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2009-09-01 06:02:21

[BREW] Pagans And Politics

All content (c) Sitara Haye, 2008-2009.
All rights reserved.
 

[BREW] Pagans And Politics

September/1/2009

brew-purpleSince Pagans are a fairly opinionated bunch, it’s not surprising to find them dishing about politics.  Most of the Pagans and Wiccans I know are quite liberal — very common as we are minority and, in current practice anyway, the Liberal Left is all about minority rights.  Then again, the Left also tends to embrace more “Pagan-hearted” planks in the platform, being more “green” oriented, more “peace” oriented (ie, more Dove than Hawk), more utopian “let’s make it good for everyone”.

But what about the Conservative side of things?  What about the rapidly-going-out-of-style virtues such as good work ethic?  Working for the things you want and the life you wish to create? Fiscal responsibility?  Seeing our taxes put to use in a way that benefits those who pay those taxes?

Do you pay attention to politics and do you have a political stance?  Are you politically active?  Are your political views something you’ve created for yourself or adopted whole-cloth from how you were raised?  Which is stronger — your political views or your spiritual views?  And by that, I don’t mean which one is most unlikely to change — the stronger you are, the more able you are to bend and flex without breakng or needing to make someone else break.

Yes, I just brought up politics on my blog.  Play nice, now, y’all.

Categories: Author's Blog, Daily Brew-HaHa!

31 Comments

  • Millie Fee | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 8:48 AM
     

    My spiritual views are the strongest but then again it’s my spiritual veiws that are the basis for my political views.
    I believe that good medical care is a right not a privledge. We live in the nation that used to lead in innovation in medicine, before politics and greed got in the way. The very idea that people can actually think that one person is more entitled than another to get care, sends me over the edge! I believe that insurance companies are a form of legalized extortion under the guise of a company there to do it’s part. They only are there to benefit themselves-period.
    Don’t get me started on wars…most of you know how I feel about that one! I believe in Peace and Taking care of each other and our Mother. I believe that no one has the right to tell anyone what to believe as long as it does NOT abuse anyone’s right to exist or break any laws-Leave It Be! I don’t believe in imposing your will upon somone period. I think that we should outlaw wars, pollution, abuse,and anything else that spins us around and gets us walking in the wrong direction.
    But the biggest thing that should be outlawed is Hate. Bigotry, in any form, and crimes of the spirit. They are the ones that scald the soul.
    I have and still continue to be involved in politics as much as I’m able. And I believe that if you don’t use your right to vote, you have no right to complain. Never forget the this country is based first and fore-most on the principle of “We the People”. You can effect a change.
    I don’t believe in just giving everything away. You should work for your money, and earn your paycheck. But I do not think that companies have the right to slave labor or using your talents to benefit themselves only. Pay an honest wage for an honest days work. And I know that this may strike at the very heart of Capitalism but…No damn CEO or Corporate is worth more than twice what you are paying your employees. If you want a strong company, be strong enough to reward those who made you that way. The initial investors…your employees. Those are just a few things…

     

    • Sitara Haye (sitarahaye.com) | Reply

      Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 11:25 AM
       

      I, too, have real issues with what certain professions get paid to do what they do. Entertainers in our society are paid a gross amount of money. Whether you’re talking about a movie star, talk show host, or sports star, it’s obscene. I read an article the other day that Miley Cyrus said her favorite pair of jeans were made by this one certain company and she bought lots of their jeans. Damn pair of jeans cost over a hundred dollars! Those red-soled Louboutin’s heels you see on the red carpet so often? $800 or more. Almost as much as my rent on a pair of freakin’ SHOES! While people are starving, getting kicked out of their houses, can’t afford health care, work multiple jobs. It’s disgusting to me.

       

  • Lauri | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 9:45 AM
     

    I definitely lean to the left, and I would say that my political views and spiritual views are also connected. Being liberal doesn’t mean not also believing in a good work ethic.

    Unrestrained capitalism leads to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, like one big game of musical chairs.

