. In the current survey, 31 percent of respondents could not name any of three branches, about the same as last year.

 Reference: http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/americans-knowledge-of-the-branches-of-government-is-declining/

This is significant because while many are on the streets complaining about the results of the presidential election, this poll indicates that a minority actually understand its role in our government.

An example of how lack of understanding civics potentially affects voters is described by comparing presidential vs. mid-term elections. The legislative branch consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The legislative branch is responsible for (among other things) controlling fiscal spending and taxation, writing and passing laws, and declaring war. It is also a check on the executive branch (the president).

Reference: http://www.house.gov/content/learn/branches_of_government/

These are important responsibilities with serious consequences for their constituents. Senators and representatives are up for election at both mid-term and presidential years. Logically, if you are aware of how critical their role is in government, you would likely have a large turn out in both years.

The reality is that there is a substantial drop off in mid-term elections compared to presidential years--every time. Pew research states:

 Voter turnout regularly drops in midterm elections, and has done so since the 1840s.

In 2008 for instance, 57.1% of the voting-age population cast ballots—the highest level in four decades—as Barack Obama became the first African American elected president. But two years later only 36.9% voted in the midterm election that put the House back in Republican hands. For Obama’s re-election in 2012, turnout rebounded to 53.7%.

Reference: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/24/voter-turnout-always-drops-off-for-midterm-elections-but-why/

Because turnout tends to be high only during the presidential years, this means a large number of people could only be voting for all, half, or none of their congressional representation depending on how congressional terms work out where they live.

This is even more true for Democrat-leaning voters. The turn out is so low for them that there was an article written about it in 2014. Loren Fulton of the Cook Report wrote:

Herein lies the biggest danger for Democratic candidates in 2014.
Midterm elections have always drawn older voters, and usually drawn white voters, to the polls in disproportionate numbers.

Older voters are less transient, have grown deeper roots in their local communities, and pay much more attention to non-presidential elections than their younger counterparts. In the 1980s, that didn’t hold partisan consequences. Today, that amounts to a built-in midterm turnout advantage for Republicans.

Reference
http://cookpolitical.com/story/5776

It is important to recognize that as much as Democrat-leaning voters may be upset about Trump having the House and Senate in his pocket, it happened because Democrats by in large don’t show up for mid-terms. It is very likely that reason is because those who show up and vote have a better understanding of how government works than those who only show up on presidential years.

The data shows that there is a clear lack of understanding of how government functions. This is a fixable issue, but it’s one that we as a society need to start working on now. While knowing science and mathematics are obviously important in terms of competing for careers, understanding how our government functions is vital to understanding how try to fix the problems we complain about.

BIO: Bern Notice is dedicated to educating the public through his excellent commentary on Google+

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 Informing the Public Through Letters to the Editor

Like Bern Notice says, we need more civics education in this country. We also need to know more about what is happening to our environment and how it will affect our community, state, nation and world. It's important to share this information with others, and one time-honored way to do so is by writing letters to the editor. 

Paul Wohlfarth wrote and sent the following letter to the Toledo, Ohio, Blade editorial staff in regards to the Nexus pipeline. Notice he's done his homework. He gives us the facts in a clear and succinct manner to help educate both the public and the editors as to what is happening with Nexus and what could happen if the pipeline is built. Thank you, Paul, for allowing us to re-print it here as an example and encouragement to others.

 
To the Editors:

I know the Toledo Blade editorial staff has given tacit support for the Nexus pipeline. I don't think the staff knows of the possible ramifications that could happen if this pipeline is built.

First off Spectra Energy is being bought by the Canadian company Enbridge Energy Partners. Enbridge has a terrible safety record. One notable is the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill. Its been learned that Enbridge and the EPA have not cleaned up the toxic tar sands spill. They have quietly chose to fine the company and walk away leaving a toxic mess that is being exposed by former workers.

