Emperor's Rants and Observations

This Isn’t Reform, It’s Robbery « Dprogram.net

The current health care debate in Congress has nothing to do with death panels or public options or socialized medicine. The real debate, the only one that counts, is how much money our blood-sucking insurance, pharmaceutical and for-profit health services are going to be able to siphon off from new health care legislation. The proposed plans rattling around Congress all ensure that the profits for these corporations will increase and the misery for ordinary Americans will be compounded. The corporate state, enabled by both Democrats and Republicans, is yet again cannibalizing the Treasury. It is yet again pushing Americans, especially the poor and the working class, into levels of despair and rage that will continue to fuel the violent, proto-fascist movements leaping up around the edges of American society. And the traditional watchdogs—those in public office, the press and citizens groups—are as useless as the perfumed fops of another era who busied their days with court intrigue at Versailles. Canada never looked so good.

As bad as that sounds, at this point just about ANYTHING would be better than doing nothing at all.

The fact of the matter is that the insurance/pharmaceutical industry and trial lawyers are too invested in the status quo and have put most of the current leadership of congress into office. Change is a scary thing for most people, and the vested interests in the status quo are using that fear to their advantage. They lie, distort, deflect and demean others to protect their greedy self interests.

This is a recurring rant, but until and unless we radically change the manner that political campaigns are financed and elections are conducted we are doomed to have the best government that money can buy.

Right now everyone in DC is most concerned about whether they will get re-elected. Even staff members are worried about if their boss gets re-elected or not, because their job depends on it. In that environment EVERYTHING gets measured by how much something hurts or helps the chances of re-election. For the really ambitious, it gets measured by whether it hurts or helps the possibility of moving up in the political food chain. Moving up could mean higher office, or it could mean a position on a high profile committee. That’s just human nature and believing any differently is simply naive. Re-election depends on contributions, and you don’t stay in office long if you piss off the wrong people. Constituents can be bought off fairly cheaply with some hunks of pork, glad handing, and pandering. Get on the wrong side of deep pockets though and you’re doomed.

So the reality of the situation is we have to gain as much ground as we can in this battle. Understanding that the war is far from over, and any ground taken today may be lost tomorrow. We are battling inertia, and if we quit pushing the rock up hill, it can roll back over the top of us. We have a little momentum on our side, we just have to keep pushing, gaining ground inch by inch, step by step, day by day until we overcome inertia (resistance to change) and momentum takes over.

Let’s not let the fact we aren’t getting everything we want stop us from getting what we can.

Last week I posted about Anchorage Mayor Sullivan’s veto of an amendment that would provide equal protection for Anchorage citizens of any sexual orientation. The ensuing discussion led to whether the Mayor had an obligation to do the will of the majority. Although, in this case he is doing the will of a vocal minority who we don’t even know if they reside in Anchorage or not.

So here is the oath of office that the mayor took.

I solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Alaska and the Charter of the Municipality of Anchorage, and that I will faithfully perform the duties of Mayor to the best of my ability.

Seems pretty simple and straight forward. How is vetoing an ordinance that would protect people from discrimination performing the duties set forth in his oath of office?

The United States Constitution

Amendment 14 – Citizenship Rights.

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Permitting people to be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation would be a classic example of denying those people the equal protection under the law.

The Constitution of the State of Alaska

Article 1 – Declaration of Rights

§ 1. Inherent Rights

This constitution is dedicated to the principles that all persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the enjoyment of the rewards of their own industry; that all persons are equal and entitled to equal rights, opportunities, and protection under the law; and that all persons have corresponding obligations to the people and to the State.

There it is again, “equal protection under the law”. How can we have equal protection under the law when we are free to discriminate against anyone simply because of their sexual orientation.

The Home Rule Charter For The Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska

Article II The Bill Of Rights

(7) The right to opportunities in housing, public accommodations, employment, and education without regard to race, religion, sex, color, national origin, marital status or physical handicap; and the right to an Equal Rights Commission at the municipal level in the aid thereof.

While perhaps not as clear as the US and State Constitutions, the Home Rule Charter in spirit of the law is pretty clear that discrimination in “housing, public accommodations, employment, and education” is generally unacceptable.