    I don’t want to get in too much of a rant this early in the morning, but I believe that we are all interconnected and that the well-being of my neighbors affects me and vice versa. One of my favorite sayings is: We all do better when we all do better. I also believe that honoring the Sacred Feminine is directly related to our respect for the Earth and Mother Nature.

    You know, when I first got into Paganism, I just assumed all Pagans leaned to the left like Starhawk, until I started reading commenters on Witchvox. I was particularly shocked when one of her articles was posted from some publication or other, and the commenters really attacked her. Well, as they say, it takes all kinds to fill up the bus.

     

    • Sitara Haye (sitarahaye.com) | Reply

      Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 11:21 AM
       

      Lauri, I didn’t mean to imply that liberal leaning folks don’t have a good work ethic. It does seem to me to be more of a conservative value as there are a great deal of “entitlement minded” liberals out there. You are obviously not one! :-)

      I, too, have seen Starhawk get a real trouncing for her views. I find her activism very inspirational. I don’t always agree with her, but she is out there, constantly, putting forth a viewpoint that needs to be heard and considered. There is actually a fairly kitschy little movement called “Conservative Paganism” which is pretty much just what it sounds like it might be. I consider myself to be socially liberal but fiscally conservative and big on the preservation of individual rights and freedoms. Sadly, neither major Party makes me anywhere close to happy at election times. I would love to see our two-party system busted. It’s going to take some work for that to happen — voters, activists, and a strong desire for change bigger than anything introduced by the current administration.

       

  • EileenDalla | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 11:48 AM
     

    I can’t really separate my political views from my spiritual path because they are both working toward the same end. A healthy, peaceful Earth.
    I guess you could say I am eclectic as far as my political views go because I can see good and bad on both sides. All of us, left, right, republican, democrat, christian, pagan, all of us need to step back and take a good look at our world as a whole. Forget what benefits just your party, your religion or your ethnic background, and work together to fix our terribly broken world.
    The popular idea of ‘I’ and what ‘I’ believe is more important than you and what you believe, needs to be changed to ‘We’ are important and no matter what our beliefs ‘We’ should work together for the good of us all.
    Common sense and compromise are the key words here. Look for the best solution in your opinion, ask your neighbor for theirs and work out a compromise between the two of you. Until we as a species learn to work together, our world will not only remain broken, but will continue on this destructive path until we are beyond repair.

     

  • Knevolyn (cotbm.org) | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 12:16 PM
     

    I definitely care about politics. I always vote and I’ve sent so many e-mails to my representatives that they probably bitch about me by name at this point. :)

    My political views and my spiritual views are inextricably linked. Take the environment for instance… since I see nature as divine, I am compelled to be an environmentalist. And since I see all live as connected, I would feel like a hypocrite if I didn’t advocate human and animal rights.

    On the other hand, I have a warrior’s spirit; I believe in my right to possess the tools of defense. I own guns (in addition to many swords, knives, and other melee weapons) and I strongly advocate that right.

    I tend to think of myself as a liberal libertarian. I’m VERY big on personal freedom and government not interfering in people’s lives. But when it comes to massive corporations, I think the government needs to limit their power… and perhaps even redistribute some of their wealth.

    My political views are quite the opposite of how I was raised, BTW.

     

  • Millie Fee | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 1:24 PM
     

    I personally find it very appropriate the we missed what Madoff was doing right in front of our very own eyes! We really have to ask ourselves why we allow others the right to do that to ourselves. Do you see the blatant entitlement from these mega-corps, and banks and such? When we start pointing these fingers remember the one going back at us because we are the only ones who can stop it! What you are witnessing right now in our country is wonderful! For the first time in a long time “We the People” is getting our voice back! We are making ourselves be heard from both sides and down the middle…but we are finally talking, arguing, yelling, screaming, but FINALLY our voice is being heard. We all need to agree to disagree, but to never stop talking. Because it is through the dialogue that common grounds are found

     

  • Colin (bodhidude.wordpress.com) | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 4:04 PM
     

    My spirituality is the most important thing or the highest priority in my life, politics has no comparison for me, it is of minimal importance.

