THOUGHTS FROM TEXAS

I'm writing from Portland, Texas today with just some brief thoughts.

There is a story out from the Los Angeles Times, and reprinted at Common Dreams, that says that lobbying groups have spent $1.1 billion in 6 months. This is the first time the $1 billion mark has been broken. The top spenders include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Medical Association, General Electric (trying to get those contracts in Iraq, and hey don't we need to start a war in Syria), pharmaceutical companies (let's not belabor this whole safety thing), and other corporations and their representatives. It clearly demonstrates the extent to which we have a government run by corporate interests and a wealthy elite. They are spending millions on lobbyists, not to mention increasing amounts on executives, advertising, and corporate law firms. And they are benefiting from enormous tax breaks and a more subservient (non-union), less costly (no benefits, lower pay) workforce. Yet we are told that the real reason costs are going up is because of frivolous lawsuits and government regulation. We are told that the real reason people are having a hard time making ends meet is because taxes are too high.

I'm reading a book called, Dime's Worth of Difference: Beyond the Lesser of Two Evils. The only problem with it is that there are occasional spelling errors; this is also true of the counterpunch website, and I hope they will correct that because I like their analysis and willingness to uncover everyone's dirty secrets. Anyway, it is helping me move beyond my lingering hope that the Democrats could ever do anything to change the undemocratic, ruling class orgy that goes on daily in Washington. In fact I'm beginning to think that those of us with real leftist, progressive principles, need to spend the next few years tearing down the Democrats, not ignoring them, and certainly not encouraging them.

I will write about my experiences in Texas soon. Among other things, I saw 6 inches of snow fall this Christmas in a place I lived for 18 years as a boy, never seeing snow once. Clearly a sign from God.