When it comes to education the Anchorage School Board policy states:

Appendix A — Statement of Rights and Responsibilities:

Non-Discrimination

This Statement of Rights and Responsibilities will be enforced fairly and uniformly without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office. ASD Statement of Nondiscrimination

Individual and/or groups are in violation of this policy if they:

* Make demeaning remarks directly or indirectly, such as name-calling, racial slurs or “jokes”; or
* Physically threaten or harm an individual; or
* Display visual or written materials or deface, damage, or destroy property or materials; or
* Perform any other act that is clearly discriminatory or harassing in nature;

because of the person’s race, creed, gender, national origin, age, language spoken, ability, disability, martial status, political or religious beliefs, physical or mental condition, family, social, or cultural background, or sexual orientation.

So apparently government at every level, even in our own Anchorage School District, recognizes the need to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But in the infinite wisdom of our Mayor he has found “clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance”. Or perhaps this was just the payoff to Prevo and his cult members for their campaign support?

The majority of the Anchorage Assembly, representing the majority of Anchorage residents, voted for the ordinance. The Mayor ignored the obligations he undertook in his oath of office. It is now up to the Assembly to have the courage to do the right thing. Protecting the fundamental rights of every Anchorage resident. Giving them equal protection under the law, and access to the “Equal Rights Commission at the municipal level in the aid thereof.”

From what I’ve been told, only an Assembly member can call for a vote to override the veto. I appreciate those members that supported the ordinance in the past, but now is not the time to quiver in the face of bigotry. Anchorage needs you to stand up and stand tall to what is blatant bigotry. We need to have it on public record who supports the rule of law and equality for everyone. We also have a right to know who supports denying equal rights of some based simply on religious dogma and political expediency.

Anchorage is waiting and watching. We won’t forget when it comes to election time which side you stood with.

Facts About Sexual Orientation

It is the policy of the government of the United States to provide equal opportunity in federal employment for all persons, to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age, sexual orientation or status as a parent, and to promote the full realization of equal employment opportunity through a continuing affirmative program in each executive department and agency. This policy of equal opportunity applies to and must be an integral part of every aspect of personnel policy and practice in the employment, development, advancement, and treatment of civilian employees of the federal government, to the extent permitted by law.

That is the standard we should be trying to emulate and live up to. Not backing away from because we have a mayor in Sullivan that is clearly a bigot and has been unduly influenced by Political Activist Jerry Prevo and his cult of mindless zombies.

Here is what Mr. Sullivan had to say for his veto statement.

On August 11, 2009, the Anchorage Assembly passed AO2009-64(S-2) as amended. I
have reviewed the ordinance, heard the Assembly justifications for and against it, and understand the sentiments expressed during the many hours of public testimony. Since the passage, I have received nearly 2,500 additional communications from Anchorage residents. I thank all of those who took the time to participate in the process.

My review shows that there is clearly a lack of quantifiable evidence necessitating this ordinance. My review also shows that the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.

As elected officials, we are charged with reflecting the will of the community in our decisions, particularly in the absence of compelling data that would supersede that will.

Therefore, I hereby veto AO2009-64(S-2) as amended.

Note: The mayor’s office does not plan to conduct individual media requests today. Questions will be referred back to the statement.

No quantifiable evidence? How about the hatred and vitriol that opponents of the ordinance spewed hour after hour, day after day of testimony? How about going so far as to bus in people from the Valley to testify? How about the obviously orchestrated tactics approved by the Assembly Chair to allow Prevo to manipulate and abuse the system. You don’t think these people wouldn’t refuse to hire, rent to or give credit to people simply based on their sexual orientation?

Do you think the federal government would have such protections for their employees if there wasn’t a reason to protect people from discrimination by bigots against sexual orientation? He didn’t find any evidence because he didn’t look and doesn’t care. That’s just his excuse for the inexcusable.

Being an elected official isn’t about being popular. It isn’t about appeasing people, like religious fanatics. There was no argument presented against the ordinance that wasn’t rooted in Christian dogma. Last I heard we hadn’t official converted to a theocracy, although it appears Prevo effectively controls the Administration and Assembly Chair Debbie Ossiander. Read the “An Open Letter To Anchorage Assembly Chairwoman, Debbie Ossiander.” For an example of the lies and pressures brought from the ignorant and narrow minded Christian Right. The fact is that it is the governments responsibility to not simply do what is popular, but what is right. Permitting discrimination isn’t right.

Then to add insult to injury, Mr. Sullivan just issues that short written message and refuses to face the people he is sworn to serve to defend his position, or even to answer questions from the press. The man is a gutless worm, that has no respect or compassion for anyone other than those that line his pockets with campaign donations and deliver votes from their pulpit.

