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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Diamond in the Rough



Many reasonable Americans are really tired of short-term actions of Congress.
Many reasonable Americans are really tired of the brinkmanship of Congress.


It's time to focus on good policy instead of politics.


The recent approval rating of Congress reflects public consensus that there needs to be fundamental changes to the time-honored institution.


Indeed, Congress creates much energy from actions; however like coal, its energy seems to be having an adverse effect on environment.

However many  reasonable people still believe that with sustained intense pressure Congress is able to be transformed into a diamond.

Indeed, 'Change has come to Congress' --- not superficial i.e. terms of party majorities.

Indeed, it's time for Responsibility to come to Congress. 
Further Reading

Part 3 --- Independent President (America Works)


Related Blogs:

Part 1: An Independent President (Historical Review)

Part 2: An Independent President (Getting it Done)



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Interdisciplinary Collaboration/Complementary Partnership


“America works best when we work together " --- Tom Donahue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce


There's acknowledgment that Barack Obama (or any president) is in position whereby there may be contradictory objectives i.e. as POTUS and Head of a political party. What may be good viable idea is to not consider the president the head of any particular party.

The U.S. President, First Lady, and the White House Administration is Independent whose chief objective should be doing what's best for the nation not any particular party. Adopting this concept requires people to re-think how we view the relationship between the president and political parties.
Adopting this concept may reduce; though not completely eradicate the influence of partisan politics in the decision-making process of POTUS.



It doesn't matter what Chris Wallace or Chris Matthews says, POTUS is NOT the head of any political party. The president is nonpartisan. The moment when an individual takes the presidential oath he owes no allegiance to any political party. The president should be Independent...able to exercise freedom to accept ideas from varied sources without respect to political or ideological affiliation. The president's focus should be 'Is the idea good for America?' Period.


Too many times BOTH parties have used the presidency as a trophy or/and have 'pimped out' the president for own partisan purposes. It's time to change.


Indeed, 'We the People' may more accurately assess the 'job performance' of the president independently from the job of Congress and the public attitudes towards the political parties. The propose change may encourage responsibility among all leaders...reduce ability of all leaders to hide behind the goodwill/disfavour of the president...promote leaders' responsibility towards the People.


Indeed, it's time to change. It's time to judge EACH political party 's vision on its own merits. It's time to judge the members' of EACH political party performance on own merits. It's time to judge the president on his own merits. It's time to stop hiding behind the approval/disapproval of each other. It's time to accept responsibility.

One thing that should be emphasize is Citizens' Responsibility.
We ask alot from our leaders but often times we are not fufilling our responsibility...and it goes beyond voting. We need to be duly informed of the issues. We need to respect all points of view.
Indeed, We are the change we seek.

************

It's time for An Independent President --- Someone who does not deny party labels but put them aside; put America first before party ideology.
It's time to have an Independent President who demonstrates personal integrity through pragmatism and understanding the responsibility of having Freedom


Freedom from Religion Guided by principles not prejudices
Freedom from Politics Being principled not partisan
Freedom from Family Being principled not personal
Freedom from Race Promoting principles not people
Freedom from the Past Promoting precedents base on principles not patterns

It's time to have a Independent President who not only understands Vision but actually has a coherent, steady common-sense vision that would continue to lead America forward.



Indeed "The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats."

It's time to support someone who believes as do an increasing number of reasonable Americans that enough of the political games and brinkmanship. 'In times like these' require that we live up to America's purpose. Act in accordance with realization that "there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America."

Monday, December 19, 2011

The 12 Days of Christmas --- Revised


--- Selected ---
 

Effective immediately, the following economizing measures are being implemented in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:


1) The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree, which never produced the cash crop forecasted, will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance

2) Two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are, therefore, eliminated

3) The three French hens will remain intact. After all, everyone loves the French

4) The four calling birds will be replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked.

5) The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board of Directors. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for institutional investors. Diversification into other precious metals, as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks, appear to be in order

6) The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day was an example of the general decline in productivity. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that, from now on, every goose it gets will be a good one

7) The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new strokes, thereby enhancing their outplacement

8) As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. A male/female balance in the workforce is being sought. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-mending, a-mentoring or a-mulching

9) Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps

10) Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords, plus the expense of international air travel, prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work congressmen. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant as we expect an oversupply of unemployed congressmen this year

11) Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms, will produce savings which will drop right to the bottom line

Overall we can expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and related expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved.

Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney's association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-suing"), a decision is pending.

Deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to remain competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Politically Correct Christmas Poem

--- Selected ---

Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.     

And labor conditions at the North Pole, were alleged by the union, to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety,
released to the wilds, by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear,
that Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,

were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid. 
The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh, because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA,
And millions of people were calling the Cops,
when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops.
Second-hand smoke from his pipe, had his workers quite frightened,
and his fur trimmed red suit was called "unenlightened".
To show you the strangeness of today's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.
He went to Geraldo, in front of the Nation,
demanding millions in over-due workers compensation.

So...half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife

who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,
joined a self help group, packed and left in a whiz,
demanding from now on that her title was Ms.
And as for gifts...why, he'd never had the notion
that making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur...
Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her.
Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot,
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacifistic.
No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth.
And fairy tales...while not yet forbidden,
were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden,
for they raised the hackles of those psychological,
who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone might get hurt,
besides - playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe.
and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed,
he just couldn't figure out what to do next?
He tried to be merry he tried to be gay,
but you must have to admit he was having a very bad day.
His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground,
nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might,
give to us all, without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy - with no indecision,
each group of people in every religion.
Every race, every hue,
everyone, everywhere...even you!
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...


  "MAY YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, ENJOY PEACE ON EARTH"

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Cold Within

Author: James Patrick Kinney

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.


Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.


The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.


The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?


The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.


The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.


And the last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,


Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within.


Let's put aside our differences, yes even our prejudices and work together or we shall perish as fools.

Managing Complex Change

It's simply knowing what is needed


VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> CONFUSION

VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> ANXIETY

VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> FALSE STARTS

VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> FRUSTRATION

VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> GRADUAL CHANGE


VISION + SKILLS + INCENTIVE + RESOURCES + ACTION PLAN ==> CHANGE

Responding to Public Opinion

The Pastor's Ass
      
The pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.

The pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the Race again, and it won again.
The local paper read: PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.

The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered
The pastor not to enter the donkey in another race.

The next day, the local paper headline read: BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.

This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the pastor to get rid of the donkey.
The pastor decided to give it to a nun in a nearby convent.
The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline
The next day: NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.

The bishop fainted.
He informed the nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so She sold it to a farmer for $10.The next day the paper read: NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.This was too much for the bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.

The next day the headlines read: NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE. The bishop was buried the next day.

The moral of the story is . . . Being concerned about public opinion can bring you much grief and misery . . . even shorten your life.

So be yourself and enjoy life.
Stop worrying about everyone else's ass and you'll be a lot happier...and live longer!

Have a nice day!

Live, Learn, and Laugh!

A "tongue-in-cheek" analysis of the good ole days

************

IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because, WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer! s, no Internet or chat rooms....... WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them. CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good. While you are at it, share it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

C'Mon, you know you want to smile

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Jay Leno: "With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Seeing Invisible

People see what they want to see

Some people see a 'white' person. Some people see a 'black' person. Some people see a 'foreign-born with a strong accent'. Amusing is the latter given I was born and raised in the 'heartland' of United States. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

My age is a mystery. Proof is presented without an ounce of shame. While being referred by many as an 'ole soul', not by name. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

The 'Religious Right' sees a heretic who is for abortion and gay rights. The 'Liberal left' sees a zealot who believes in an Almighty God; Faith that moves mountains and gives the blind sight. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Emphasize equitable distribution of sacrifices and rewards, people see a 'spread-the-wealth' idealogue. Emphasize hardwork and personal responsibility, people see a cold-hearted selfish expletive equivalent to a female dog. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Politicians, the self-proclaimed public servants, an oxymoronic distinction at best, seems to be the greatest offender of all. There's much hand-shaking, baby-kissing, data collection, policy formulation, and impact analysis ad nauseum. There's a tendency to lose sight it's about real individuals, not them.
Whether in a community of 30, 50, 10,000, or more. Each individual is relevant and can make a difference. Individuals are the keystone of democracy. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me. They just see my invisibility.

