\ Necrolicious /

:: 20060514 ::

Technology and Equal Representation

It is time for us to use our technology to our advantage. It's time We The People woke up as an assembly who are ostensibly represented by our Congress and our President. I put forth that we have the technological capability (or are damn close to it) to be truly represented in the elections (and, dare I say, daily affairs) of our government.

Instant messaging cellular technology: this is a perfect way to make voting accessible to even the most complacent. Coded IDs particular to individual phones sent piggy-back with the vote prevent fraud. Those people without cells would still be able to vote in the traditional sense.
When everyone has one (as each of us most assuredly will), an opt-in signal can be sent to each phone, allowing us to know when an important vote is impending. We can choose to respond or not. I don't know if we possess this level of sophistication currently, but it's certainly interesting to consider. It would be true representation.

Voting kiosks: password-driven kiosks are another answer to representational voting. They exist all over the campus where I'm studying. Why not provide them gratis in shopping malls, Wal-marts, grocery stores, etc.? Even the most agoraphobic of us have to shop. So why not give the people choices? If we make voting convenient for the lazy, perhaps they will take advatage of their Constitutional right.

We could (and should!) completely rid ourselves of the out-moded Electoral College. By utilizing technology at our fingertips, we could truly become part of the democratic system. Instead of watching and hoping things just work out, each of us could have a vote on every issue we deemed important. Part of the reason we have the E.C. is because the Government thinks the general population is comprised of fools. The E.C. would rather us believe that our vote counts, then swing whichever way they choose. It's happened before. It is a non-representative system, at any rate. Since, in most states, the E.C. vote goes for one or the other candidate, the system is primarily flawed. In Colorado's 2004 election results we have this result. Still, all seven of our E.C. votes went to George II. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the election results and look at the votes against splitting the E.C. to make it more democratic. Either people didn't understand what they were voting for or I've given too much credit to people's intelligence above. Either way, hte electoral needs to be divided in every state so the vote actually reflects the popular count. As long as it's here, it might as well be made fair. It's not like it's rocket science to figure out percentages. Even if we can 't get rid of the E.C., we could get rid of the people who make it up. Who are they, anyhow?
Who Gets Chosen: We The People don't know.
Disenfranchisement

The time has come. We have the technology so that each of us can have a voice in our national elections. But WE have to coalesce on the issue. WE have to come together in a unified voice and force the change.

I am afraid if We The People do not soon act (as opposed to participating in endless and meaningless polls) because we care, this Republic will fail. Rome was a republic. What happened there?

:: Necro 16:29 [+] ::
...

In an effort to be fair and balanced to the US's vice president and his puppet in the Oval Office....

"The Bushes contributed $75,560 Â? about 10 percent of their income Â? to churches and charitable organizations. Those included the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army's funds for hurricane relief in the United States and earthquake aid in Pakistan. They also gave to Martha's Table, which provides food and services to the underprivileged in the Washington area, the Archdiocese of New Orleans Catholic Charities and the Mississippi Food Network.

The Bushes paid $26,172 in state property taxes on their ranch near Crawford, Texas, up about $4,000 from the year before.

The Cheneys reported adjusted gross income of nearly $8.82 million, a number largely padded with income they received by exercising stock options that had been set aside in 2001 for charity.

The Cheneys donated about $6.87 million to charity from the stock options and royalties earned on Mrs. Cheney's books: "America: A Patriotic Primer," "A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women" and "When Washington Crossed the Delaware: A Wintertime Story for Young Patriots."

Recipients of their charitable donations included: George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates for the benefit of thCardiothoracicic Institute, the University of Wyoming Foundation and Capital Partners for Education, to benefit low-income high school students in the Washington area."

Article lifted from here

The amount of money the Cheneys donated is verry impressive. And the organizations listed to which they gave seem not to be religious in nature, which makes me really happy. (The last thing this nation needs is more religious fervor. This is not to say they did not give money to other institutions with a religious agenda. I seriously doubt the article listed all the charities. It probably would be possible to find out where all of the Cheneys' dollars went.) In opposition to the Cheney's listed secular contributions, the Bush's list, with the possible exception of the MFN, is strictly religious. The great irony is that the MFN has this article posted on theiwebsitete. Could Bush have feelings of guilt?