    Its not that I’m not engaged and aware of whats going on with society but I don’t consider politics at least as it currently exists in this society an effective way to create change or address much of value. Politics in America (and elsewhere) has degenerated into elite groups fighting over power and resources with almost no concern for the common good. Deceit has become synonymous with politics to the point where we expect our politicians to be at least somewhat dishonest and to not follow through on their promises. It has really become quite absurd. I don’t see any substantial difference between republicans and democrats, to me they are all corporatists, serving at the whim of their corporate masters rather than their constituents.

    The ridiculous distinctions between conservative and liberal, left and right serve only to create division and conflict and in my view do not describe real viewpoints. These super charged labels obscure the vastly greater things people have in common and could connect through if differences weren’t highlighted exclusively.

    I think this is however in the process of changing as many of these old systems are breaking down due to the weight and momentum of their dysfunction and the necessity of our world situation today. My focus is on working for change locally where I can directly make a difference and I’m finding that quite effective.

     

  • Myrna | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 4:36 PM
     

    I took a survey that placed me as a center-left social libertarian Left: 1.1, Libertarian: 3.3. So, what does that mean? I am almost perfectly dead center of the Left / Right – Authoritarian / Libertarian. I am very active in certain aspects of politics I feel particularly drawn towards.

    We live in a Capitalist Nation; you have to WORK to earn a living. If you are an able bodied man or woman, then you must get off the couch and go to work!!! Those of us who work hard to get ahead resent those who hold out their hands continuously without any forward movement.

    All Government oversight cost money, that money comes from the people, so if you want specific oversight and to see your money spent wisely, then get involved. Read the facts!!!! However, most people do not like politics and stick their heads in the sand (Or TV, Video games or Computer alternate realities ;o) I am active in the HealthCare arena currently because I am a healthcare provider and vested in the outcome of healthcare actions. However, I also volunteer for Green Space Alliances, gardening for the community (ALL for lower income) to teach people how to grow and eat healthy foods. How unhealthy foods can lead to chronic diseases. I get involved where it matters to me and hopefully my voice will be loud enough to make a difference.
    So I can say that my political views coincide with my spiritual views. My Pagan lifestyle does not interfere with my actions but rather enhances my opinion and passion to get out there and make a difference.

    Capitalism creates commerce, industry and innovation. However, it becomes a problem when we place more value on the dollar than we do on the betterment of society and the earth where we live. Can the government change that? Maybe, but we’ll have to pay for it. Are you willing to give up a few rights to have that oversight? I do not want so much regulation and oversight so I try to do my part and not be wasteful; going back to certain ways of life that conserve energy and eliminate waste.

    Enveloping my life with my spirituality gives me energy to go out and try to make changes. Part of that is to be politically active as I feel one voice can change too many when you educate the masses. All of this is a balance of course, I was raise very conservative and that if I worked hard enough, I could achieve anything. I was also taught to accept others as they are and to help thy neighbor in need. There are those that truly need help, whether it is your neighbor, a community or another nation. I feel it is our job to help those that are bullied and cannot help themselves. If that means we have to go to war, than so be it. Unfortunately we have not evolved enough as humans for there to be no need for such action.

     

    • Avren | Reply

      Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 11:48 PM
       

      “Those who would give up Essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”–Benjamin Franklin

      I found this while researching the ‘Patriot Act’. Giving up rights so we don’t have to deal with the hard stuff like bettering our lives, health, the Earth etc… always bothers me. The government tends to botch things to put it nicely.