Invisibility is a comforting blanket. It's reassuring I'm more than a 'sound-bite' or a statistic on a chart. I'm not wholly defined by the constraints of biases, stereotypes, and demographic categories. Though, it's comforting to know that individuals are not robots, as you can see.

Invisibility is a smothering blanket that takes my breath away, denying me the opportunity to express 'I'm free'. I realize tis true. People see what they want to see, but they don't see me.

Why? They don't know me.
I'm Invisible. Yes, that's me.

Shake and Stomp

Related blog entry: Ass Lesson


Death and Life are in the power of the tongue"

Many of us already know this because we have been made aware of the damaging effects of verbal abuse. We may also have been informed about the importance of what we say to others and even more importantly what we say to ourselves. Yet, when asked the simple question, "How are you today?" We may respond, "Fine, under the circumstances". Now, this response may seem inconsequential, but may be unconsciously affecting an individual's ability to effectively deal with adverse situations.
It's more than 'just words'. Consider, why would anyone want to state that a situation has him/her defeated? Yet by adding 'under the circumstances' a person is not talking from a position of strength and capability to handle the situation. Remember, re-frame how you see yourself in relationship to your circumstances.

C'mon, let's Shake it off and Stomp it down!


Shake and Stomp 

Once there was a farmer who wanted to get rid of his goat by burying him alive. After he dug the hole really deep so that the goat wouldn't be able to climb or jump out of it, he started the task of tossing dirt into the hole.

What the farmer didn't know, as the dirt landed on the goat, the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Over and over again the farmer continued to toss more and more dirt into the deep hole. Over and over again the goat would SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN. Finally, after much time had passed, the packed dirt was rising and it became closer to ground level. In the last few feet from ground level, the goat was able to jump out of the hole quickly, run away, and escaped. 

Remember, 'There is no temptation which is common to man, that God hath not prepared a way of escape'

Lesson: Sometimes what is designed to bury us has the potential to become the means to help us, if we would just SHAKE IT OFF and STOMP IT DOWN.

Indicators of a Rough Day

It's been a rough 4 weeks, eh? For the sake of being prepared and keeping a positive attitude for future challenges, here's some indicators so 'you can tell when it's going to be a rotten day'.


You wake up face down on the pavement.

You put your bra on backward and it fits better.

You call Suicide prevention and they put you on hold.

You see a "60 Minutes" news team waiting in your office.

Your birthday collapses from the weight of the candles.

Your son tells you he wishes Anita Bryant would mind her own business.

You want to put on the clothes you wore home from the party, and therearen't any.

You turn on the news and they're showing emergency routes out of the city.

Your twin sister forgot your birthday.

You wake up and discover you waterbed broke and then realize you don't have a waterbed.

your car horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hell's Angels on the freeway.

Your wife wakes up feeling amorous and you have a headache.

Your boss tells you not to bother to take off your coat.

The bird singing outside your window is a buzzard.

You wake up and your braces are locked together.

You walk to work and find your dress is stuck in the back of your pantyhose.

You call your answering service and they tell you it's non of your business.

Your blind date turns out to be your 'ex'

Your income tax check bounces.

You put both contact lenses in the same eye.

Your pet rock snaps at you.

Your wife says, "Good morning, Bill" and your name is George.

---Author Unknown....but troubled.


************

Interpreting the Indicators

If you recognize 10 indicators or less: Obviously you got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning. Go back and try again...tomorrow.

If you recognize 11-18 indicators: Life is tough...deal with it!

If you recognize 19 or more indicators: Karma is biting you like fleas on a dog!

A.A.A.D.D.

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS ..... PLEASE READ!
Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder. Somehow, I feel better even though I have it!!

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. --- Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:
I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.


As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mail box earlier.


I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.


I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.


So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.


But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway,
I may as well pay the bills first.


I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where
I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.


I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over.


The Pepsi is getting warm, and I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.


As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye -- they need water.


I put the Pepsi on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.


I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.


I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.