Cheney:
Capital Partners for Education
George Washington University Medical Center
University of Wyoming Foundation

:: Necro 07:29 [+] ::
...

Maybe there is some hope for our future: This is cool stuff. And should be pursued with religious fervor.

On the other hand, we might still be headed for doom. According to NPR, it does not look like Rumsfeld is out, even though he should be. Although, with Rummy, we know what to expect. Without him, Bush (Cheney) might appoint someone more incompetent whom we do not know. Either way, I think the next president is going to have a rough go of smoothing over the diplomatic holes in which Bush & his badgers have entrenched us.

On a lighter note, yesterday was my fortieth. I had an amazing day. About 100 kids at school signed their Happy Birthday Wishes on a poster in the hall outside the library where I spend a majority of my day. I also received many warm birthday wishes from students who sought me out for that sole reason. The ELA (English Language Acquirers) sang two different versions of Mexican birthday songs to me. I was so touched by all their warmth that I was on the verge of tears all day.
Another gift came to me later in the day in the form of a beautiful and intelligent woman with whom I work. She and I had a casual, but enticing meal at a little Thai place near my house, then retired here for a sit by my pond, a bite of baklava, and a bit more conversation before she went home. Our conversation was brisk and flowed from us like ambrosia. Looking in the depths of her brown eyes was an experience which I have not felt in some time. It was simply a lovely evening.

:: Necro 06:19 [+] ::
...

I'm not generally in favor of the Death Penalty, but in some cases, I believe it is entirely justifiable. Take Mr. Moussaoui, as a topical example. He would die for Allah and Islam in a suicide attack, according to his testimony. If he would do that, then it seems it would be a great insult to Allah if he were executed in a mundane fashion like lethal injection. Maybe he wouldn't get to cavort with all those virgins if he died at the hand of some government plebe. It sounds like he wants to die, and, if he wants to die, kill him.

If he was really part of an attack that killed 3000 people, allowed Bush to start an unjust war, and keep that same fool in the Oval Office a second term, he deserves to die.

The only mental illness he suffers from is that of being to radical in his religious beliefs. He stands by the attacks and clearly stated that he would kill Americans given the opportunity. So kill him. Instead of a quick death though, let's chop off his fingers and toes one knuckle at a time and sear the wound closed before he has time to bleed to death, then keep him alive long enough to do that to each appendage. Then move to his wrists and ankles, his elbows and knees. Perform the execution over the course of ten or twelve years. That seems just to me. When I think of the people who lost their family members, I think of the constant pain one endures when faced with such a loss. A loss that no amount of compensation can correct. It seems justice would be served best by allowing Moussaoui to feel a pain similar to that felt by the living relatives who are still grieving.

"When you take an eye for an eye, the whole world will soon be blind."
So let him rot in prison instead. Taking revenge in the form of execution only promotes his status. If we let him die of old age in maximum security, he will cease to become a martyr. He will become a man, old and withered. He will become a couple of paragraphs on page three in thirty or forty years.

That is all he really deserves.

Necro~

:: Necro 17:35 [+] ::
...

I read a wonderful quote recently: "When you take an eye for an eye, the whole world will soon be blind." Gandhi

The Iran seems to be trying its best to do just that. And Mr. Bush, who relies more on instinct and prayer than distinct thought and foresight is the perfect person in office for the Iranian government to tease. I have little doubt, especially after his recent vehement denial, that Bush would again unilaterally attack Iran.

This is perfect for the nation of Islam, since Bush would be throwing wide the doors, opening up the more radical factions of the revered religion to Jihad.

this is also perfect for what an Armeggedonist such as Mr. Bush is, also. It is this self-fulfilling end-of-the-world prophecy.

Probably in every prophecy, there is a choice. You can turn left or right or go back a few steps to re-evaluate or continue on the path. If you are fervent enough in your belief that the path of prophecy is correct, then you will follow that. If not, you might take a less obvious path, but perhaps more sane path. The problem lies here: when you have two or more conflicting prophecies, whose is correct? I don't think even the most devout can be absolutely certain of the path laid out for them.

