Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/myles-spicer/page/5/)
It is frustrating…aggravating…and ultimately harmful to our nation’s future; and the Democrats just do not get it! It is the lack of effective communication skills the party has to win the hearts and minds of the electorate in future elections. And ultimately the responsibility for this coming (and continuing) disaster has to rest with the DNC. Here’s why.
This year, in an absolutely stunning and bitterly divided 5 to 4 decision, The Supreme Court. overruled two important precedents about the First Amendment rights of corporations, and ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations in future elections. The ruling, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, No. 08-205, overruled two precedents: Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, a 1990 decision that upheld restrictions on corporate spending to support or oppose political candidates, and McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, a 2003 decision that upheld the part of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 that restricted campaign spending by corporations and unions. (The ruling keeps intact restrictions on funds to candidates, but allows unlimited expenditures for “independent political organizations”). Continue Reading
The huge debate, flap, and consternation sweeping the country, making English the “official” language of various locales, states, and the nation (over 87% favor this proposal) is not only irrelevant, but also mostly nonsense. And, there are a number of reasons why. Starting with the most obvious, the entire process seems to be a solution in search of a problem. The fact is no real problem even exists. Though our constitution does not call for an “official” language, currently 82% of all Americans call English their native language; and 96% of all residents of our nation claim to speak English “well”. This leaves few of us who are not English speaking at all – and as past history would suggest, most of those are already striving to learn the language, if they intend to live, work, and participate in our nation’s culture. Additionally, 30 states, and many other government locales, already have passed laws making English, what they designate, as their “official” language. (As a side note, those who have an “official” language have no better governance than those who do not). Continue Reading
On Thursday, July 20, in the Star Tribune Michael Saltsman, representing the Employment Policies Institute, wrote what appeared to be a compelling argument for to eliminate the minimum wage for restaurant servers. It was in support of the Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, Tom Emmer, who made such a proposal because (to quote him): “many servers now make over $100,000 per year”. His contention was absurd, and rejected by virtually all parties (except Saltsman). I can easily understand how this debate has become tiresome for all interested in the issue; never the less, the Saltsman piece demands further vetting and some deeper examination. By that, I do not mean to start parsing all the pennies, and nuances of the minimum wage (that has been done); nor to revisit the issue that servers are already sufficiently compensated. Instead, I approach this with two separate and new commentaries not yet addressed – how gullible is the media; and the danger of corporate interests gaining media power in our country. Continue Reading
Critics of Federal response to oil spill
disengenuous…and dishonest
A few weeks a go, I wrote that critics of Obama’s handling of the oil spill were “uninformed, unfair, and unwarranted”. Now I would like to modify that charge by adding “disingenuous”, and intellectually dishonest, as wel Continue Reading
Politics has never been a completely “sane” activity, but in the past year or two, it has truly entered the Bizarro World – and seems to be mad, mad mad. Best evidence of these strange phenomena is the incredible number of outrageous, outlandish, and strange statements made by any number of politicians, and an equally incredible number of apologies and mea culpa which follow. “I am sorry” seems to be the operative words.The most recent is the McChrystal debacle in which a supposedly smart, experienced 4-star general dissed his Commander in Chief, only to later profusely apologize. “I’m sorry”, said he.Going back a bit, Congressman Joe Wilson shouted out in the venerable halls of the House of Representatives “You lie” – again directed at the President. He said he let his emotions get the better of him. Continue Reading
In a recent editorial, the Dallas Morning News urged us to ignore the disaster in the current Gulf oil spill, and continue to drill as before. What else would you expect from a major newspaper in the oil patch? Not only is this a bad idea, but a case could even be made to stop oil production in the Gulf before another disaster befalls us. As Draconian, radical, and potent as this idea may be, there is a strong case to be made for such an action. Foremost in this case is that the risk/reward ratio for continued drilling opts in favor of stopping new oil production there immediately…a program of planned capping of existing wells over a reasonable period of time…and eventually getting oil rigs out of the Gulf altogether before the next tragedy happens. The Morning News editorial notes: “The oil industries’ record, while not perfect, if one of advancing safety.” It further goes on to claim a disaster of this dimension has not occurred for over 41 years (presumably the Santa Barbara spill). This is not entirely correct (on a world wide scale), and sugar coats what has been an ongoing saga for oil spills creating serious and tragic cases of environmental damage. The real dangers and damages To begin with, there are currently 115 oil rigs (plus many more static platforms) operating in the Gulf of Mexico – and each provides an opportunity and exposure for another mishap and major crisis. Many are doing exactly the kind of extreme deep water drilling the BP platform was doing – and extending technology into areas not entirely understood or well managed by the oil industry (as is the BP situation proves). More importantly, there are about 500 offshore drilling rigs operating worldwide, and they have been far from safe. Continue Reading
The proposed lawsuit to render the new health care reform law “unconstitutional” would be proper, if it were not so transparently political — thus politicizing and damaging a valued judicial process. In Minnesota, as in other states, the tension between a conservative Republican governor (Tim Pawlenty), and a Democratic Attorney General (Lori Swanson) has boiled over to an acrimonious exchange of charges. It reached a high point when in Wednesday’s April 7, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jeff Johnson (Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2006), who has framed the debate for pursuing the suit, attempts to make the case (citing various Constitutional Law) that Swanson, should have joined the suit by 14 other state AGs to void the law on historical legal grounds. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.Governor Pawlenty had demanded that AG Swanson join the suit. Continue Reading
In recent days I have been bombarded with comments and emails from many of my Jewish friends about the “ire directed against Israel, one of our closest friends”; and the assumed perfidy of the Obama administration, against our ally, in the recent settlement flap. While I normally pass such debate, the climax for me came with an op-ed by conservative columnist, Max Boot in the March 19 LA Times, titled “No way to treat a friend”. Boot, and my Jewish associates have it right – except they have their countries reversed. Israel’s reaction is no way to treat a friend…us!First two disclaimers essential for my comments. Number one, I am a third generation American Jew born and raised in the nice middle-America state of Minnesota. I am a strong, consistent, and loyal supporter of Israel. I fully understand the danger that surrounds Israel (kindly do not write about my apparent naïveté, and unlike almost all of those who cite the danger, I have actually read the Hamas Charter). I am far from those who are characterized as “self-hating” Jews who rant about the plight of the Palestinians, nor do intend to get into that debate here. Nor is this about the right of Israel to control East Jerusalem (possibly true, but not relevant to this discussion).Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.What this is about is twofold: first, my friends who characterize Obama as a weak ally of Israel or worse, a closet enemy – they are flat out wrong. Continue Reading
I have been constantly amused by the similarities of the Tea Party in Alice in Wonderland and the Tea Party that exists in America today. They both seem to live a fantasy world, and as the Cheshire Cat noted to Alice at the Tea Party: “We are all mad here”. How perfect! So, take a trip with me to an America conceived and run by the Tea Party – it may be a journey that even the Tea Partiers (let’s call them TPs for short) may find surprising, and may even regret.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. To begin with, let’s examine those things that the TPs are striving for; there are basically three. First few or no taxes. Continue Reading