I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.
So, I set the remote back on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.
Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
the car isn't washed
the bills aren't paid
there is a warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter
the flowers don't have enough water,
there is still only 1 check in my check book,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,

I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,
and I'll try to get some help for it but first I'll check my e-mail....

Do me a favor.
Forward this message to everyone you know because I don't remember who the hell I've sent it to.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!!!

--- Selected ---


Part 2 --- Independent President (Getting it Done)

Related Blogs:

Real Reform ---> Real Growth http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/invisibilityblanket/gGGCBZ 


Casting the First Stone
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/invisibilityblanket/gGGCGg


Getting it Done

More obvious than ever before, President Obama seems to be a 'closer' i.e. finishing the business of previous administrations, both Republican and Democrat. Whether it's healthcare reform, War in Iraq and Afghanistan, Middle East Peace Process, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Education and Energy Reform, and more.
 
It's not as easy as it may appear. Continuity of American principles and values must be maintained while moving the country towards real sustainable growth and security.

President Obama's character and leadership style is highlighted. The ability to be able to respectfully consider alternative opinions and views helps him avoid the problems of past presidents, Republican and Democrat.

************

'We the People', generally speaking, recognize Obama is trying to act responsibly and principled in the best interest of all Americans actually demonstrating willingness to accept ideas from any source regardless of political affiliation ...few are actually listening to him though, so unfortunate.

Now, President Obama has shown willingness to address the misguided actions of Republican presidents like George Bush (43). The time has come that he must be willing to admit and acknowledged the misguided actions of Democrat presidents, like Bill Clinton. Really it may actually affirm why many people voted for him in 2008... Principled and Independent.

Now saying these things is by no means an attempt to disparage or otherwise disrespect any previous president or his administration, Republican or Democrat.


Closed Minds Support Closed Primaries

For years, the ideologues on BOTH sides of the political spectrum have been making their voices heard in election primaries, does it not produce more of the same? It seems there is a battle royale between the two major political parties. BOTH parties seem to be using new methods like grassroots organizing that only fulfills same ole' objective as promoting more strident ideological partisan positions. Ultimately, producing same ole' results --- political gridlock and stagnation in growth.

Independents are disgusted by the behavior of certain members of Congress (e.g. stubborn-ness, obstructionist). Independents want principled leadership. There's understanding that one party does not have all the answers. One party is not always right or wrong. There needs to be balance.

Independents are not apathetic. For the most part, Independents' voices have been muffled as they are systematically 'shut out' of the primary voting process across the nation. This practice of denying freedom to exercise right to vote based on political affiliation/idealogy seems so contrary to American democracy/U.S. Constitution. Denying ~ 40% of the population (and growing) the freedom to exercise right to vote is simply unacceptable. It's time for open primaries in all 50 states!


As reported in USATODAY, May 17-2010:"I'm not thrilled with this Democrat-Republican stuff. Most of us aren't one or the other. We are moderates, somewhere in the middle." --- Pennsylvania resident.



As it has been noted by many individuals, ideological purists on both sides of political spectrum are angry at leaders who understand and do practice the value of principled compromise for the common good of nation.

Allowing ideological purists on either side of political spectrum to continue have overwhelming influence in choosing candidates only increases liklihood of:

MORE OF THE SAME

1 --- Vote against a candidate/and ideas, not really for a candidate/ideas in general elections.

2. --- Increase political gridlock due to ideological rigidity and policy intransigency.

3. --- Increase number of individuals who are 'swooped' into Congress/other offices as result of fickle populist fervor not foundational principles and ideas.

4. --- Increase reactionary emotional response, not rational deliberation on and practical problem-solving of the isses.

5. --- Less focus on real leadership skills such as listening to understand, not hearing to respond; effective communication i.e. ability to debate, negotiate, and compromise effectively; critical thinking and practical problem -solving.

6. --- More intellectual bigotry (intolerance) and rigidity that have poisoned civil discourse for years.

7. --- National stagnation. Inability to effectively compete in global marketplace. An illusion of success, prosperity, and leadership.


It's time to move forward. It's time for leadership that is principled and responsible. It's time for real leadership, not popularity contests. It's time to shake off the shackles of idealogical orthodoxy which have prevented the nation from producing sustainable solutions to problems.