However, this is good news for business owners and landlords. Now they are free to discriminate against everybody they don’t like, for whatever reason. All they have to do is say it’s because of their sexual orientation. Doesn’t matter if they are straight or not, whether it’s true or not, they just have to say that’s what they believe.

I encourage business owners and landlords to use this opportunity to rid yourselves of people that you have wanted to, but were afraid to because of the laws against discrimination. See what those people don’t understand is that sexual orientation includes heterosexuals. So you can now be fired, refused to be hired, refused a promotion, refused to be rented to, refuse to be loaned to, for being straight. Our own mayor has effectively said that discrimination based on sexual orientation is fine.

How many heterosexuals will have to be adversely affected before Sullivan and the assembly will feel the pressure to do the right thing. We’ve got three weeks. How many people can we get fired or evicted in that amount of time?

How many people can we get into the Prevo Cult to stand up and call Prevo and all of his followers bigots and unworthy to follow Christ. How many people can we get to show up to picket and write down license numbers of those that attend the cult meetings to see if their employers or landlords want to make them an example of how sexual orientation discrimination feels.

I sent an email testimony to the assembly members during the testimony period. I posted the letter here. Of the four that voted against the ordinance, Coffey, Starr, Birch and Ossiander, only Ossiander replied. She only replied in response to my criticism of allowing outside agitators to abuse the system. I’m debating whether I should post those email exchanges which in my opinion shows that Ossiander was acting in collusion with Prevo to delay the vote by allowing people to continue to sign up to speak after the original hearing and permitting people outside of Anchorage to testify

Here are the email addresses.

Send to entire Assembly. wwmas@muni.org Probably the best way to get to them all.

Assembly Members that voted against the ordinance. Make sure Ossiander brings the override to a vote, even if the numbers don’t change. I want to be there when they vote and look me in the eye when they say my daughter is less human, less deserving, less worthy of protection from bigots. We especially need to target Ossiander.
Debbie Ossiander ossiander@gci.net
Bill Starr starrwe@muni.org
Dan Coffey dancoffey@gci.net
Chris Birch chrisbirch@gci.net

Assembly Members that voted for the ordinance. Thank them for their prior support and ask for their continued support by forcing an override vote.

Elvi Gray-Jackson gray-jacksone@muni.org
Sheila Selkregg sheilaselkregg@alaska.com
Mike Gutierrez gutierrezm@muni.org
Jennifer Johnston jjohnston@gci.net
Patrick Flynn flynnpp@muni.org
Matt Clayman mattclaman@gmail.com
Harriet Drummond harrietdrummond@alaska.com

Share any responses you get below. I’ll be adding more information about upcoming protests and other activities to bring pressure to bare on the assembly to override the veto.

2. Campaign contributions restricted to individuals eligible to vote for the candidate. No cash or in kind contributions from ineligible to vote individuals or any entity including businesses, organizations, political action committees or political parties.

We live in a Constitutional republic.

A constitutional republic is a state where the head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government’s power over citizens. In a constitutional republic, executive, legislative, and judicial powers are separated into distinct branches and the will of the majority of the population is tempered by protections for individual rights so that no individual or group has absolute power. The fact that a constitution exists that limits the government’s power makes the state constitutional. That the head(s) of state and other officials are chosen by election, rather than inheriting their positions, and that their decisions are subject to judicial review makes a state republican.

Nowhere in our Constitutions are there any mentions of political parties, special interest groups, political action committees or any other subset of individuals. It’s government and individuals. The rest is just BS that has evolved over time. Things like the two party system or primary elections, just happened in response to a vacuum left by the absence of enough individuals engaged in the system.

So it’s time for us to re-assert our proper place at the TOP of the organization chart, not the bottom. First thing first our representatives are, our individual representatives. My neighbors shouldn’t get to choose my dinner if they aren’t eating with me. My neighbors shouldn’t be able to influence the election of my representative if they can’t vote for my representative.

Anything that gets between the people and our government is an enemy of the people and our government. That includes, first and foremost, the Democratic and Republican parties. Simply because of their shear size and how intertwined they are throughout all levels of government. Oh, and no other party is any better or worse.

The cool thing, we don’t even need a law to make this happen. We just need enough of us to agree, and refuse to vote for anyone who is a member of any political party or has accepted/will accept donations of any kind from anyone/anything that can’t vote for them. Since independent voters outnumber both declared democrats or republicans this seems like a doable thing to me.