       

  • Avren | Reply

    Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 11:41 PM
     

    My spiritual views and my political views are based on one thing… Balance. Too right wing= scary rich getting richer, Mother Earth burning for $$ etc. Too far left= too much given away, or too much conserved. Lets face it people, we NEED wood, we NEED fuel, is every person here going to recycle their home, cars, tvs etc for the greater good? It’s hard to walk in the middle. However it certainly doesn’t hurt us to go through a recession either. SO many people are cutting back on waste, growing their own, volunteering and so fourth, yet we’re supposed to be going through a “hard” time right now? I know that there are people being thrown out of their homes because they cant pay the rent/mortgage, but how many couldn’t afford it to begin with? Being fiscally responsible is YOUR responsiblity. I bet the next home this person buys and/or rents will have a down payment and/or they will have a nest egg set up for times when the s*%t it’s the fan. The dream in America is the pursuit of happiness. NO ONE DESERVES it just because they are an American.
    I work two jobs. I work hard. I now receive health benefits as a perk. I worked for that. Now I’m going to have to work and pay for every person’s health care. No matter if they work or not. Does that seem right? How about our children who are going to inherit a GIANT debt? They will have huge taxes to pay, how will they live? I guess they’ll just have to work harder. Is the health care system screwed? Yes . Will social medicine fix it? No.
    If you don’t believe me, google social medicine in Canada, the first web page will say ‘Socialized Medicine: The Canadian Experience. It is not always good. Ask my brother in law, he is a resident of the UK. He was told all of his life he was fine by social doctors. When he got a job with Microsoft and GOOD benefits he found out he had a heart disease that the doctors in the UK didn’t want to diagnose. It was too costly.
    Sorry to rant everyone, this one bugs me. It leaves too many places for embezzlement and too little care for the people. Should people fall through he cracks? No. Is government organization going to fix it? No.
    My beliefs are home based & work based. So are my politics. Lets look at a culture with a different set of politics. Native Americans. Look at their ancient culture, beautiful by definition. Everyone worked, everyone was tended, and everyone used what they needed and never exploited. We have been apart of their culture for what, a few hundred years and changed so much of it. Do you think we improved it? I don’t. I often think that going back to the simple way of life would be better for all. A pipe dream? Yeah, doesn’t make me wish things were just a little smaller though.
    So in conclusion, balance is necessary for our survival. Let me just say this; for me voting is a B*&#H! LOL! :-)

     

    • Millie Fee | Reply

      Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 9:20 AM
       

      Avren, and all of you;
      I do honestly respect all of your right to believe in what ever your want; But could you please tell me why you and the public feels this way about health care? Honey, I am not knocking you or anyone else. But somehow we really need to bridge this gulf here. When people speak about Nationalized or socialized medicine; How many of you go running and screaming to our falg to start whacking your fellow American on the head and screaming that you are going to be paying for their care? How many of you think that that is the first signs of the big Red C coming to our shores? Or even to our constitution? If you do GET OVER YOURSELVES!!! Do I agree with where our country is going? Hell no but when we start putting our so called National Pride over common sense then we have problems. Our country is going to0 be bankrupt because of Healthcare. Now for all of you who have health extortion insurance…well good for you! You just e-mail me and let me know how they treat you when your insurance dumps you when you come up with a catastrophic illness or accident!. And as for working…well I work! I still challenge folks to walk a mile in my shoes on this one. You all seem to be blissfully ignorant of just how close you all are to losing everything. Including that nest egg you put away!
      And once it’s gone and you are forced out of your home that is completely paid off because they seized it to pay for those bills and that leaves no place to go home to. So what to do!…Well I hear there’s disability H mmm….. Well that takes at least six months to even get them to look at an application and approximately 18 months to approve in Cal. Got any ideas on how to feed yourself and put a roof over your head? Now add children! How about a spouse. Oh and then there’s the fact that even if you could find a job…you are only allow to make $940.00 a month before you make too much.
      But worse yet, it’s the stigma that’s attached…you need help, Get Welfare…well I can’t…why? because of my Ira…well use your Ira…well I just got what was left of it out And that was lost to taxes…Well we’re sorry….you made too much…but the food pantry is going to have food there next week …hopefully. Are you seeing this? Are you reading this…Can you not even garner a glimpse that but for sheer luck and fortunate circumstances your butt could be very easily slide right into that place. And then it’s your turn.
      When you think that you are the one paying for everything you have a snobbish tendancy to look down on others thinking somehow that this would or never could happen to you. But folks you better think again.
      Fiscal responsibility? You bet your butt. But now lets make it real…How about going after the things we can change.?
      You want to bitch…..get out there in the trenches with me…you want to make it a better place so injustices will never occur? Get up off your butt and do something! Become the biggest pain in the butt to your representative! Make them earn their money…You have to!
      Don’t show up at some meeting with a flag that you only use on our holidays and expect me to be completely understanding. I’m a veteran, a mother, a wife, and I work in the Healthcare field…I’m in the trenches doing those things that “most don’t want to do” and I have seen first hand what is really going on out there.
      You haven’t seen the Doctor’s and Nurses wringing their hands in frustration over the endless paperwork that those insruance companies expect to be filled out. Or having to go in to tell a patient that they have now been dropped just before a life-saving treatment or surgery.
      And you haven’t been the one left to care for that person!
      You think it dosen’t weigh on their soul to have to tell someone that they don’t make enough to live? Literally. So what are you saying well you shouldn’t have been born in the first place? Well if you go there then here we go back around the rock…Who put you in charge?
      People, wake-up! What you put out comes back…it’s the three-fold law. Colin is right start out in the place you can be most effective…in your neighborhood.
      Whenever you see ANYONE who is homeless, in need of food or clothing or denied even the basic right to live, you look at them as if seeing your own reflection and treat them as such! Lest it become your fate. And even if it is; you still extend the hand of dignity and repect…because you are Witches and God’s hope better than that!
      Having a healthy hearth and home means having a healthy balanced life and we all should be working for that one, plus it means having a healthy country and world which trickles down to the Mother. And I’ll stand here and defy anyone to say that it costs to much or that we are not worth it!

