We have had a few days to sit with the reality of Obama’s momentous victory on Tuesday night. It is hard to know what to expect now. I have a sense of what I’d like to see. Obviously the economy and the financial market are going to be the main focus for the new administration, but I expect that the Obama team understands that financial stability and sustainability are not distinct problems.
Recently, Al Gore brought the connections between transparency in the marketplace and environmental protection into view. Standing with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Gore praised a settlement between the State and a national energy company that requires the disclosure of relevant information to investors about climate change risks associated with their coal fired power plants. The agreement requires the energy company to include information on present and future climate change legislation, the possibility of future litigation, and the physical impacts of climate change in its annual filings to the SEC. An increased awareness of the environmental impact of corporate activity and the need to remedy current and future damage means that corporations will increasingly find themselves in litigation and regulatory proceedings over their carbon emissions. This is going to have serious consequences for investors and consumers. Gore brilliantly equated the failure to honestly acknowledge the legal, financial, and environmental liability of carbon emissions to the failure to honestly acknowledge the financial risks of sub prime mortgage securities. Both reveal a corporate tendency to disregard catastrophic long-term risks for short-term financial gains.
Obama made some promising noise on Friday when he suggested that Detroit’s economic salvation was connected to the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles. Hopefully in the coming weeks he will expand on this and present a stimulus plan that integrates sustainability into our economic survival. But it must be more than a mere recognition of consumer demand for hybrid cars and alternative energy. As Vice President Gore suggested, corporations must fully internalize the costs associated with carbon emissions. Until that occurs the products, services, and securities on the market will not reflect their real value, and we will continue to be victims of an economy built on a false assessment of risk.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Prop 8 Protests in CA
Tonight was amazing. A viral invitation on Facebook to get into the streets drew "several thousand" people (according to the news--it definitely felt huge) at the spur of the moment. Many of us in SF were feeling a little cheated since there were no LDS temples to surround. But as we spilled into Market Street for the 1 mile walk to Dolores Park at rush hour, what was most amazing to me was the willingness of people to sit in horrendous traffic, honking their horns and waving or giving us all the thumbs up in solidarity. I figure I got a good glimpse of people who voted "yes"--they were the ones who would not look us in the face. I almost think some of them were ashamed of themselves.
This feels like something. And what is best about it was that it was not organized by any of the groups that raised zillions of dollars to put some milquetoast ads on TV when the Yes effort, funded by religious wingnuts and bigots of note, threw innuendos and lies about the law and about is into the public arena. I hope this keeps going. Everyone--those who were married, and those who weren't--all said some variation of "this feels personal." And it does. It is.
The thing that irks me most about the Yes forces is that so much of their money and power comes from outside this state, and preyed on the fact that California has a diverse population. The same fascists who want to build a fence on the Mexican border, rounding up and deporting undocumented aliens even if it means splitting up Latino families, the same people who felt so threatened by the swift, improbable rise of an African-American man to the presidency managed to put their racial hang-ups aside and appeal to the fear and intolerance of homosexuality that their religions hold in common. And now they tell us that our protests show that WE are intolerant of their beliefs, that WE are sore losers, and that now is the time for HEALING? Sorry, you freaking @$$hats, you put our rights up to a vote. This doesn't end until we get them back, and there's no healing until YOU beg OUR forgiveness.
This feels like something. And what is best about it was that it was not organized by any of the groups that raised zillions of dollars to put some milquetoast ads on TV when the Yes effort, funded by religious wingnuts and bigots of note, threw innuendos and lies about the law and about is into the public arena. I hope this keeps going. Everyone--those who were married, and those who weren't--all said some variation of "this feels personal." And it does. It is.
The thing that irks me most about the Yes forces is that so much of their money and power comes from outside this state, and preyed on the fact that California has a diverse population. The same fascists who want to build a fence on the Mexican border, rounding up and deporting undocumented aliens even if it means splitting up Latino families, the same people who felt so threatened by the swift, improbable rise of an African-American man to the presidency managed to put their racial hang-ups aside and appeal to the fear and intolerance of homosexuality that their religions hold in common. And now they tell us that our protests show that WE are intolerant of their beliefs, that WE are sore losers, and that now is the time for HEALING? Sorry, you freaking @$$hats, you put our rights up to a vote. This doesn't end until we get them back, and there's no healing until YOU beg OUR forgiveness.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Prop 8 at Midnight
Is too close to call. We're down by 5% with nearly half the vote counted.
I don't know what the next step will be. I've heard from many that the contingency plans for losing this include immediate and long-term legal challenges. I don't know enough to know on what grounds, and what the likelihood of success will be.
I do know that disappointed does not begin to describe how I feel about having to wonder if my rights will be rolled back by referendum. What a majority of Supreme Court justices giveth, low-information, easily manipulated, mean spirited culture warrior voters may taketh away. It wasn't right in the 19th century, and it isn't right today.