I bring this to your attention because you have lead the way in calling for action on protecting the Lake Erie water supply. As you know, the Maumee River feeds this supply and Nexus plans a pipeline to cross the Maumee west of Waterville. The export Nexus pipeline has only a 56% subscription rate with 90% of that going to Canada. The outlook for this pipeline is sketchy as more pipelines compete for a limited customer base. Also, we have found that Nexus has future plans for two more pipelines in this easement. Pipeline companies are finding it harder to build new easements as opposition grows, so the Nexus easement becomes more valuable.
 
I told you that natural gas transmission is being squeezed by overcapacity, but when a pipeline is built anything can be transported either way in these pipelines. What's to say that when Nexus goes belly-up transporting natural gas they won't switch to transporting oil or other products? This leave us with possible multiple pipelines crossing our water supply (the Maumee River) by a company with the worst track record for safety. The Maumee crossing is near an earthquake fault and karst formations. Will the Blade stand with others to defend this water supply? 

Is there a local or state-wide issue of importance that you could research and write a short, coherent, fact-filled letter to your local newspaper(s) informing the public and asking them to take positive action to rectify things? Don't wait a day longer--just write it. If you're living in the path of the Nexus or other pipeline(s), or are located in the middle of a fracking zone, don't hesitate--do so today. We've only got the one planet, so we don't have time to waste. Water is life!

American Hubris

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Letter to the Folks at Energy Transfer Partners

Dear Sirs:

This is probably one of thousands of emails regarding The Dakota Access Pipeline you have received and will receive, so I will keep it short and to the point.

Shut the pipeline down. Now. Forever.

You are infinitely wealthier than most ordinary human beings on the planet, so you have no worries about where your next meal is coming from. You can afford to be generous and shut the Dakota Access Pipeline down once and for all.

Your children's and grandchildren's future are at stake. Whether or not you believe in climate change or that fossil fuels are a finite resource, leaking oil from your pipelines can and does pollute our water supplies. Just ask the folks along the Kalamazoo River in Michigan and recently in Alabama and Pennsylvania, among many others in this country and around the globe.

Yes, I know you personally will never worry about having enough clean water to drink or food to eat, but the vast majority of human beings do worry about these basic needs. Can you not find it in your heart to be compassionate and considerate of their needs?

The Standing Rock Sioux have suffered long enough due to our government's racist and genocidal policies. Why do you wish your name to be listed in the history books alongside these horrendous deeds? What satisfaction will you gain from having your reputation sullied by association with the violence perpetrated against peaceful water protectors praying over their sacred lands and water?

It makes me cry knowing that a 21 year old young woman, Sophia Wilansky, could lose her arm because of your lust for more profit. 

Vanessa suffered a detached retina because your militarized "oil police" shot rubber bullets into water protectors' faces. 

It's some trade-off--the lives and health of Sophia, Vanessa and millions of others for you to make millions of dollars in profits to buy yet another mansion, yacht, golf course, etc. (How many luxury items do you really need?)

You have forever transformed the public's perception of our police officers from being defenders of the weak to one of acting as paid bullies for the oil barons. Covering for your cupidity, your bought-and-paid-for politicians, especially in the statehouse of North Dakota as well as the presidency, have destroyed our sense of fairness and justice.

Try to look at it from the ordinary human being's point of view for a change. Try to think what God (or your Higher Power) would want you to do--to show mercy, to practice compassion, to act justly and to care for those who have little and will have even less because of your greed.

Shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline today. The human race might not have a tomorrow if you don't.

Sincerely,

C.A. Matthews

Click on our Standing Rock (#NoDAPL) Helps page link on the sidebar for contact info and ways you can help the water protectors.

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Hubris 

by Adrian J. Matthews

We’re witnessing the aftermath of one of the most contentious presidential elections in United States history. Donald Trump's election led to an immediate outcry from all across the nation and a sense of deep mistrust and even stunned disbelief from the governments of other countries. Protesters took to the streets in most major cities in America to denounce Trump’s stance on a host of issues, including LGBTQ rights, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the infamous "Wall." These protests are still ongoing. 