       

      • Avren | Reply

        Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 9:57 AM
         

        Let me say this. I AM NOT apposed to health care for all. I AM apposed to GOVERNMENT run health care, Did you happen to google what I suggested? I am not some flag beating A-HOLE who shows up at meetings screaming! However I want you to realize that they are doing what you suggested, “working in the trenches” they mayy not be your trenches, but it’s their right to appose. You might have noticed many are old, and many probably have battles big illnesses. Why do you think they are clinging to the old system?
        I donate a lot of our garden to the local shelter, and help those in need. I grew up as the middle child of a single mother, So you can imagine I grew up in the system. I KNOW the BS that you have to deal with. You went on for at least 3 paragraphs explaining the pain in the ass life style of living with government run disability. Need I say more?
        If your home was seized by medical debt that is the first time I ever heard of that EVER happening. Yes hard times happen. As you may well notice I certainly didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. As for insurance? Yes private insurance is flawed! My employer’s(they are a small business) wife underwent a double mastectomy and chemo for a year, she is now “high risk” ain’t that some bulls*$t? do you HONESTLY think it’ll be better under Uncle Sam? How would you like a bunch of non-health care people making your life changing decisions?
        Obviously this is a touch subject, and since Sitara asked for our opinions to her questions I answered. One thing that is for sure, a bunch of people can not agree on one thing. That is MY voice, you said ” we are finally talking, yelling, SREAMING, but our voices are being heard” that is the truth. I just hope we can all “play nice” here.

         

        • Avren | Reply

          Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 10:24 AM
           

          BTW- My aunt and uncle live in Kamloops B.C. Their niece whom they adopted was born with cerebral palsy. The government health care there hardly helped her! If she ever wanted to walk someday (she does now with little or no help) and ever get en education they had to have help outside of Canada! If it weren’t for the Shriners Hospital in Portland Or she would never have had the surgery’s she needed to have a better life. Canada thought it was too much of a gamble on the cost vs. the posability she would benefit. SICK! The schools were no better. They thought she was a retard and would never let her learn! My aunt FOUGHT tooth and nail to put her in real classes, and now she is in college. Are there things she cannot do? Yes, but she does other so beautifully, you can’t imagine her poetry! So is government health care good? No. Her life was made better by The Shriners.

