Straight From the Horses' Mouth

I generally write Jim McDermott (my congressman) about once or twice a month, expressing to him my views and frustrations with our government. Fortunately, I don't often have to persuade him, as he is generally on the same page as me. Recently, however, I've grown increasingly frustrated with the Dems' inability to rein in the Cowboy President, while Dickie Boy runs around without supervision, wasting money and planning wars with all his little neo-con clubhouse buddies.

So I was pretty happy to see this note in my inbox today. Generally I get the stock response from McDermott's office, with perhaps a line or two inserted by him here or there. This one, however, felt much more personalized as it directly addressed many of the specific issues I wrote to him about last week.

Dear Jonathan:

I have received your message demanding impeachment of the President, and I appreciate knowing your views in this matter. I share your outrage over the conduct of the Bush Administration. Because Vice President Cheney has played perhaps the most critical role in developing the disastrous policies of this Administration, endangering both national and international security, I have joined several members of the House of Representatives in calling for his impeachment.

For many months, I viewed impeachment as a drastic course of action that would distract Congress from the considerable work requiring its attention. Over these same months, however, the Vice President insistently has pursued provocative actions that have threatened civil liberty, undermined the rule of law, and jeopardized our international standing. Impeachment of our highest elected officials should be considered only when those individuals commit intolerable acts. Sadly, the Vice President egregiously has violated the public trust, placing himself above the law and beyond its constraints. It is appropriate that the Congress now exercise its authority and obligation to remove him from office.

As you know, the impeachment process is protracted and complex. As the 110 th Congress progresses, I will keep your remarks in mind. Again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jim McDermott
Member of Congress

Now we're getting somewhere.

Lazy Is as Lazy Doesn't

So, here at work we’ve got keycard double-door entrances from the elevator lobby. Located next to each keycard reader is a big metal button, with a handicapped symbol… It’s really pretty incredible just how many people choose to hit this button rather than actually just open the door themselves. Very symbolic.

Coincidence that most people doing this are shaped like pears? I think not.

Infidel Guy v. Mormonia

This past week's Infidel Guy show is all about the Mormon religion. This week he hosts Richard Packham, a very nice, well-spoken old Atheist who left the Mormon church in his mid-20s. It's the standard stuff---most of the stuff which caused me to first begin to question the church as a young teen (magic spectacles, angels, golden plates, polygamy, black skin as a "curse...").

But the interesting point made by both Reggie (the Infidel Guy) and Packham is the power and influence of the internet on slowing the spread of magical, mystical beliefs. When I was growing up in Utah, the church would brag on and on about how big it was getting. I remember when it hit 10 million and everybody was patting themselves on the back. Apparently, though, the spread of Mormonia has slowed some in the past decade.

Could this be because of the internet, perhaps? Nowadays, when a couple of white shirt/black tie 19-year-olds show up on your door step and talk about a guy who found buried treasure in a hill in New York in the 1830s, you can get right online after they leave and find out just how silly a claim like that really is. Or look at DNA evidence proving that the North American Indians have been here for tens of thousands of years---not the couple thousand as claimed in the Book of Mormon.

Man, the internet would have been a wonderful resource for me as a confused young teenager. I took the old-fashioned route out of the church---it just never "felt" right to me. But it's good to know that there are more tools out there for those seeking escape from the destructive power of religion---be it whatever cult or sect.

It's Very Simple

Wow. To think that the Prez and his outfit can hold up a law that 81% of the country supports is really pretty outlandish.

Exactly who represents who?

2007, On the record

I've been worried for quite some time at the state of public wrangling and political discourse that has become the norm over the past few years. "Gotcha" politics and the 30-second soundbite are ruining any sort of intelligent discussion and work towards sensible solutions on many fronts: health care, terrorism and the war, civil liberties, free speech, and opportunity. There are so many labels and catchphrases out there, and leaders are so afraid to speak freely, for fear of being quoted out-of-context or for possibly making a statement to which other people might (gasp!) disagree.

The whole Bru-ha-ha over the General Betray-us ad and the Limbaugh "phony soldiers" comment was base enough, but what's been going on the past week with poor Graeme Frost is almost sick. It was pretty sad enough that the Dems put him in the position in the first place, and it's been even more sad to see the nasty things some of the far-righters are willing to say about a 12-year-old. Wow. Didn't think it would come to this.

I am beyond any sort of solution. I have no idea how we can get out of this cycle. Mostly I just hate the labeling---those who disagree with the war as "unpatriotic;" those who favor expanded opportunity for all as "commies;" those who don't believe religion should be attached to government as "Un-American." When will there be some sort of leadership who can help us talk to each other again? We used to get things done in this country even though we disagreed with each other. Now, we're so busy jerking our knees at every perceived slight that we have no real time to think things through or introduce the art of compromise.

Wonder if it gets better or worse from here. Guess that's the nice thing about a blog---I can go back and check it at any point to follow up.

Bye Bye Myspace

Many have questioned why I deleted my myspace account. Here's a list of the five major reasons.

1. Rupert Murdoch
2. I thought I got out of junior high 15 years ago!
3. Don't like ranking friends, or seeing how friends have ranked me.
4. I don't really identify with the "me" generation.
5. Don't like the constant flood of stupid surveys and meaningless bulletins.