Friday, July 25

El Paso Grassroots


delivered July 23, 2008 El Paso Main Public Library before forming our society.

the Philosophy

If you are hearing this tonight or reading this some day farther on from now, you are being gifted a true opportunity. It’s something you take with you everyday. It’s something you will have to carry out with you when you leave the room. American citizenship is taken for granted most of the days that we live. That’s one of its luxuries. When it’s time to pay our taxes, to visit the Naturalization office, to find a school for our children, or a home for our college graduate we think of it more as a burden. You look at the national polls and you’d think the bulk of Americans treat this living contract as some sort of gym card or shopping center membership. Indeed, that is the best example most of us are ever shown.

We are going to be a little different. We are going to be so different, we are going to go back to what the great men and women of American History have given us. We are going to ask of America as much as the great thinkers and progressive organizers have asked of her. We are going to honor the American Revolution, the Frontier Times, the families of the Great Depression, and that greatest generation that lived through WWII. There is much to learn there, and we will hope to God that we can live up to their standard. We are certain that a change needs to occur; in the plainest of terms, that change begins with accepting the responsibility and the burden that comes with living in America.

I am asking you to give your time and your money. I am not asking on behalf of any group or party. I am asking as your brother. I am asking this as a favor for your brother. I am your brother asking you to help me nourish your neighbor. See where a person puts their money and their energy, and you will know that person’s worth. I am so glad that you are here with us tonight. You see, I was asked to come forward.

Our change is a grassroots movement. That means that the people and the places will pass through a thousand phases before our momentum gives over to another ball rolling. We sharpen each other’s skills, multiply in our strength, and pass along the best of our abilities. If you cannot give money, then give your time. If you can offer expertise, please take the lead in your area or with an event. Show others you can do it better and we will listen and learn. Grassroots is a philosophy that gets its power from everyday people like you and me. Ego is wasted here. If you have a good idea, a technological advantage, or a hidden talent, we would love to have you with us. America gives more than it takes of its citizens. We would like you to give back freedom and liberty to America. We’d like to take freedom and liberty back to our homes.

We are but one grassroots movement. We are called El Paso Grassroots. We believe electing Obama is the bridge to what needs to come next in America. Winning in Texas is the point of forming this permanent society, but it is not the whole story. We are not accepting public funds or PAC funding. If you cannot make politics your life, we are not asking that. Make it your hobby. The idea is that if you invest yourself into it a few hours a week, you focus, and you get better at it. You even get to show off a bit when you get the chance. Give a little something of yourself each month. It’s what you can do, not what you can’t. We get good enough at this, and El Paso isn’t looked at as just a ‘dusty border town’ anymore. It is a proving ground for the future of politics-- a test site for immigration, healthcare reform, and global integration. We realize the position we are in, and we are humbly asking that you step up and take this opportunity for change.

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Thank you for reading. Now do the same in your town or email elpasograssroots@gmail.com for advice on how to get started.

Saturday, July 12

Foreign Intelligence

A play by play on the FISA 2 vote.
I usually do not like Salon, but Glenn Greenwald's assessment is fairly straightforward. Like you, I was a bit wary of Obama's vote on FISA and against cloture. Now I don't feel so bad. He was with them most of the morning, but then once the power positioning was over, he wasn't playing games.

Obama has asked us not to rationalize his actions. We should pressure him and test him. He's gonna do what he thinks is right. So unconstitutional spying is going to be done on Americans and we're going to know about it. Fucking protect yourself. It's not like this is brand new. Free Speech does not necessitate anonymity or faceless volition. I hate the amount of information that is even collected on us. I hate that the government gives itself a free pass at the cost of virtually delimiting anything companies like Catalist, Voter Vault, Google, AT&T, Time Warner, Citibank, Yahoo, and what virtually anyone else might do.

You'll feel a lot more strongly when its your human face on the issue of data mining. Guilt is not the point. These pricks are not always motivated by finding you innocent or sticking to the facts. Still, it is worse to have bad information that cannot be checked and cross-checked.

This is maybe something that should be available. It's unfortunate that completely authoritarian hacks wield it now, but this is a messy business that might be suffering a bit from progressive rails.

I didn't really think I'd say something like that but, it's how I feel.

As for Obama, I do not know exactly what happened. I would guess Feingold, Clinton, Webb, and Specter could tell you better.

Or if you like the Senate session.

You'll need the newest versions of Flash or Real Player depending on how you finagle the C~SPAN site, but you're used to this kind of treatment. I would link to the Bushwackness signing the bill into law, but he's been on his toes lately not to stub any of them on the podium or the microphone.





We need security but, screw him.

Friday, July 11

Bad Science



"One of the foremost experts on global warming says he has solved the problem," WIRED magazine reports. Enlist an fleet of supersonic jets to diffuse a chemically stable form of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, allow chemical reaction to bond with water molecules in the atmosphere, and a reflective coating will bounce the heat from the sun back off the ocean. Sit back and watch the world temperatures drop, and Kablamo! global warming solved.


Holy Crap.


That is the stupidest suggestion I have heard to solve this problem. Sulfur dioxide, by the way, is the by product of burning coal. Chemically stable SO2? So at least it isn't radioactive, ionized, or electrically charged carbon gas. Fantastic. There's already a plastic soup layer in the Pacific Ocean. Why don't we just make it a dark plastic soup layer so all that coal smoke becomes unnecessary? I know this is a bit off topic for this blog, but how retarded is this? Has WIRED gone off its rocker? This from the same July issue that argues the Internet will make Scientific rigor in social sciences obsolete. Has WIRED gotten Tired? WTF?