WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR GOVERNMENT IS WE ARE NOT MORE ENGAGED IN IT

MY THOUGHTS

I feel part of our country's major problems are . . .

In a nutshell

1) Corporate owned media
We care about what we know about and yet our media decides what we want to know. And more often than not, media coverage decisions are based on what "sells" or what is titillating. And not on what will inform or help our lives by knowing a news story.

2) Corporate-beholding elected officials
Needed is campaign finance reform (we won't get it, until we, as a people, demand it). Why do we think Washington is so out of touch with what we citizens want? Because they have to spend unthinkable amounts of money to get elected, therefore take donations from corporations, who they answer to and not to the every day USA citizen who just wants a job and some reasonably priced health care.

"We the corporations"

On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. Human beings are people; corporations are legal fictions. The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law. In a democracy, the people rule.

We Move to Amend.

We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:

• Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
• Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our votes and participation count.
• Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate "preemption" actions by global, national, and state governments.

Make democracy legal in the USA. Send a message to the Supreme Court
movetoamend

3) Education
is a) not supported more by us as families, adults and b) standards could be higher by our educators in many cases. But it is both of theses things.

Granted this is from a 2002 report, however in a google search this is all that came up in a 15 minute search:

"South Korea has the most effective education system in the world's richest countries, with Japan in second place and the United States and Germany near the bottom, a United Nations study said Tuesday.

The ranking "provides the first 'big picture' comparison of the relative effectiveness of education systems across the developed world," the UNICEF study said."
Source: www.cbsnews.com/

Whitehouse plans to improve education

4) Not engaged in democracy and not knowledgeable of government's actions
We, as individuals, are not engaged in our government's actions. Sometimes we believe hearsay over reality. Most of us don't bother to vote and many times when we do vote, we do so uninformed. Many of us don't know the names of our own elected officials. We don't know what way our representative politicians are voting. Which means, we can't then hold them accountable even if we are the sort who would call or email them. How many times have you lobbied your elected officials about anything at all?

5) The world view is limited
The majority of USA citizens are not informed about our own government, but we have very limited, if any knowledge, of other countries' histories, governments and news. Our interests are insular. When I traveled to Europe I was so surprised that they knew our history better than I did. I had a public school education and I have undergraduate and graduate degrees.

I have learned more on PBS and good news shows and now online, than I ever did in a classroom or in a text book.

I suppose pointing this out may not be enough. There would unsurprisingly be a number of those who would believe there is no reason to be interested in other countries on the planet. We can't close up our borders and live in a capsule that isn't affected by others. We need to know what others do outside our boundaries. The harmful, but the wonderment created elsewhere just as much.

Photo from book: Please Touch
by Edwin M. McMahon and Peter A. Campbell

6) Children's welfare
We don't really care. The foster care system is broken. And how could it not be otherwise? Especially when the budget for it is axed year after year. It is a crime how we disregard the years of childhood. We should all hang our collective heads in mortifying shame.

Failing a child becomes legacy

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Alice in Space

Ridin' the Palisades up to her place
Wheels leave the ground, yeah the air here is laced
And I'm gone, I'm long gone
And its a long way out to Alice in Space

I visit Alice cause she understands
More of the child and less of the man
She don't game me
And she won't fall
But its a long way out to Alice in Space

She'll lift you up and she'll shed your disguise
And I've seen the ancients in Alice's eyes when she smiles

And its a long way out to Alice in Space
She'll lift you up and shed your disguise
Then see the ancients in Alice's eyes when she cries

Millions of people and one little lie
Zillions of children whose spirits have all flown away
They're long gone

And its a long way out to Alice in Space
And its a long way out to Alice in Space
Its a long way out

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Websites

adopt us kids

childrens aid society.org/adoption

Ten Ways to Help Children in Foster Care

Recommended books by Alice Miller

The Body Never Lies

The Drama of the Gifted Child

The Truth Will Set You Free

THE UNITED STATES TAKES A STAND TO NOT BE AGAINST THE DARFUR GENOCIDE

In the tiny medical facility in Goz Beide, three men lay side by side, their eyes gouged out by Janjaweed knives.
Picture from http://www.miafarrow.org/photo_01.html

Darfur Legislation Blocked in the Senate

The post below is taken directly from an email I received from www.genocideintervention.net

This is a busy time of the year for Darfur activists, with the campaign season heating up and anti-genocide legislation moving in Congress. GI-Net has called on our members several times recently to take action by attending events and film screenings and contacting legislators about passing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA). Your hard work and commitment has paid off -- read on for an update on this important legislation.

