Kooks, Nuts and Sleepyheads

The city of Highland in San Bernardino County California has banned the use of city funds for attending conferences in the city of San Francisco. Why? Because we are a bunch of "kooks and nuts." They are most upset about the passage of proposition i - a measure that called on banning military recruiters from public schools and providing more college scholarships as an alternative to going into the military.

The question is whether this will become a trend around the country. It certainly is the kind of grassroots, local movement that ironically was the strategy behind the counter-recruitment campaign in San Francisco. Still, I just don't see small-town America (especially the backward sort) leading a successful change in the direction of American politics. Not to be dismissive, but the reality is that the urban centers have always been the real battlegrounds and the places where change happens. San Francisco, like New York, London, Paris, Mexico City, Tokyo, etc, has more culture, more education, more diversity, more art, and most importantly more people. These cities also tend to be more progressive. Yes, progressive meaning progress, meaning forward political momentum.

There is plenty of reactionary politics in the big city as well. Fox News, which led the smear San Francisco campaign after prop i, is in New York City. Of course, the more right-wingers like Bill O'Reilly say nasty things about San Francisco, the more I know we're doing something right.

Speaking of culture and art, I just downloaded the new Belle and Sebastian album, which I love. I've only been through it about 5 or so times so far, but presently the best tracks appear to be White Collar Boy, Dress Up In You, Sukie In The Graveyard, and We Are The Sleepyheads. It has a sort of 70's fluffy cloud, retro feel. Some of the songs could be children's sing along songs. Highly recommended.