           

          • Millie Fee |

            Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 5:57 PM
             

            And BTW I loved Kamloops when I was up in BC! The Okanogan Valley is unbelieveably beautiful! You see it wasn’t so hard to let down your guard and talk. Some may look like they are attacking but in truth they are trying to truly understand where you are coming from. I never advocated Govt. run healthcare. I simply stated facts. Facts that need to be addressed. And if you don’t want the guys up on the hill running your medical insurance; all I’m trying to understand is why if you don’t want that, would you allow someone who has no vested intrest in your health and no experience…i.e. insurance adjusters to do that very same thing? They are ruining this country and running your lives more than any govt. program in healthcare. Do we need to go back to simpler times? Maybe..I don’t know. But one thing I do know…someone needs to start the dialogue and since this is an area I know something about, I’m talking. Please don’t feel threatened by my asking and if it seems pointed well, I’m sorry. My bad habit is I write like I talk and who knows how someone is going to take anything these days. But I am trying to reach out to anyone who feels this way to help me understand. I’m not going to trounce you, talk to me!

             

        • Millie Fee | Reply

          Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 10:34 AM
           

          Yes Honey! This is what I want! I want the dialogue! I want all views and positions! I want to understand. I am not slapping anyone for their right to believe. But I want to hear more than the skimming the surface blather! As for whether this is what is happening to me now or not. No, fortunately not at this point for me and my husband; but I have been down this road with quite a few of my patients before…including my mother. And I was never born with a silver spoon in my mouth. It was on a ranch with more work than hours.
          I want to prod each and everyone of you to search, and to extend your hand out to reach mine that is already there. We are playing fair hon. But every angle needs to be looked at and heard. We need to approach this from what is the best way to get from point A to point B and factor in all points of view. There is no right or wrong way but it needs to come from each and everyone of us. We all need to find the time to get involved. I’m not flaming anyone on that. I know how hard it is.
          But “We the People” got us here and the majority that spoke became dis-enchanted by the corruption. “We the People” forget that we need to own our power now more than ever. Hey give a Crone a break for poking ya okay? If we are truly working for the Mother our priority, from my standpoint, should be for healthy lives and homes. It gets to be a bummer seeing the only ones that are profiting by the apathy are all the fat cats when we have a duty as citizens to put a stop to it. I don’t care what side of the aisle we are on. I’m not saying don’t talk, yell or scream….go for it! But please remember who you are first and who I am. Respect yourself enough to realize that dialogue goes both ways. Rowdy, lively, but both ways. Open eyes, ears and hearts are required……Ding!!!!! Round 2

           

          • Avren |

            Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 10:55 PM
             

            Millie,
            I appreciate the reply’s today. I was at work and just got home. Sorry if I fired off this morning. (In my defense I was uncaffinated) I did feel like I was being lumped together with a lot of hypocritical a-holes, bitch but never try to fix anything. Yes I know our system is flawed, I would love to figure out a way to change it. I haven’t got any answers, I wish I did. The saddest thing is that it seems that where someone can make money or steal it, morels be damned. You know how I mentioned being a child in the system? I have seen such sloth as to make you sick. People receiving 500 a month in food stamps yet they trade that amount for 100$ for drugs and their children end up hungry. We lived in subsidised apartments (Ghetto-lite as we live in a smaller town in Oregon) and so many of these people sat on their asses and tried to figure out ways NOT to work. These are the ones I get upset about. So few took the helping hand uncle sam gave and used it to get a leg up and move on. My mother did, and she still gives back to this day. She is the one who told me I should donate to Agape House. (our local shelter)No, they grabbed that hand and tried to steal his wallet. This is where I’m coming from. Thank you for writing back to me today, I really appreciate it.

             

  • Winter MoonWolf (wintermoonwolf.blogspot.com) | Reply

    Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 12:42 AM
     

    I was thinking today about whether one can really separate politics from spirituality. There is a lot to consider in that question, but….I don’t think so. Why? Because any spirituality worth its salt has to be of practical value, to do earthly good. Or at least to make the attempt. If I sit back while others are exploited, for example, then what good is my religion? Maybe all I can do is voice my complaint….but I ought to at least do that much. As a general rule, however, just how one ought to go about mixing politics & spirituality is a difficult question. I think it has to be answered on an individual basis.