But there's still a lot of work to be done. As the primaries grow nearer, activists around the country are organizing to make an impact on the campaigns. One major resource at their disposal is the number of hard-hitting documentaries about Darfur that have been released in 2007. Contents below:

• Legislative Update
• What About the White House?
• The Value of a Film
• Take Action Today

Legislative Update

Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act

Recently, GI-Net sent an Action Alert to all our members, encouraging you to call your Senators and ask them to support the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (PDF). The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) will protect state and local divestment and prohibit federal contracts with foreign companies helping to fuel the genocide. Senators from both parties tried to pass SADA on November 15th. Unfortunately, Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) prevented consideration of the bill before the Thanksgiving holiday. The Senator's action comes despite having voted in favor of the bill in the Senate Banking Committee. Now, the bill cannot move forward unless Senator Hagel removes his hold.

Appropriations

American leadership was critical in authorizing the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur. To ensure the success of the UNAMID force, it is imperative that the United States pay its share of the mission's costs (PDF). In the near future, Congress and the President will be finalizing the 2008 Budget. Funding for Darfur peacekeeping could be cut in this process. Any efforts to reduce funding pose a serious threat to the swift and effective deployment of the UNAMID mission. Urge the President and Congress to fully fund the Darfur peacekeeping mission. Call 1-800-GENOCIDE to be connected with your elected officials today.

What About the White House?

Passing our Darfur legislation does not solely rely on Congressional votes -- the President also plays a key role in the legislative agenda of our country. In order to make real progress for Darfur, the White House needs to be committed to ending the genocide as well as Congress. As American citizens, we have the opportunity through the 2008 Primaries, to ensure that our presidential candidates will make Darfur a priority for their White House.

The Value of a Film

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the numerous well-done documentaries this year about the genocide in Darfur are invaluable to activists. Whether it's spotlighting Darfur activists from around the globe, including GI-Net's own Adam Sterling in "Darfur Now," or turning the camera on the horrible atrocities being committed in Darfur as Brian Steidle does in "The Devil Came on Horseback," these films have the power to inspire ordinary citizens to take up the fight against genocide. Around the country, activists are realizing that these quality movies provide another tool in the fight to raise awareness about Darfur and effect lasting change.

One great example of this comes from Evan Korn, an 8th-grader in California. Evan developed an interest in Africa through school, but it was not until after his mom took him to see "The Devil Came on Horseback," that he really felt the need to act. Knowing how strongly the film had moved him to action, Evan organized a community screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback" that drew a large crowd. Now that he's inspired others to want act for Darfur, the only question is, what's next for this enterprising 13-year old?

On the other side of the country, students at the University of New Hampshire are using the same documentary to put pressure on presidential primary candidates. "The Devil Came on Horseback" played to a sold-out crowd, followed by a panel discussion with GI-Net representatives, in which numerous individuals expressed their wish that candidates would speak more concretely and more often about Darfur. Representatives from the five presidential campaigns were also on hand to answer questions and take comments. During a campaign season in which the dialogue can often seem vague and petty, films such as this one serve to remind voters and politicians alike that the genocide in Darfur deserves their serious time and attention.

Go to the link
http://www.genocideintervention.net/node/1312
Host a house party for the upcoming HBO premiere of "Sand and Sorrow". You can use films to inspire your own family or community to take action.

"Sand and Sorrow" website: http://www.sandandsorrow.org/

Thanks for all you do to help end genocide!

~ The GI-Net team

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WON'T YOU DO SOMETHING?