Monday, October 20, 2008
skate board broken
after three glorious days getting back into skateboarding, I broke my deck while trying a railslide. woe is I
well for better or worse, I'm on facebook now and notes on socialism
and so far its been pretty cool, though it is taking a lot of my time.
here's something I wrote on my facebook, I may go ahead and import this blog
Socialism in the US
Today at 11:51am
I ranted about this the other day at the forum. It was one of my better extemporaneous efforts, I think.
I think Obama and the Dems should embrace the label, making a clear distinction between socialism and totalitarianism, of course, the two are clearly not the same thing. Looking at history, we find that there have been a few times when the economy has tanked thanks to excessive greed and corruption by those at the top. The response (correction) was some sort of "socialist" thing, whether it be banning child labor, the 8 hour day, the right to organize, and more government regulation. Indeed, society's response to capitalism run amok is socialism. We've had at least 28 consecutive years of capitalism run amok, (I'm referring to Reagan as a recent reference point and include the Clinton years) Now is the time for the pendulum to swing back and hopefully stay back.
Every economy in the world, including ours, is a mixed economy, mixed with elements of capitalism and socialism. We still have things like Social Security and Medicare and federally funded education, things that wouldn't exist in a purely capitalist world. But I don't see anyone raising a stink about those programs being socialist.
Indeed, most of the G7 nations have more and stronger elements of socialism and yet, they're still in the rich kids club. Imagine that.
Socialism is not a dirty word, and I for one am a proud socialist. I agree with Obama, I am my brother's keeper, the individual tragedies that happen everyday matter to me and the most effective way I can help is to join with others who recognize the role OUR government can play in improving everyone's life. I do what I can on an individual level, but as someone more eloquent than I said, and I paraphrase, government does for all of us, what no one can do by themselves. Of course, I realize that the current government has been bought and paid for by corporate (capitalist) interests and there is much corruption and inefficiency that needs to be addressed. I don't enjoy bureaucratic red tape as much as anyone else.
but, we're trying to have a decent society people, I believe this is what the conservatives fail to grasp. They still cling to that outdated and never really accurate notion that its every person for him/herself.
Ultimately, however, we all need to face up to the fact that yes, the US has been a de facto empire and like all empires before us, we feel like we're special, chosen by God or whatever, and like all empires before us, will rise and inevitably, invariably will fall. The challenge then, for ordinary folk, is how to survive and indeed, grow and evolve into a better society.
My good friend Jomo says that we don't even have to raise taxes on the rich, we just have to reprioritize spending away from wasteful military projects and focus it on the people. I think he's right, but I also think the rich haven't been paying their fair share. You have to invest in your society to maintain the conditions that allow for people to get rich. If the gap between rich and poor gets even more excessive than it currently is (hard to imagine, I know) history again shows that a threshold will be reached and heads will roll. It won't be pretty. I guess that's why investment capital has been flowing into private security faster than renewable energy (the #2 sector receiving investment).
okay, I'm done for now. bottom line: socialism is good and necessary now, despite what the haters would have you believe.
here's something I wrote on my facebook, I may go ahead and import this blog
Socialism in the US
Today at 11:51am
I ranted about this the other day at the forum. It was one of my better extemporaneous efforts, I think.
I think Obama and the Dems should embrace the label, making a clear distinction between socialism and totalitarianism, of course, the two are clearly not the same thing. Looking at history, we find that there have been a few times when the economy has tanked thanks to excessive greed and corruption by those at the top. The response (correction) was some sort of "socialist" thing, whether it be banning child labor, the 8 hour day, the right to organize, and more government regulation. Indeed, society's response to capitalism run amok is socialism. We've had at least 28 consecutive years of capitalism run amok, (I'm referring to Reagan as a recent reference point and include the Clinton years) Now is the time for the pendulum to swing back and hopefully stay back.
Every economy in the world, including ours, is a mixed economy, mixed with elements of capitalism and socialism. We still have things like Social Security and Medicare and federally funded education, things that wouldn't exist in a purely capitalist world. But I don't see anyone raising a stink about those programs being socialist.
Indeed, most of the G7 nations have more and stronger elements of socialism and yet, they're still in the rich kids club. Imagine that.