    Briefly, I am an INDIVIDUALIST as opposed to a COLLECTIVIST. I agree with Colin’s assessment completely, that these Party labels are smokescreens for a bunch of Corporatists with an elite agenda that includes screwing just about everybody they can for their own greedy profit.

    We are not a Capitalist nation, by the way. That is another false label. Corporatism is actually Fascism, the marriage of Government & Corporations. Sure, you and I have to earn our bread. Corporations don’t earn it….they lobby for the bread of others. If we WERE a Capitalist society, those banks would have gone under rather than be bailed out…and we’d all be better off.

    So….Fascism is a form of Collectivism. So is Socialism. The answer is not government Health Care, government Schools, or government anything. Government, my friends, is the ENEMY! Read some Thomas Jefferson, please. Government always has a tendency to usurp more & more authority, to abuse the powers it has. It’s only legitimate purpose is the Secure the Inalienable Rights of the People. That’s why we institute them. And our U.S. government is now worse, more instrusive, more remote, than the government our forefathers declared Independence from.

    So….what to do? Good question. I know that, personally, I could NOT vote in the past Presidential election…not for the office of president. Because I knew that both McCain & Obama serve the corporate elite interests. All it takes is to examine the voting records. Then you can throw all those wonderful speeches into the trash where they belong. For those who voted for Obama, I hope you are beginning to get a notion of that reality at this point.

    I could only have voted for two candidates, actually. On the Far Left was Kucinich, who adamantly opposed the Wars we are engaged in & demanded Immediate withdrawal, end of story. And on the Far Right, Ron Paul held the same position. Only those two men, in my estimation, were worthy of the position. Why? Because they admitted what no one else seems willing to: that America is on an Imperial course, having zero to do with World Freedom & everything to do with global domination of resources. Those men in power in our country, “left” and “right,” are worse than gutless. They are enemies of the Freedom they talk so glibly about. :o )

     

  • Winter MoonWolf (wintermoonwolf.blogspot.com) | Reply

    Wednesday, 2nd September 2009 at 2:17 AM
     

    I hope this is not out-of-line…if so, please tell me, and it won’t happen again. This subject is so passionate to me that I wrote about it on my own blog (actually, I had planned to write on the topic before reading this “Brew”).

    I am not into self-promotion, but I welcome any who would like to read my take on: “Proud to be an American?” Even if you disagree, maybe it will give you food for thought. And maybe you can offer a perspective I hadn’t considered. My blog link is above. Thanks & now I’ll hush. :o )

     

  • Millie Fee | Reply

    Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 9:50 AM
     

    Whew! I thought that I was going to be eating Broom again! We got to figure out a way to keep everyone from becoming hyper-defensive here…Something like saying…Okay waving the white flag here and asking innocent question…whatever! But let’s not jump to conclusions. And let’s be able to trust each other and ourselves to ask questions without thinking or feeling the other is attacking; Okay? Cause just like the rest of you, we all have contributions, and we are all students here. I know I will be the first to tell you I’m a student of Life! Trust me when I say you’re counsel is welcome at my fire…I mean it. I want to hear what you have to say…Really! BTW Winter Moon Wolf I read your blog and know exactly where you are coming from!

     

  • Myrna | Reply

    Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 11:16 AM
     

    I am also a child of the system. I starved while my parents struggled to pay the bills. My neighbor, with the 6 kids (all from different fathers) received more money on welfare than both my parents working. We could not obtain welfare / food stamps because we had a few acres of land. We were told to sell it. Then what? The land was our home and where we grew the only food we had!!! In later years, I had a homeless person tell me to stay off her corner… that she had made >$50K last year on that corner begging and nobody was taking it from her. So I do give to the less fortunate, but not by giving money. Currently, I do so by teaching and helping them to grow their own food in shared public gardens.