It's time to declare independence from idealogical orthodoxy and do what's right for the nation.

To all leaders: Are you willing to stand for special interests that appeal to extreme idealogical views of selected few or are you willing to work in the best interest of all Americans? "What may be popular is not always right, what may be right is not always popular."

Thanks to all leaders who is willing to stand for what is right. Declare Independence!



Get Involved!

IndependentVoting website http://independentvoting.org/CongressionalHearings.html

--- IndependentVoting.org has launched a national campaign to lobby Congress to hold hearings on the structural discrimination in our electoral system against independent voters.
The purpose of our campaign is two-fold: 1) To educate Congress and shine a light on the effect of partisan control of the election process, namely that 40% of Americans have a second class status; and 2) to urge Congress to investigate these biases by holding hearings.






Saturday, December 3, 2011

Part 1: An Independent President (Historical Review)


It seems as though the United States of America is beginning to live up to its purpose, more than 200 years since the inaugural of the first president in 1789. Now, the two parties, though evolved, have always highlighted significant differences in approaches to national challenges. The two parties serve admirable purpose in preventing undue ideological control of U.S. policies by any particular political party.

Notably, throughout the years, the presidency has been treated as a trophy and the president as a pawn by the political parties, Democrats and Republicans. What has been witnessed in American politics is the rancorous environment whereby there's a seemingly unwillingness of leaders to focus beyond party interests and rather more on the interests of the nation. Indeed it has affected the presidency and its occupant at any given time. The state of affairs has often constrained the president from acting responsibly in best of nation to move US forward.

It's time to have an Independent President who demonstrates personal integrity through pragmatism and understanding the responsibility of having... 

Freedom

Freedom from Religion Guided by principles not prejudices
Freedom from Politics Being principled not partisan

Freedom from Family Being principled not personal
Freedom from Race Promoting principles not people

Freedom from the Past Promoting precedents base on principles not patterns


"Independence - is loyalty to one's best self and principles, and this is often disloyalty to the general idols and fetishes." --- Mark Twain



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The president often must make decisions that may cause the progressive left to be despondently blue and the conservative right to be fiery red. In the last 3 years we have witnessed many decisions of President Obama actually infuriating the ideologues on the right and the left. When President George Bush addressed federal funding of stem cell research, his decision also was not fully acceptable to the ideologues on the right and the left. President Clinton has been called "the best Republican president we’ve had in a while” due to his pragmatic policy record i.e. 'he’s for free trade, he’s for globalization, he was for welfare reform, fiscal restraint'. Ronald Reagan also had policy stances that were unpopular with progressives and conservatives.

Throughout our history, there have been stark disagreements regarding policies, many are being echoed today. Yet, it really shows the strength of American Democracy when despite obvious fundamental differences in policy, the decisions of the U.S. President reflects a continuity of purpose. The aim of the president should be to act responsibly in best of nation to move US forward.

"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."--- Colin Powell

There is a growing group of individuals, voters who wants to move beyond Red vs. Blue typology. There's understanding that the nation's challenges require pragmatic sustainable solutions not just ideological dogma offered by partisans in both parties. There's understanding no party has all the answers, but solutions which require pragmatic collaboration and principled compromise. Pundits have asked, Can Independents reform America? Well, the answer is yes and indeed they have already brought forth significant changes to American politics.





There may be some cynics and scoffers but Independents are not asking for our leaders to deny their party labels but put them aside and put America first before party ideology.
Indeed "The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats." Let's be clear, Independents are declaring, "Enough of the political games and brinkmanship. These times that we're facing requires that we live up to America's purpose. Act in accordance with realization that "there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America."









Further Reading

Dear God



Dear God


I could ask you for items,
Like a sapphire ring,
An Xbox, a Playstation,
Or other material things.

I could ask for the latest toy,
Or a brand new car.
I could ask for the world,
Or my name upon a star.

But this Holiday,
Christmas, Yule, Chanukah,
St. Nick’s Day, Saturnalia,
Or Kwanza,

I ask, I beg, I plead,
Just for one thing.
For us to get past our differences,
And let peace this season bring.


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