Nor does it begin to descirbe how I feel about those who took the opportunity to get married not to raise money or consciousness around this issue, but to register for expensive gifts, as if the battle were won.
But no matter what result we wake up to tomorrow, there are so many people that I know who contributed in large ways to pushing this struggle forward: from plaintiffs in the original lawsuit, to those who phoned, knocked on doors, or held signs at polling places and braved the ugly, threatening heterosexism that still exists even in the Bay Area; from those who used their weddings as an opportunity to raise money to fight this back, to those single men and women who threw their first fundraisers just by asking their friends to give to an important cause; to my many friends and family members who contributed from outside the state. Win or lose tomorrow, doesn't end here.
I don't know what the next step will be. I've heard from many that the contingency plans for losing this include immediate and long-term legal challenges. I don't know enough to know on what grounds, and what the likelihood of success will be.
I do know that disappointed does not begin to describe how I feel about having to wonder if my rights will be rolled back by referendum. What a majority of Supreme Court justices giveth, low-information, easily manipulated, mean spirited culture warrior voters may taketh away. It wasn't right in the 19th century, and it isn't right today.
Nor does it begin to descirbe how I feel about those who took the opportunity to get married not to raise money or consciousness around this issue, but to register for expensive gifts, as if the battle were won.
But no matter what result we wake up to tomorrow, there are so many people that I know who contributed in large ways to pushing this struggle forward: from plaintiffs in the original lawsuit, to those who phoned, knocked on doors, or held signs at polling places and braved the ugly, threatening heterosexism that still exists even in the Bay Area; from those who used their weddings as an opportunity to raise money to fight this back, to those single men and women who threw their first fundraisers just by asking their friends to give to an important cause; to my many friends and family members who contributed from outside the state. Win or lose tomorrow, doesn't end here.
The Speech
The campaign was finished and Obama immediately stepped into the massive role of being the President of the United States at this moment in time. He acknowledged the difficulties, he immediately reached out to McCain, he even reminded us all of the progressive foundation of the Republican Party. I sat watching the speech thinking, "we did it" and I felt it. I have never felt so invested in a political campaign and never felt more committed to the idea that "we" are the government. I thought the most important thing he said tonight, of course, was that this election was not the change, it was only the opportunity to work for the change. Now for the next step (cheesy, I know...)
It was a blast blogging with everyone tonight. Please keep coming back and lets keep the energy and discussion rolling as we start finding solutions to the challenges at hand.
It was a blast blogging with everyone tonight. Please keep coming back and lets keep the energy and discussion rolling as we start finding solutions to the challenges at hand.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
McCain's concession
Started out great and tragic, and one had to feel for the man when he tried to calm the haters, the tiger he rode to this moment.
Then he did something weird. He made it about race. Obama and civil rights. As if we white people, recent immigrants and, well, neo-traditionalists, had nothing to do with this. Or, as if, this were all about black people.
I want to believe, and do believe, that he meant no harm.
But he doesn't freakin' get it. Never did. He has no idea what this moment means.
His crowd, frankly, scares me.
But he did it with honor and dignity.
You know, in this campaign, photos and videos of the younger McCain were shown, and I was surprised at how good looking this scary guy used to be. But as he made his concession, and in some way never sounded older (the whole Doesn't Get It thing), I kept seeing glimpses of that younger better looking McCain.
This guy, along with, in some way. Hilary Clinton, can almost be considered Shakespherean tragic figures. The greatest obstacle on the road to Greatness was themselves.
Then he did something weird. He made it about race. Obama and civil rights. As if we white people, recent immigrants and, well, neo-traditionalists, had nothing to do with this. Or, as if, this were all about black people.
I want to believe, and do believe, that he meant no harm.
But he doesn't freakin' get it. Never did. He has no idea what this moment means.
His crowd, frankly, scares me.
But he did it with honor and dignity.
You know, in this campaign, photos and videos of the younger McCain were shown, and I was surprised at how good looking this scary guy used to be. But as he made his concession, and in some way never sounded older (the whole Doesn't Get It thing), I kept seeing glimpses of that younger better looking McCain.
This guy, along with, in some way. Hilary Clinton, can almost be considered Shakespherean tragic figures. The greatest obstacle on the road to Greatness was themselves.
Grant Park
So, to repeat an earlier comment, how fitting is it that Obama's victory celebration is taking place in Grant Park.
The vast majority of my life has taken place between 1968 and this moment.
Today, something new begins.
The vast majority of my life has taken place between 1968 and this moment.
Today, something new begins.
Marijuana in Massachusetts
If I ever managed to find a husband, we're getting married in P-town and smoking pot with mom at the reception.
On finally getting rid of that a$sh@t Marilyn Musgrave
This evil, meanspirited white heterosexual evangelical supremacist is going down down down in conservative eastern Colorado. God is not mocked!
Chris Shays is out
CT voted Shays out. The Center-Right purge continues and the GOP is dwindling down to a regional extreme party.