I have nothing, really, against religion insofar as people need something to believe in. I have my own beliefs and though I may seem very secularist, almost atheistic, at times, I am anything but that. What I rebel against is any kind of religious movement that leads to a lack of understanding of other people. That is, intolerance. Over the years, I have come to realize the underlying theme of most religions is love; for thyself, thy neighbor, thy God, the world. Love.

I know I've written this before, but it seems important in the face of the religious war which is about to occur, is occurring, in the Middle East. I don't fear death, but I don't want to die from the choice a radical has made, no matter what religion.

Bush is such a man. This is the man whose lack of true moral and ethical character we should have examined more closely before the last election and voted out of office. This is a man who has proven he cannot be trusted. He has lied repeatedly, then tried to cover up his lies by pointing fingers or deflecting the real issue by starting a war. (Remember the Florida election in 2000?)

In the upcoming election, take time to research the candidate in whom you will put your trust. These are troubling times. Very troubling. The world is small and many, many people hate the US and many, including me, see her demise just over the horizon. The right candidate can take us there. The better candidate will take us into a world of compromise and dialogue.

Vote for someone reasonable, for someone whom you would be honored to call your friend, not because of a religious commonality, but because they are truly loved and truly love.

:: Necro 06:40 [+] ::
...

I cannot state this a fact, but it seems to me that part of the problem with Americans' beliefs about people in places like Iraq is that they are unintelligent, uneducated, non-thinkers, who base what few thoughts they have in the framework of a religion with which most Americans do not agree. We in this country are very narrow when it comes to our view of the world. Since so few of us read the paper daily (other than the sports section and local news, if even that) and fewer travel to other parts of the world, we have a very difficult go of it when identifying the attitudes of our cousins in other nations and why they have the attitudes they do. Most Americans cannot fathom that many people do not see Democracy as an answer, or that capitalism is not a good thing. For Their Country.
Americans, in many ways, are the young children of the Earth. Our society is very egocentric, like a six-year old. We have a hard time understanding that our way is not the way.

Despite what we might think, individuals are smart: they know what they want, what is good for their own nation and her citizens. This is not to say that we ignore the pleas of people trapped in Taylor or Hussein style dicatatorships, or that we should resort to isolationism; that is naive and would be impossible in the 21st century. What we should NOT do is force our ideologies onto other nations (especially when that is a ruse for a much different purpose). I find it distressing and amusing that when we do try to force our politics on other nations, Americans are baffled as to why those nations people react the way they do. Iraq, of course, is the primary example. Sit and listen sometime to random conversations on the subject in a coffee house. I hear people talking in hushed voices, as if they are afraid to be arrested for having an opinion, about how Iraqis are not grateful for the freedom we are bringing them. Those people wonder why and how they cannot be. They are mystified that the insurgents are acting the way they are, never once stopping to think of how many people in the U.S. would react the same way of our shores were invaded. I despise the violence of war, and even this political and social ideologies of this nation sometimes, but I wouldn't hesitate to plant a roadside bomb or take up arms against an unjust occupying force.

Maybe it is time for our demise. Maybe the United States has outlived its usefulness. We were a model for the world. Now we have become a bully to the world. To become reborn as a whole person, every bully dies when he realizes that he is Yertle the Turtle.

:: Necro 06:33 [+] ::
...

First day of '06. It's a pleasant day in Denver- warm with a touch of rain making the city smell like a new year. Work begins anew tomorrow and the new semester of school in a couple of weeks. I have no resolutions for this year. I was sleeping soundly at the traditional time to make such hollow statements. As always, I wonder what the year will bring. Probably more of the same as well as some new; just like every year....

I hope for us all, that this year will exercise our smiles more often. The website, Nation Master, has stats on all sorts of stuff, including how happy people around the globe really are. This link is for those who are "very happy or quite happy."

Let's try to raise that level this year, folks.

:: Necro 10:53 [+] ::
...