It’s a matter of fact that Trump would not be president-elect without the spectacular example of hubris enacted by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

To the Greeks, hubris referred to extreme pride, especially pride and ambition so great that they offend the gods and lead to one’s downfall. Hubris was a character flaw often seen in the heroes of classical Greek tragedy, including Oedipus and Achilles. The familiar old saying, “Pride goeth before a fall,” is basically talking about hubris. From Merriam-Webster's Dictionary:

Definition of HUBRIS: a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence 
 
Early last year a mid-ranking official in the Democratic Party of New York recounted how he and other officials were gathered together for a special announcement. They were told the party was going to nominate Hillary Clinton for the 2016 election to the exclusion of any other candidate – and this weeks before she even announced her candidacy. His revelation is all of a piece with what has since been learned about Bill and Hillary Clinton’s long-term efforts to take over the Democratic Party and make it their own. People were in place, the mainstream media bought off in her favor, the game-plan written for the election. The stream of data from Wikileaks recounts the whole sorry story.

When Independent US Senator Bernie Sanders announced he intended to run as a Democrat, he was treated as no threat. The fix was in for Clinton, courtesy

of her wholly-owned party. The other contenders, Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chaffee, Professor Larry Lessig and Jim Webb were held to be no threat, either. They were there merely to make it look like the primaries were contested. Mainstream media paid scant attention to Sander’s campaign, a lack of attention at serious odds with their previous willingness to invite him on the air to present the left-wing position on many issues. The number of televised debates was kept at a ridiculously low level compared to previous elections thanks to the sterling efforts of  Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Chair of the DNC, another example of the Clinton machine running interference for their principal. Clinton’s health may have been a key factor in this decision. Apparently she has a number of serious medical issues arising from the stroke she suffered in 2012, and perhaps her people didn’t want to risk an event on live TV.

Then it became obvious Senator Sanders had tapped the anger felt by ordinary people against The Establishment. He called it as he saw it, and people listened in their millions. Suddenly Clinton found herself facing a challenger who had yuge popular support and was raising money hand-over-fist, mostly from small donations – the now-famous $27. Suddenly Clinton was faced with the need to make the primary process look like the real contest it’s supposed to be. 

Instead of being wafted into the nomination on rose petals and clouds of scent to her supporters’ cries of adulation, Clinton found herself needing to work hard. Suddenly her war chest looked inadequate for the purpose, so she sought further donations from her Wall Street sponsors. She also took all but a pittance of  funds intended for down-ticket Democratic candidates’ campaigns, leaving them high and dry. What did she do with the money? She released a host of attack ads against Sanders who’d pledged to run a clean campaign and who’d kept to his word. Clinton’s super PACs also weighed in against him, running a smear campaign and fouling Sander’s followers’ Facebook and Twitter pages with child pornography. There is evidence of co-ordination between Clinton’s campaign HQ and her Super PAC, which is illegal.

Social media broke out into open warfare between the supporters of Senator

Sanders and Clinton. Time and again Sanders supporters were bombarded with demands to "pledge to support Hillary when he loses." Friendships and relationships were broken by the millions.

The primaries see-sawed back and forth. In those states where Diebold machines were used, the results looked seriously skewed. For instance, one county in West Virginia showed Senator Sanders winning 6,000 votes. An hour later his tally had been cut to 3,000. Hundreds of thousands of voters, including an entire city block in Sanders’ birthplace of Brooklyn, New York, vanished from the electoral roll. Could it be the Clinton machine wanted to ensure Bernie lost his hometown?

The majority of states that still relied upon conventional balloting methods went to Sanders. By the time the primaries were finished, the results were close, with Senator Sanders holding 45% of the delegates. All of a sudden it looked like Clinton would not gain the nomination.

But of course, the fix was in.