TAKE TWO ASPIRIN AND CALL ME WHEN YOUR CANCER IS STAGE 4
by Ann Coulter July 22, 2009

We already have near-universal health coverage in the form of Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ hospitals, emergency rooms and tax-deductible employer-provided health care — all government creations.

Medicare for the elderly and disabled. Medicaid for the indigent. Veteran hospitals for service connected injuries and indigent veterans. Emergency rooms overloaded with non-emergencies by people who don’t have insurance, or who have insurance but won’t pay for doctor visits (which drives up the costs for all of us). Tax deductions that still don’t help small businesses, their employees and the self employed obtain affordable health insurance for themselves and their families. Even the most conservative estimates put the uninsured at over 30 million, yeah, that sounds like “near-universal health coverage”. That doesn’t even factor in the number of under-insured that have huge deductibles or only hospitalization coverage. As the economy worsens, the unemployment rises, and along with it the number of uninsured continues to grow.

Now the Democrats want to force us all into one gigantic national health insurance plan that will cover every real and mythical ailment that has a powerful lobby. But if you have a rare medical condition without a lobbying arm, you’ll be out of luck.

Nobody is being “forced” into anything. If you have insurance and you like it, then stay with it. What is it about “option” in the term “Public OPTION” that Ms. Coulter and others don’t understand? Who are two of the most powerful lobby’s in D.C.? The pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Who is spending hundreds of millions of ill gotten gains on stopping health care reform? You guessed it, those two very powerful industries. One has to wonder if Ms. Coulter has a speaking gig lined up with those groups at their next gathering. I hear the pay is significant.

Third-party payer schemes are always a disaster — less service for twice the price! If you want good service at a good price, be sure to be the one holding the credit card. Under “universal health care,” no one but government bureaucrats will be allowed to hold the credit card.

So it’s better to have private insurance companies make the decision for what doctor you can see, where, and when? It’s better to have private insurance companies dictate what procedures they will pay for, how much and to who? Insurance companies make money by not providing service. They make money by taking our money, investing it to make even larger profits while they delay or refuse to pay all together. They are betting we won’t get sick enough to need health care, and if we do need it they are betting we’ll die before they have to pay too much. Yeah free enterprise. The U.S. Government is the only entity large enough to provide competition to challenge the insurance industry to provide better service and protection for their clients. If the private insurance companies are so great, then only a small minority will select the public option.

From: Organizing for America

Last week, Republican Senator Jim DeMint made it pretty clear why the opponents of health care reform are fighting so hard. As he told a special interest attack group, “If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” Here’s how the President responded:

Think about that. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about politics. This is about a health care system that is breaking America’s families, breaking America’s businesses and breaking America’s economy. And we can’t afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care. Not this time, not now. There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake.

With Congress only days away from finalizing their plans for reform, it’s time to stand with the President and fight back against this disastrous brand of old-style politics. So we need as many people as possible to publicly support the President’s principles for health care reform and call on Congress to act.

Before the first full votes in Congress, we’ll publish the signatures in newspaper ads across the nation, to make sure your voice is heard.

Watch President Obama’s full response, then add your name to support reform.

Or if you’ve already signed, please forward this message to all your friends and neighbors so they can join you.

Sign the declaration

The President is more dedicated than ever to passing health care reform that satisfies the three requirements he’s been talking about for months: Health care reform must reduce costs, guarantee choice — including the choice of a strong public insurance option — and ensure all Americans have quality, affordable health care.

If we do not reform our broken health care system this year, we will shackle future generations with spiraling costs and deteriorating care. The cost of inaction is simply more than this country can afford.

But the special interests who profit from the status quo won’t go down without a fight. The ads, the smears, and the attacks — targeting both President Obama and members of Congress who support reform — will only get worse. So it’s crucial that we show huge backing before Congress finalizes their plans this month.

Stand with President Obama on health care reform:

http://my.barackobama.com/hcdeclare

4. Make ballot access the same for every candidate for office. Nomination by petition with 1% of the registered voters in the election district the candidate is running for.

When a candidate files for office as a candidate representing a recognized political party, they just submit a form and financial disclosure and they are on the primary ballot. A recognized political party is based on the percentage of votes that they received in the previous election.

A candidate of a non-recognized party or NO PARTY affiliation must collect a number of signatures of registered voters in their election district. That will get them on the general election ballot but not the primary ballot

This gives candidates of recognized political parties a clear and unfair advantage over those candidates not allowed on the primary ballot. During the primary campaigns candidates are able to raise campaign contributions, gather supporters, appear in forums, participate in debates, and generally raise awareness of their candidacy.