The Udalls of the West
Tom Udall has taken Pete Domenici's vacant seat. It just keeps getting better and better.
Swing state predictions
I'm predicting, now, based on what's in, and what's missing:
VA, NC, FL, IN--most of the outstanding votes are likely for Obama.
MO--doing surprisingly well in outside of KC and STL, and appears to be holding his own in Greene county (Springfield).
VA, NC, FL, IN--most of the outstanding votes are likely for Obama.
MO--doing surprisingly well in outside of KC and STL, and appears to be holding his own in Greene county (Springfield).
VA at 10:00
Take a look at it. Obama is up by 1%. It looks like we're really waiting on Fairfax County and if the remaining 65% of the precincts go the way of the current 35, I think VA is going for BO. What do you think?
538 calls it
check it out http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/obama-to-become-next-president.html
David Brooks was right...
Obama is boring. I was looking forward to an evening of suspense and little sleep with lots to talk about and here it is 9:45 with OH and NM in the bag. Ho hum, but I think its over.
N Dakota - disappointment
Well I was hoping for this one as part of a midwest red state MO-IN-ND trifecta.
VA at 9:00PM
McCain's VA lead keeps shrinking as NOVA precincts come in. Man, Obama has got to flip VA.
Kay Hagan with a big lead in NC
Things are off to a great start in NC for both Obama and Kay Hagan. If Liddy Dole loses her seat on top of Obama taking the state... I could just plotz!
FLA
Florida is leaning Obama. I took heart that even in counties already called for McCain, Obama did well. Look at Sarasota County, the heart of Katherine Harris Country McCain took it 51% to Obama's 48%. We're still looking good!
8:00pm PA for Obama?
It's only 8 and I am not sure I am going to make it. I feel overwhelmed for we to begin looking for information. I am listening to NPR and checking the NYTimes and perusing the AP and kind of not processing any of it at the moment. NBC just called PA for Obama! I can relax a bit more now.
the burdens of the elders
David Brooks published his usual thought provoking stuff today. And as usual I am somewhere between inspired and insulted. I am always in for blaming the baby boomers and the culture wars for the current state of affairs. But I guess I take exception to his assumption that we are these spoiled over educated "meritocrats" who don't know what its like to go a day without a frapucino. I mean I've seen my fair share of Bergman films, but has this guy looked at my bank account lately. All in all, I take his point. The challenges of the present and coming days are going to be massive and I don't know that we can all go on living on the level we have grown accustomed. However, being of this generation of anxious parents (man he's got a label for everything) I feel comfortable taking on the challenge. I would shift the focus though, I don't see it as a coming scarcity, but rather an austerity. We have and consume far far more than we need. Scarcity, privation, these are the terms of the last Depression. For us, I think the commitment we need to chose now is to learn to live with less. But let's see it as a choice, a solution, perhaps even a spiritual endeavor, to really discover what it means to live a sustainable existence.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Live Blogging Election Night
Please join me on Nov. 4th, starting at 9:00pm for live blogging as the election results roll in. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am not going to be able to sleep until its over. I remember in 92 Clinton had it wrapped up by 11:30. On the other hand I was up until 3:00am for the mid-term elections of 2006 waiting to see each precinct in Kansas City. So who knows what's in store for tomorrow. I hope you'll check in and comment throughout the evening.
-Citizen P
-Citizen P
The Next Step
In Spring of 2006 I started a blog with my brother, the brother's lane. We allowed ourselves the space to go on tirades about the Bush-Cheney Agenda and we lamented the woes of progressives' long sojourn in the wilderness. But the mid-term elections of 2006 began to change things as Democrats took back majorities in Congress, and did so by expanding the base of the party. Some called it a move to the right, but I saw it as coalition building. By February of 2008 I was convinced that Barack Obama was the Presidential candidate who would help the Democratic party return to its progressive core and expand the base even further. The past 6 months have made it seem ever more possible. This Summer, though I began realizing that getting Obama elected and building the majority in Congress was only step one. We now have to create a working progressive agenda. The tirades and lamentations of my previous blog seemed ill suited for such hopeful and forward looking work, thus I have begun "the next step."
On this blog I hope to involve other progressives in discussion and debate about plans for the work we can do in our communities and nationally in order to help solidify the gains the Democratic party has made. Whether Obama wins tomorrow night or not, we need to remain conscious that no matter who is President we are looking at global economic, environmental, and humanitarian crises that will require creative progressive solutions. My hope is that we can use this space to work out ideas and find our place in creating those solutions.
On this blog I hope to involve other progressives in discussion and debate about plans for the work we can do in our communities and nationally in order to help solidify the gains the Democratic party has made. Whether Obama wins tomorrow night or not, we need to remain conscious that no matter who is President we are looking at global economic, environmental, and humanitarian crises that will require creative progressive solutions. My hope is that we can use this space to work out ideas and find our place in creating those solutions.
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