This morning, I didn’t fully wake up. I was having wonderful conservative dreams where privatization ruled and the God given commandment of unfettered capitalism reigned. I turned on the lights and thanked the Almighty for my private utility company, although since it is a monopoly, the rates seem a little high and I wondered how the CEO could afford that villa in Spain. Oh well, I’m sure he’s looking out for me—I’m a customer!
Energy Independence? Give Me A Break
Corporations and politicians say a lot of stupid things. Sometimes people can swallow them, but often they’re so unabashedly fictitious it takes only the slightest of research to disprove them. Some of the more notable claims have been made recently in reference to the disputed Keystone XL pipeline project, but the one that really stands out is “energy independence.”
Women, the Election of 2012, and Republican Troglodytes
One of the things that most puzzles me about the “pro-life” crowd is that these are the same people who choose to ignore the obvious daily evidence of global warming, the extinction of 200 species a day, the turning of our oceans into carbonic acid to the detriment of all sea life. Just what kind of world do the “pro-lifers” expect to be bringing all these babies with rights from the moment of conception into?
Upstream with a Clatsop canoe
“It was shocking, surreal, and disturbing to me personally to see a member of my family, Chief Coboway, being referred to as a member of another tribe with no mention of the Clatsop tribe he belonged to,” writes Stowe. “The entire tribe is very unhappy with this effort to erase our tribal heritage, and is determined to put an end to this misinformation and get the true story published.”
Citizens, Customers and Corporations
Once there were no corporations. Corporations were originally created by kings granting charters to friends who could exploit the resources of the kingdom. Thus the East India Company, the Hudson Bay Company and millions more over the centuries, chartered by kings, dictators, and the sovereign people of this democracy.
The Virtues of Austerity
Greece just got bailed out again, in exchange for further austerity measures. Closer to home, I just read tonight that the City of Astoria is considering eliminating some street lighting to save money. Of course Clatsop Community College recently announced the elimination of 15 full-time positions, which have been whittled down to 5 by various means.
Taxation Without Representation
For the last 6 months or so, we’ve had no representative in the House of Representatives from the Upper Left Edge. That seems a bit weird. You’d think that someone would be appointed to step in when there’s a vacancy – in this case because of the resignation of our former representative, David Wu.
Global Warming: Building Moratoriums in Impacted Areas
In 2006, some 600,000 homeowners living in coastal areas that insurers consider high storm risk saw their insurance policies cancelled or not renewed. This includes coastal areas stretching all along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean from Texas to New York. Allstate Insurance totally pulled out of Florida, leaving 650,000 policy-holders without insurance. A 2007 study by Environmental Defense showed that new policies in Miami, Florida are now costing residents 500% more than previous ones. In March 2008, State Farm, the last major insurer in coastal coverage, pulled out. It no longer will write homeowner policies within a mile of the Atlantic Ocean.
Close Cannon Beach Elementary School?
Readers have expressed interest in open threads devoted to local issues. Now topping the list of topics for Cannon Beach is the potential closure of Cannon Beach Elementary School.
What do you think? The floor is yours.
Let’s do keep Christ in Christmas
At this ancient Solstice time, when the great trees are honored (with the conifer in the living room), and the power of fire and return of the sun is invoked (with the burning of candles and the splashes of electric lights on our houses), the birth of Jesus, great dissident and rebel, is celebrated by many. In our present era of mind-numbing consumerism, […]
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