conservatism -  

The inclination, especially in politics, to maintain the existing or traditional order.

A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.

Caution… Read full post »

The circus in DC keeps getting better and better. After watching the health care debate for several  months, I'm coming to the conclusion that our political system is inherently incapable of  accomplishing anything useful. We've got a Republican party who'd rather see this country lose, and… Read full post »

One evening a year or two ago, I watched a documentary about Auschwitz. It was horrific, and as I watched it a thought occurred to me; if ghosts are real, if they're the psychic residue of bad events, then places like Auschwitz and Dachau must be plagued by the worst sorts of… Read full post »

 photo from taylormitchell.ca

Taylor Mitchell, a 19 year old  singer-songwriter  from Toronto, was hiking in Cape Breton National Park in Nova Scotia Tuesday afternoon when she was attacked by two coyotes.  Other hikers heard Mitchell's screams for help and … Read full post »

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I read a post last week  which claimed Afghanistan Is The  Taliban Is Afghanistan Is The Taliban.  That's nonsense.   The Taliban no more represent the aspirations of all Afghanis than do the Boy Scouts.  They are, among other t… Read full post »

The greatest foreign policy challenge facing this country right now is the situation in Afghanistan. Even our retarded news media have begun to pick up on this; they've now moved from covering the health care reform debate in an asinine, irresponsible manner to covering our Central Asian war in an as… Read full post »

My first post in Open Salon was a year ago today. I didn't even use caps!

A lot of people are doing genealogical research these days. People in my own family have managed to find some pretty interesting stuff about our family tree, and there have been some surprises. It turns out for instance that I have some famous ancestors, including Charlemagne,&nbs… Read full post »

A recovered memory, a flashback while talking to a friend; that's where I found this.

Years ago on the East Side,  in the white ghetto.  I pull up to some ratbag of a house on some shithole of a street. There are raven-haired  and tow-headed little kids play… Read full post »

Want a glimpse into the beginnings of our current health care system? Below is a transcript of a taped conversation between John Ehrlichman and Richard Nixon in 1971.

Ehrlichman: "We have now narrowed down the vice president's problems on this thing to one issue, and that is whether we shou… Read full post »

Q - What's the difference between capitalism and communism?
A - Well, under capitalism man exploits man, but of course under communism it's the other way around. - old Russian joke

"The linear example of right (Fascist) and left (Communist) that you learned in either High School or College are not eve… Read full post »

all images © 2009 by nanatehay Read full post »

Democratic Representative Alan Grayson (D FLA), who has drawn a lot of heat from Rethugs for his "Republicans want you to die quickly" remarks on the House floor yesterday, has refused to apologize for it. He in fact ramped up his rhetoric today, calling Republicans "foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging N… Read full post »

Polls indicate that the majority of Americans want a public option included in the health care reform legislation now being debated in Washington. From the New York Times:

The latest New York Times/CBS News Poll found solid support for a government-run insurance plan, or so-called public option, that… Read full post »

It's a beautiful late September day here, yet I find myself in a pensive mood. Maybe it's the unsettled autumn air, or the sense of melancholy which always settles on my shoulders this time of year.

Is it just the season I wonder, or is it something inside of me?

I… Read full post »

There's been a lot of speculation online recently that Glenn Beck may have raped and murdered a young woman in 1990.  Mr. Beck hasn't yet refuted the allegations,  and I for one don't believe he… Read full post »

Jimmy Carter took some heat yesterday for saying Joe Wilson's "You lie" outburst was possibly motivated by racism. I can't speak to Wilson's reasons for being so disrespectful, but I can tell you uncategorically that anybody who says racism isn't behind a lot of the opposition to Barack Obama&nb… Read full post »

Some of you know I have a brother (Trig Palin) and sister (J Lynne) who blog in Open Salon. Our mother  is also a member, and has just posted her views on the version of health care reform which the Gang of Six made public today. If you're interested in the issue, please… Read full post »

Patrick Swayze, a true cultural icon, has passed away. He had an important and positive influence on my life, and I'll miss him greatly. I'll always remember when I first saw him in "Footloose" and went out and bought my first pair of leg warmers. And who can forget him as… Read full post »

I was at my brother's recently, and my nephew was singing a tune called "Hero Of  War." It's by a group call… Read full post »

PHILOSOPHICALLY LIBERTARIAN + OPERATIONALLY LIBERAL = SELFISH HYPOCRISY

A while ago, I listened to  David Brooks say that many Americans are "philosophically libertarian and operationally liberal."  He was referring to people who are OK with receiving MediCare or VA health be… Read full post »

I was talking with a friend recently who said "Wouldn't it be great if a regular person wrote Obama's coming speech instead of a paid professional?"  That made an impression on me, and I decided to give it a try myself. Here's my attempt at speech-writing for the president, but 'til I… Read full post »

I'm weary of health care-related posts, especially from me, but this is something I feel the need to share. Bill Moyers has long been a hero of mine, and never more so than when I watched him last night. Here's the transcript from an essay at the end of Bill Moyers Journal,… Read full post »

OSer Leigh Bailey says  " No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the day." Any questions?

My friend Delia Black does ask a simple question;  why… Read full post »

*fascism –noun  a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

* from Dictionary.com

We've all seen the cute little pi… Read full post »