Socialism is not a dirty word, and I for one am a proud socialist. I agree with Obama, I am my brother's keeper, the individual tragedies that happen everyday matter to me and the most effective way I can help is to join with others who recognize the role OUR government can play in improving everyone's life. I do what I can on an individual level, but as someone more eloquent than I said, and I paraphrase, government does for all of us, what no one can do by themselves. Of course, I realize that the current government has been bought and paid for by corporate (capitalist) interests and there is much corruption and inefficiency that needs to be addressed. I don't enjoy bureaucratic red tape as much as anyone else.
but, we're trying to have a decent society people, I believe this is what the conservatives fail to grasp. They still cling to that outdated and never really accurate notion that its every person for him/herself.
Ultimately, however, we all need to face up to the fact that yes, the US has been a de facto empire and like all empires before us, we feel like we're special, chosen by God or whatever, and like all empires before us, will rise and inevitably, invariably will fall. The challenge then, for ordinary folk, is how to survive and indeed, grow and evolve into a better society.
My good friend Jomo says that we don't even have to raise taxes on the rich, we just have to reprioritize spending away from wasteful military projects and focus it on the people. I think he's right, but I also think the rich haven't been paying their fair share. You have to invest in your society to maintain the conditions that allow for people to get rich. If the gap between rich and poor gets even more excessive than it currently is (hard to imagine, I know) history again shows that a threshold will be reached and heads will roll. It won't be pretty. I guess that's why investment capital has been flowing into private security faster than renewable energy (the #2 sector receiving investment).
okay, I'm done for now. bottom line: socialism is good and necessary now, despite what the haters would have you believe.
Friday, October 17, 2008
should i make a facebook?
my buddy says i should but i don't know if its worth the trouble. I mean blogging takes enough time (not that I actually do much blogging), I'm afraid if i get into facebook I'll get sucked in and have less time for other things. it would be cool to reconnect with old friends, however.
what say ye?
what say ye?
skate park stoke
having fully sheathed the roof of the backyard studio and covered it with a big piece of plastic yesterday (good enough for now) I took a day for myself and went to peak sports to get my old skateboard fixed. then I went to the skate park and had a blast. it was a little wobbly at first but i still had fun and found that all those old skills aren't completely gone. I can still ollie and ride the banks and drop in on the small trannys. I even pulled off a couple short rail slides. But I'd forgotten what a great workout it is to skate in the park. If I can manage to not break my trucks again I want to keep skating just for the aerobic workout.
there was a crew of pro (semi-pro?) skaters from Santa Barbara there filming and throwing some crazy tricks and airs. One dude stoked me with a couple free skating dvds. In addition to the SB crew, there were some other guys tearing shit up. It was fun just to sit there and watch. I was the only one with a helmet and wrist guards. Even the little groms with their little scooters were boosting airs and riding sick lines without safety gear. then again, the younger you are, the more resilient no doubt, and old guys like me need the gear more than anyone.
there was a crew of pro (semi-pro?) skaters from Santa Barbara there filming and throwing some crazy tricks and airs. One dude stoked me with a couple free skating dvds. In addition to the SB crew, there were some other guys tearing shit up. It was fun just to sit there and watch. I was the only one with a helmet and wrist guards. Even the little groms with their little scooters were boosting airs and riding sick lines without safety gear. then again, the younger you are, the more resilient no doubt, and old guys like me need the gear more than anyone.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
class warfare
Yes, I'm still alive.
I've been busy building a studio in the backyard, and haven't felt the urge to write anything. What are ya gonna do?
John McCain said Obama wants to wage class warfare. What I wish Obama would've said is that we didn't start this class war. Workers, the unemployed and the poor have been brutalized by the ruling elite (rich, greedy corporations) for centuries now, but the most recent onslaught starting with Reagan, including Clinton and certainly the last 8 years (certainly to be remembered as the beginning of the end).
We didn't start the class war McCain. But if you keep giving tax breaks to the wealthy and further widen the class divide as it seems you would, it might just lead to a guillotine on Pennsylvania Ave. And another one on Wall Street.
On a different note, I got to play (music) at the annual Pirate party this year. It was early Friday evening and the next band wasn't set up yet. Sensing the opportunity (being sufficiently lit) and converging with this other guy who had been singing Off to Sea Once More earlier by the fire, we took the stage and played some cover tunes. It was pretty sweet. I wished I could hear my guitar better, (I really need a plug in acoustic) but it went well and a lot of people said they enjoyed it. So I was stoked.
The pirate party was crazy. I hope J didn't get kicked out of his house. A lot of the kids there were rainbow kids/family. They are the coolest. I met a few travelers, train hoppers, etc. I want to do that but I doubt if I ever will. I definitely need to attend a gathering, however.
I promise to try to write more in the future.
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