Party affiliation should have no bearing on ballot access. Neither the US Constitution nor the Alaska Constitution (haven’t researched other states) mention political parties, or primary elections for that matter.

The “two party system” is only perpetuated by excluding others as much as possible from gaining equal access to ballot.

Resources:
Ballot Access News
Coalition For Free and Open Elections
Freedom Ballot Access

A couple of years ago 6/23/07 I wrote a post that included 10 Points of Change for campaign finance and election reform. A recent discussion at thealaskastandard.com reminded me of my post that included those “10 Points of Change”. So as Emperor I’ve decided that the 10 Points deserve a conversation of their own. So starting tomorrow, Wednesday July 15th for the next 10 weeks I’ll post a topic from one of the ten points. I won’t be doing them in numerical order. Follow me on twitter @Emperor_Bob to get which of the “Ten Points of Change” will be the newest 10 Points of Change topic.

The prime time of Sarah Palin – THE WEEK

Palin is both comfortable and adept at these tabloid squabbles—certainly more than she seems ever likely to be in a substantive environment. Parrying political opponents about policy, or responding to serious queries about the state of the world is just not what Palin does. Even her attacks on President Obama have a canned quality, something along the lines of … “socialism, yadda yadda yadda.” She leaves the details to Romney or Huckabee or perhaps next week’s guest star.

Too good to not be repeated.Technorati Tags: Sarah Palin,

“All politics are local” is never more true than when the topic is Gay Rights it appears. It’s never more personal than when it touches you personally. One of my beautiful, smart, courageous daughters is a Lesbian and I believe she was born as such and is perfect. She is not a freak. She can’t be cured, nor does she have a disease. She is who she is, no better, no worse than anyone else of any sexual orientation.

Let’s end this nonsense about it being a choice or lifestyle. It’s not environment, none of my other children are Gay. It’s not choice, who would choose to subject themselves to such hate? It’s no more of a choice than heterosexuality is a choice. It can’t be cured. It’s not a mental defect. Looking back I thought she was just a tom boy. She stil gives me a hard time because I didn’t let her play hockey. It wasn’t because she was a girl, it was only because I thought she was too little compared to the other kids. Its not unnatural, homosexuality has been observed in more than 1,500 species. Christians tell me God doesn’t make mistakes.

You likely know someone who is Gay, even if you don’t know it. Yes, there are still plenty of people in the closet because they still fear the repercussions of coming out. As early as grade school, they learn the danger of being different than other students or even their teachers. Some live in fear of their parents because of the hateful things they say about homosexuals. I was guilty of that, before I learned my own child is Gay. If you think there is no need for this ordinance then you are just oblivious to the facts that there is still ignorance and hate directed at Gays in Anchorage.

Homosexuality is not a lifestyle. Homosexuals live in very diverse ways, just the same as heterosexuals. Just because heterosexuals are in the majority doesn’t mean they get to trounce on the rights of the minority.

The days of discrimination are clearly not over since we are having this discussion. This isn’t about feelings or perception. It’s about ensuring that people ofis any sexual orientation are treated without prejudice simply because of their sexual orientation. Our opinion of homosexuality is irrelevant. You don’t get to make the rules simply because you don’t like something. I don’t like broccoli, can I make it illegal to sell it or grow it?

The inequality of the law is that unlike others who are protected by law, homosexuals as a group are not.

Coming from a small business background myself, the arguments against the ordinance on behalf of small businesses are baseless. We know that we have to be careful and document everything when it comes to managing employees. This isn’t going to cause any new problems as long as businesses aren’t discriminating against people based on who they are.

I believe in freedom of religion. However, I also believe in freedom from religion. Most of the arguments that I have heard against the ordinance has been religious in nature. There is no legitimate legal argument for refusing people of all sexual orientations equal protection under the law. The fact that there is so much resistance to this ordinance is evidence of how much it is needed.

If your religious beliefs include that people of color are the spawn of the devil himself, then you should have the right to discriminate against them?

You know who else has that mindset? Islamic Jihadist. Is that really the kind of “freedom of religion” you want to be associated with?

You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to approve of it. You don’t have to endorse it. You don’t have to hold hands and sing Kumbaya with anyone.

Don’t let ignorance, hate and fear rot your soul, fog your mind or chill your heart. It’s time to let our Gay neighbors, friends, family and children know that they will be respected and protected from those that hate and worse than that hide behind religion to rationalize and justify their hate.