Although I was in Philadelphia, I will gloss over the convention debacle. What I found interesting was the utter failure of Clinton to gain the usual post-convention "bounce" in the polls the following week. Normally this bounce indicates a rise in interest in the nominee from the electorate who doesn’t bother following the primaries. In Clinton’s case its failure to materialize spoke of serious trouble to come.

And so the election rumbled on with a rising crescendo of acrimonious debate raging across social media. The nominees themselves went through the motions on the three televised debates, spitting criticisms at each other and generally behaving like bad actors. They resisted the temptation to address any serious issues. 

Bernie Sanders was co-opted to act as a Clinton surrogate in an attempt to win over his millions of supporters – many of them new voters – to her cause. It failed. They expected us all to fall into line behind her. We didn’t. What I found particularly nasty was the time soon after the convention when Clinton dragged Sanders to speak in New Hampshire, a place where he did particularly well and she badly. It was a modern take of a barbarian chief holding up the severed head of his enemy to show the enemy’s followers who was now boss.

Poll after poll taken prior to the Democratic Convention showed Senator Sanders beating Trump by double digits, enough to translate to an election landslide of epic proportions. Clinton on the other hand fared poorly against Trump, her figures being within the margin of error on more than one occasion and often below. Yet to her followers she was the Anointed One, there to lead them to glory.

Come election night, things did not look at all rosy for Clinton. As the evening wore on in her campaign HQ, the televisions showing election coverage were turned off. A fearful silence fell. Trump was winning. The celebratory firework show in NYC was canceled. The champagne remained unopened. At 2:30 A.M. Wednesday morning Clinton phoned Trump to concede the election. In their sure confidence of winning, nobody on her staff had written a "just in case" concession speech.

For the first time since 1928 Republicans will hold the House, Senate, the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and most state legislatures and governorships. Is it coincidence that the Wall Street Crash occurred in 1929, barely a year later?

One cannot help but mourn the golden opportunity we had to elect the one man who would have worked for all Americans – Bernie Sanders. All this because

Clinton, in her pride, rejected the one person who could have beaten Trump in a landslide. She failed to engage with ordinary American voters or to discover and speak for what they really wanted. In fact, she insulted and marginalized them, calling them “a basket of deplorables” and “basement dwellers.” For the sake of her pride and burning ambition to become president, she forfeited the chance to enact genuine social change in the United States.

Hubris has claimed her.

BIO: Adrian J. Matthews is an author, artist, armchair historian and concerned citizen of the world.

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Another example of American hubris--a Congress that can't even be bothered to consider a Supreme Court nominee.

Appoint Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court Now
by Hugh J. Campbell

President Obama is petitioned in We the People Appoint Garland Now (Senate Has Waived Its Rights) to act now and make his Supreme Court appointment as a recess appointment, since the Senate’s inaction is a waiver of it right to consent. The legal basis for this petition is outlined in the Washington Post op-ed Obama can appoint Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court if the Senate does nothing.

Right-wing obstructionists are desperately trying to dissuade Americans from signing this petition by questioning the legal grounds of the waiver of rights argument, but their bias on this issue is indisputable.

Even though the We the People Appoint Garland Now (Senate Has Waived Its Rights) petition has the minimum 100,000 signatures to get an official update from the White House within 60 days, please sign the petition anyway, to communicate to the White House the urgency of this matter to the American People.

A 2016 SCOTUS recess appointment by President Obama should be effective through the end of the 115th Congress ending January 3, 2019 and will, in all likelihood, result in a case brought before our current eight member Supreme Court. The waiver of rights and other legal arguments including prior Supreme Court rulings on the substance over form doctrine can be put forth when and if this case is heard.
 

BIO: Hugh Campbell is a seasoned financial professional, currently providing subject matter expertise on a variety of regulatory topics, including the Dodd-Frank Act, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and overall compliance monitoring. Hugh has previously held positions as Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Chief Audit Executive (CAE) and Director of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance.