"Murphy was an optimist!"
Connecticut Voting on Marijuana Legalization Today April 20, 2012 4:20 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Of Interest, Touchy SubjectsSince they are voting on legalization on 4/20 is the outcome of the vote a bit predetermined?
Update 4/26/2012: Yup, it passed.
The House of Representatives voted late Wednesday night to legalize marijuana for medical purposes for adults — despite a letter from the state’s top federal prosecutor saying that those growing marijuana would be violating federal law.
The vote was 96-51 in favor.
Patients would be required to receive a prescription from a physician to receive marijuana to relieve pain from illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV and multiple sclerosis. The bill would allow some producers to cultivate and grow the marijuana, and licensed pharmacists could provide the marijuana to patients. Patients would need to requalify every year in order to keep smoking medical marijuana.
[Source, Hartford Connecticut Courant, House Approves Legalization Of Medical Marijuana]
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Don’t ever be afraid to address your city council March 6, 2012 2:36 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsHave you ever stood before your city council? Have you ever expressed your ire with a law? Voiced your discontent with a resolution?
This is your First Amendment right demonstrated. Watch. Cringe. And follow James Inman‘s example.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Lawrence O’donnel on MSNBC on NYPD Police Brutality during Occupy Wall September 27, 2011 8:48 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Economy, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsWow! Main stream media stood up! This is an excellent piece of journalism. Well worth the nine minutes.
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Minister and family on mission to keep violent video games from youth June 14, 2011 5:50 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Of Interest, Touchy SubjectsOn October 20, 2007 a tragedy occurred. A 16 year old had been home bound with a staph infection. During his time from school, he secretly purchased Halo 3 and played up to 18 hours a day. Discovered by his parents, the game was confiscated. He then shot them. The mother died; the father survived. Now the pastor and his family crusade against violent video games.
The family is now on a collective mission to keep violent video games from the hands of America’s youth.
"I’m gonna fight them," says Petric of the video game producers. "They put weapons in the hands of our children that teaches them murder, and that killing is okay." (emphasis added)
This is a horrific crime. I’m making no excuse for any party and, although studies have shown no link between violent video games and real life violence, I am not defending the games either. I take issue with the statement that "[video games] put weapons in the hands of our children" because, in this case, the weapon clearly came from the father.
Daniel, who had raided his father’s lockbox, raised his 9 mm handgun — loaded with hollow point rounds…
Daniel used his father’s key to unlock the lockbox and take back his game. Daniel also took his father’s 9 mm handgun along with the game.
I am not suggesting that we take away people’s guns. This is not an attack upon the second amendment. I am suggesting that this crime would have possibly been prevented with an appropriate gun safe, gun locks, or not having a weapon in the house at all. Please lock up your guns in a way your children cannot access them. Please teach your children gun safety.
It’s not the game. It’s not the gun. It’s not the parents. It’s the person holding the gun.
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Stop Outsourcing at Knox County Schools April 27, 2011 12:09 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Announcements, Education, Health, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsA friend from Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee asked that I help spread their word:
Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee is petitioning to save the jobs of 275 or more custodial workers as Superintendent Dr. McIntyre has proposed an outsourcing plan as part of the 2011-2012 school budget which would:
- lay off 275 workers across the county
- reduce custodial wages by $2-$5 per hour
- decrease quality of work (as shown by the last outsourcing attempt)
Please sign our online petition urging the school board to avoid outsourcing in our schools! http://bit.ly/g69Uz3
Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee is having a lunch for custodians and other school employees and community members this Saturday.
Custodians and other school employees and community members have been circulating petitions and talking to the Board of Education about the proposal to contract out custodial services. This is a very bad idea – bad for employees, students, and the whole community. There are a couple of School Board meetings coming up soon, so this might be a good time for folks to get together and talk about what we need to do next.
Let’s meet for lunch Saturday, April 30, 12 noon to 2 pm at the UNITE Building, 1124 N. Broadway (less than a mile north of Central).
Since custodians work different shifts, Saturday seems like the best chance to get together. We’d like the other folks who have been working on this to attend as well.
Lunch & Child Care are provided.
Family members are welcome at this gathering. Everyone is important. We’ll talk about what we’ve accomplished so far, and how we might move forward to save jobs and the quality of our schools. We can do this!
If you have questions before Saturday, call Jobs with Justice volunteers Karly Safar, 615/519-0157 or Brad Rayson, 865/385-4421.
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Think Before You Kill Julian Assange November 30, 2010 8:35 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Politics, Touchy SubjectsMany people are in a uproar over the Wikileaks release of 251,287 United States embassy cables "the largest set of confidential documents ever to be released into the public domain." Reaction has included suggestions of naming Wikileaks as a terrorist organization. Some people have called for the execution of Julian Assange as a traitor. Proceed with caution! I’d like to take a moment to point out that history is repeating itself. Recall the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam War. This exact situation was tried in 1971 in New York Times Co. v. United States with the outcome being the release of the documents is protected by the First Amendment.
Though inconvenient for officials, the revelation of information contained in any of the WikiLeaks files, much like the Pentagon Papers amid the Vietnam war, is protected by the First Amendment — a point made by the US Supreme Court in New York Times Co. v. United States in 1971.
[Source, The Raw Story, GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’]
In all that I have read, and in all the news commentary I have watched on television and online, nothing has been as notable and as important as the next three paragraphs of The Raw Story’s article.
"In seeking injunctions against these newspapers and in its presentation to the Court, the Executive Branch seems to have forgotten the essential purpose and history of the First Amendment," Justices Hugo Black and William Douglas wrote, taking the side of the Times, which had recently published what was then considered the largest cache of secret military information in US history.
[Source, The Raw Story, GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ emphasis added]
Read this next paragraph twice. This paragraph notes where main stream media is failing in its job in the name of page views, popularity and ad sales rather than serving the governed. Wikileaks has stepped up to do the job that our press corp has quit.
"In the First Amendment the Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfill its essential role in our democracy," they continued. "The press was to serve the governed, not the governors. The Government’s power to censor the press was abolished so that the press would remain forever free to censure the Government. The press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government."
[Source, The Raw Story, GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ emphasis added]
In conclusion, before passing negative judgment against Julian Assange and Wikileaks, read the words of Justices Black and Douglas in regard to the Pentagon Papers.
After the release of the Pentagon Papers, Justices Black and Douglas opined that "newspapers nobly did precisely that which the Founders hoped and trusted they would do."
[Source, The Raw Story, GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ emphasis added]
Please go to The Raw Story and read the entire article titled GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’. Take note that the people wanting to declare Wikileaks a terrorist organization and suppress information keeping you, the citizenry, in the dark are the exact same people embarrassed, or in a position of having their careers ended, by the release of these documents, like Hillary Clinton.
To close, one more quote from The Raw Story. Justice Potter Stewart’s comment.
Justice Potter Stewart added: "In the absence of the governmental checks and balances present in other areas of our national life, the only effective restraint upon executive policy and power in the areas of national defense and international affairs may lie in an enlightened citizenry – in an informed and critical public opinion which alone can here protect the values of democratic government. For this reason, it is perhaps here that a press that is alert, aware, and free most vitally serves the basic purpose of the First Amendment. For without an informed and free press there cannot be an enlightened people."
[Source, The Raw Story, GOP Rep. asks Clinton to declare WikiLeaks a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ emphasis added]
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The best 1 min 44 secs of time spent today August 6, 2009 11:56 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Deep Thoughts, Philosophy, Poetry, Touchy SubjectsWatch the entire video. Wow!
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Let’s Talk Tea April 15, 2009 1:58 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Politics, Touchy Subjects, United StatesI was going to sit this one out but there has been so much misinformation on the Tea Parties that I feel compelled to make some commentary. Let’s discuss these things:
- I love protests even if I disagree with you
- Do you really know what the hell teabagging is?
- Bob Krumm is wrong.
- The Boston Tea Party was not about eliminating or reducing taxes.
I love protests!
First off, I love a good fight. I love a good cause. And I’ll step up for my beliefs. I am an activist and happy to live in America where I have that right. I respect your right to fight for your beliefs even when I disagree with you and if I choose to protest your protest I am not saying you don’t have the right to express your views, I am just offering an opposing view (which also happens to be a freedom of speech).
Do you remember all the protests under George W Bush? Probably not because when they happened, the protesters were cordoned off away from the main activity and the press was limited in their ability to report.
Free speech zones were used in Boston at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. The free speech zones organized by the authorities in Boston were boxed in by concrete walls, invisible to the Fleet Center where the convention was held and criticized harshly as a “protest pen” … Reporters are often barred by local officials from displaying these protesters on camera or speaking to them within the zone.[Source, Wikipedia, Free speech zone]
Granted, free speech zones are not a new development. They have existed since the 1960s but were most heavily used by George W Bush’s administration.
For the record, I will not be participating in today’s Tea Parties nor will I be counter protesting. Quite frankly, I find it rather amusing that so many people are eagerly running around declaring they’ll be participating in a mass orgy of strangers plopping their nuts on each other’s faces. And that brings me to my next question.
Do you really know the definition of teabagging?
Last week I beat around the bush about the meaning of teabagging. I am betting that many of the protesters have missed the double entrendé. I think it is time to be direct.
Teabagging is a slang term for the act of a man placing his scrotum in the mouth or on or around the face (including the top of the head) of another person, often in a repeated in-and-out motion as in irrumatio. The practice vaguely resembles dipping a tea bag into a cup of tea. [Source, Wikipedia, Teabagging]
This is a vile, demeaning image and not a term that should be thrown around in mixed company and splattered all over the news in such a way that children are compelled to learn and teach their peers its meaning.
I was very vocal about my disagreement with George W Bush and my belief that his administration was causing long term damage to this country. My words and thoughts are immortalized in this online publishing. Although I was harsh on GW, I do not think I did anything to disparage the office of the presidency. And I will strike that out the moment someone reminds me with a link to something I wrote. We are a democracy and even though our favorite candidate does not always get into office, that person IS still the president of our country and deserves certain respects. I do not think it speaks highly of someone to say you want to put your balls on the face of the president. I do not think that speaks highly of your country!
Bob Krumm is wrong.
Bob Krumm wrote "There is no high-profile Farrakhan-type organizer or a well-funded Brady Campaign organization behind today’s protests" but Lee Fang has documented that corporate lobbyists are the driving force behind the Tea Parties as a Anti-Obama mechanism specifically Freedom Works (the GOP version of MoveOn) and Americans for Prosperity.
Despite these attempts to make the "movement" appear organic, the principle organizers of the local events are actually the lobbyist-run think tanks Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Works. The two groups are heavily staffed and well funded, and are providing all the logistical and public relations work necessary for planning coast-to-coast protests. [Source, Think Progress, Spontaneous Uprising? Corporate Lobbyists Helping To Orchestrate Radical Anti-Obama Tea Party Protests]
Jane Hamsher at The Huffington Post has more explanation and commentary about the lobbyists. Momocrats has this video (note the testicular image behind the reporter) which flat out says "Not a spontaneous uprising. The people who came up with it are a familiar circle of Republicans including Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey."
They oppose Mr. Obama’s tax rates which will be lower for most of them and they oppose Mr. Obama’s tax increases for the rich whose taxes will skyrocket to about 10% less than it was under Reagan. [Source, Youtube, David Shuster GOP Going Nuts For Teabagging, But They Need A Dick Armey]
The Boston Tea Party was not about eliminating or reducing taxes.
I’m hearing people, even relatives, spout of various reasons for the Tea Parties. No one seems to be on the same base. Momocrats is also trying to figure it out. Mostly I have heard people say they do not want their taxes increased and have tried to draw a parallel to The Boston Tea Party. As the video above pointed out, The Boston Tea Party was about representation and rights.
The protest movement that culminated with the Boston Tea Party was not a dispute about high taxes. The price of legally imported tea was actually reduced by the Tea Act of 1773. Protestors were instead concerned with a variety of other issues. The familiar "no taxation without representation" argument, along with the question of the extent of Parliament’s authority in the colonies, remained prominent. Some regarded the purpose of the tax program—to make leading officials independent of colonial influence—as a dangerous infringement of colonial rights. This was especially true in Massachusetts, the only colony where the Townshend program had been fully implemented. [Source, Wikipedia, Boston Tea Party]
I also hear mutterings about Obama in his short time in office being responsible for today’s tax rates. As the video points out, this just isn’t the case.
The taxation rates that they will all be protesting are the George W Bush Republican taxation rates. [Source, Youtube, David Shuster GOP Going Nuts For Teabagging, But They Need A Dick Armey]
I think it is important to remember that TARP was a 2008 program that "allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of "troubled" assets." That’s the mortgage bailout. The economic situation the United States faces did not start on January 20, 2009.
As you talk about the successes of your Tea Parties, please be aware that the goal of the Tea Parties is not to reduce or change taxes but to try to find a chink in the Obama armor as a means of getting the GOP back into control of the presidency in 2012.
Update: See also: Interesting discussion at Reddit- Where were the anti-tax tea parties when George Bush was wasting Billions in Iraq, on the Prescription Drug Bill, and providing handouts to Oil Companies? and Don’t Drink the Tea; Taxes Benefit Everyone.
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Knoxify’s Friday Five April 9, 2009 4:20 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Cool Sites, Of Interest, Touchy SubjectsKnoxify is an excellent example of hyperlocal group blogging. The site has a beautiful design with a pleasant balance of photos and words with easy navigation to relevant information. The topic matter is Knoxville, TN and the articles always well written. To make Knoxify even better, they’ve introduced First Friday Five to feature the wonderful non-profits in Knoxville and encourage the Knoxify readers to donate $5 to the organization.
For their first First Friday Five, Knoxify choose one of my favorite non-profits, FISH Hospitality Pantries. FISH provides food and basic staples to any person or family in Knoxville who needs it with no questions asked. People of all economic backgrounds can find themselves in tight economic positions and FISH exists to make sure that no one goes hungry. Well chosen Knoxify!
Chattanooga also has First Friday Five.
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I don’t understand tea bagging. April 9, 2009 1:47 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Politics, Regional Politics (SE), Sex, Touchy Subjects, United StatesApparently on April 15 from 3pm-6pm, Republicans and Conservatives alike (perhaps Democrats and other parties) will be meeting at the World’s Fair Park for some tea bagging. As much as I enjoy a good protest, this just doesn’t sound like my kind of thing:
Teabagging is … an erotic activity used within the context of BDSM and male dominance, with a dominant man teabagging his submissive partner, either a woman or a man, as one variation of facesitting and/or as a means of inflicting erotic humiliation. [Source, Wikipedia, Teabagging]
Just sounds like someone’s going to get themselves arrested.
See also: Teabagging Congress.
Update 12April2009: Seen on The Huffington Post- “Tea Bagging” Rallies Ruthlessly Mocked On Maddow Show
Update: From Paul Krugman:
the G.O.P. looked as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as it does now. That didn’t stop Republicans from taking control of both Congress and the White House. [Source, The New York Times, Tea Parties Forever ]
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From the mouths of babes December 15, 2008 5:30 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Daily Life, Family, From the mouths of babes, Noah, Politics, Touchy SubjectsDad: "Noah, do you know that the school board passed a new rule allowing random searches at the school?"
Noah, 12 years old: "No."
Dad: "It means that teachers can just pull you aside and have you show them everything in your bag and pockets. How do you feel about that?"
Noah: "I’m not doing anything wrong so I guess I’m okay with it."
My heart sank. He gave the scripted answer! The system has him. I think Noah is old enough to read 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451. Time to knock the dust of my copies.
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Don’t Vote! (registration ends Monday) October 2, 2008 2:35 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States(mature language warning)
Leonardo DiCaprio, will i. am, Tobey Maguire, and Forest Whitaker have created public service announcements to encourage American youth to register to vote. The non-partisan PSAs, produced by DiCaprios Appian Way, were created to engage and inspire young people to register and vote and participate in the upcoming election. Celebrities appearing in the PSAs include: Amy Adams, will.i.am, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Bacon, Halle Berry, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Connolly, Courteney Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, Jonah Hill, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Kiedis, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Levine, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Tobey Maguire, Demi Moore, Natalie Portman, Giovanni Ribisi, Ethan Suplee, Kyra Sedgwick, Michelle Trachtenberg, Usher, and Forest Whitaker.
Have you reached out to an unregistered voter and encouraged them to participate in the election? Time is running out. Find voter registration information at http://maps.google.com/vote
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Save electricity without spending a dime, right now! September 29, 2008 7:52 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Environment, Touchy SubjectsFall is upon us and the weather is beautiful! Are you stilling running your air conditioner? Why? For the past 2 weeks or more, we have kept our windows open most nights and through most of the day. Some afternoons get too warm and the air has to be run briefly. At night, the bedroom windows may be closed so the children don’t catch a chill but the rest of the windows are left open to enjoy the sound of nature, feel the breeze, and on those wet days listen to the pitter patter of rain drops.
We forget the sounds blocked by the windows. The melodious birds are relaxing. The crickets and cicadas are disturbing to some and calming white noise to others. The sound of the rain is a special treat. The open windows air out the house with fresh smells. Best of all, open windows mean less electricity which is good for the environment and pleasing to the pocketbook. Try keeping your air conditioner off for 3 weeks and see if your next utility bill is not surprisingly pleasing.
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Get your free bus pass! April 28, 2008 10:46 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Environment, Philanthropy, Touchy Subjects, Transportation, Travel
I learned something today. Every time you buy only $10 worth of groceries at Kroger, they will give you a free bus pass for KAT! Simply go straight from the cash register to customer service with your receipt and get a one use bus pass that is valid for 7 days. So you never ride the bus. There is no bus stop convenient to you blah blah. Why would you do this? Many churches accept these bus passes to include in their food pantries. Naturally you have to act quick since the pass will expire a week from purchase. Of course, you could use it as an excuse to experience Knoxville’s public transportation. Go to the mall and take the bus for its full loop. You might learn that the bus is convenient for getting from West to downtown for special events. You could even tape the tickets to a bus stop sign. Someone will use them and be grateful. Kroger is encouraging green. Take advantage of it!
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ACT NOW! They are voting TODAY! February 27, 2008 8:35 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Education, Health, Local Politics, Politics, Touchy SubjectsThey are voting today!
This vote regarding kids going to the school closest to [their] home, gets voted on TOMORROW! This is an initial vote by six house members. They must be contacted today.
The original email:
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Rep Mike Turner and Senator Haynes have proposed a change to the Tennessee Code that shall allow "any pupil so desiring to attend the school closest to the geographical location of the place of residence of the pupil." This bill is in committee this week so we must ACT NOW! You can get more information on this bill by going to the TN government state website: http://www.state.tn.us/
The bill is being proposed in both the house (2524) and senate (2891). This addresses the concerns of many families throughout Knox County who felt that their children should attend a school closer to their home.
I encourage you to call or email your representative. Also, if you have a relationship with anyone on this list or in the State House or Senate, please contact them as well.
Below is a list emails for State Officials representing Knox County.
Thank you for your time.
Pamela Treacy
- sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us
- sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
- sen.tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.harry.tindell@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.park.strader@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.joe.armstrong@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.bill.dunn@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.frank.niceley@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.stacey.campfield@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us
- sen.randy.mcnally@legislature.state.tn.us
- sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
- sen.tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.harry.tindell@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.park.strader@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.joe.armstrong@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.bill.dunn@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.frank.niceley@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.stacey.campfield@legislature.state.tn.us
- rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us
Senate
- Randy McNally (R) 307 WMB, 37243-0205 741-6806 741-7200
94 Royal Troon Cir, OR 37830 483-5544- Jamie Woodson(R) 317 WMB, 37243-0206 741-1648 253-0270
8509 White _s Pond Way,37923 539-8683- Tim Burchett (R) 310A WMB 37243-0207 741-1766 741-7200
8220 Bennington Dr 37909 693-1902House District
- Harry Tindell (D) 33 LP, 37243-0113 741-2031 741-1446
P.O. Box 27325, 37927-7325 524-7200- Park M Strader (R) 214 WMB, 37243-0114 741-2264 741-1005
708 Farragut Commons Dr,37934 694-9165- Joseph Armstrong (D) 25 LP, 37243-0115 741-0768 253-0316
4708 Hilldale Dr, 37914 523-6374- Bill Dunn (R) 205 WMB, 37243-0116 741-1721 532-8221
5309 LaVesta Rd, 37918 687-4904- Frank Niceley (R) 113 WMB, 37243-0117 741-2282 253-0217
1023 Creek Rd, Str Plns37871 433-4419- Stacey Campfield (R) 113 WMB, 37243-0118 741-2287 253-0217
2011 Flagler Rd, 37912 455-2627- Harry Brooks (R) 207 WMB, 37243-0119 741-6879 253-0212
6600 Washington Pike, 37918 687-5987
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