    I am a Healthcare provider and have been for 20+ years. Being a healthcare provider you get to see the best and the worst of human nature. I also struggled to get seniors their medication from the government so their money could be spent on food. The Seniors, who worked ALL their lives, were also told to sell there homes… this is while others live in free housing, eat free food and trade state and federal grant monies for recreational drugs. Yes, it would be wonderful for all to receive healthcare. Am I crazy at the idea of a government institution running that healthcare? Not particularly. I am actively involved though to ensure my voice is heard. This is because I DO NOT want this new ‘Healthcare for Everyone’ to be like the Senior Prescription Drug program that is absolutely worthless.

    I also paid for my own education. It took 10 years, but I paid for it. However, I sat next to students that were there on federal grants and scholarships secondary to their race / gender to meet the government quota. The day after the checks came in the school was a ghost town….. My point is that we’ve all a story that has made us into who we are today and will continue to change us going forward. If you are still reading this then we’ve something in common… we do care about some of the same things and that is were I want to focus. To share my knowledge in how I try to make things better for me, for others, for our future, for the earth, for our souls. I cannot separate my politics from my spirituality because I am my spirituality (or at least try to be – I am still human). Politicking is just another way to obtain a means to an end.

     

    • Avren | Reply

      Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 2:27 PM
       

      Isn’t sad that the system was put in place to help those that help them selves, but it is totally backward now! My good friends are married and supporting 3 boys. They don’t qualify for help because they’re married! If they just lived together they could say she is a single mom and get all the welfare they need. They are struggling, and no one will help them but me and her family! What a load!!! There are changes that need to be made.

       

      • Millie Fee | Reply

        Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 3:24 PM
         

        I’ve been down that road a couple of times. At one point I was almost threatened with losing my children because I fought tooth and nail not to be on Public Assistance. But let us truly look at why this is striking so much discord in you when it comes to other’s being there. We really don’t know their story and I know I can raise my hand hundreds and thousands of times when I saw a wrong and chose not to do something about it. There is no shame in receiving Welfare or Food Stamps. And there never should be. Is there abuses? Oh! Hell! Yeah!
        So we have a broken system and there is one of the blatant abuses; so who stepped up to say anything? Who decided to stop and maybe offer some food or clothing for the kids? Offered a kind word or a helping hand? There’s more than one way to draw our community together rather than focusing on the negative. So what can we do? Really! What can we do? Ripples becomes waves that have a habit of picking up momentum you know!

         

  • Millie Fee | Reply

    Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 12:17 PM
     

    You know? I think that the majority of this change is going to have to come down to grass-roots efforts. The way I look at it is I think it’s great that all the politicians are back in Washington D.C.! It clears the area and allows everyone on a community level to come in and get things done! At least we know where they are at! And that is not under my feet! Everyone! Look at the great diversity and there is one big common ground that we can start from; what we have now is not working and no one has any ideas! So how can you and I change this where it is most effective? On a local level? How can we get others to see a sermon, rather than just hear it? It all starts with you and me. Let’s talk!

     

  • Myrna | Reply

    Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 3:23 PM
     

    We all have heard Edmond Burke’s, ” All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”, but he has many other outstanding observations and quotes from when America was breaking away from the English. One of my favorites: “It is a general popular error to suppose the loudest complainers for the publick to be the most anxious for its welfare”. My point here is that if we do nothing, then others will be heard and their agenda will most likely not align with ours. I agree with you Millie, but where to start?

     

  • Millie Fee | Reply

    Thursday, 3rd September 2009 at 3:48 PM
     

    Where indeed Myrna! Why not at the beginning. There it’s now official! The public has now started talking! We have a beginning so let’s get some input and see where we can honestly get this to go. We somehow locked our mentality into nothing getting done without a law being passed! Forget the paperwork, red-tape and all….this is boots-on the ground! We are not going to find the end to this journey until we start to take steps to move forward. But if we are all milling around waiting for someone to start the race…******Bang!**** I just did and so did you and Avren and anyone else who posted! And Sitara did when she opened this site! Game on! *+*+*+HUGS!*+*+*+

     

  • Wes Hyman | Reply

    Monday, 14th September 2009 at 2:25 PM
     

    I am a staunch libertarian and hold no ideas concerning a utopian society and I am against National healthcare in all it’s forms. I feel my spirituality is only too compatible with my brand of politics.

     

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