Local Community Radio

It seems like it is a constant theme, the big corporations fearing the little guys...do they really have to be so greedy? Well, I guess that isn't the question, but come on! This time it is a subject close to my heart and to the heart of democracy...the actions of the FCC and how it roles over for the large media conglomerates that are afraid little local radio stations will interfere with their airwaves. Congress delayed approving local radio stations, deciding instead to order the FCC to have independent researchers test the interference of local radio. Bingo, no problem!

Now Congress needs to pass the Local Community Radio Act--which will increase local voices and choices, and will enhance our democracy. Our democracy depends upon diverse opinions being shared and discussed. It is diminished when free press is pressured to slant news or not cover news...all in service to the bottom line, worshipping the dollar.

So let's go Congress; I know you are busy trying to"fix" the other money grubbing financial mess, but this one is easy to fix...

Racism, Language and Progress

Whenever we are clearly making progress on social dynamics such as racism, we can always expect to get some ugly behavior popping up. When Georgia Republican Lynn Westmoreland called the Obamas "uppidy" he was using the good ol' south racist meaning of the word, applied to Blacks who have the odacity to do well for themselves, in this case have Harvard degrees, get elected to the Senate, have lovely family values. Being uppidy used to be cause for getting killed, lynched, or at least severely beaten up.

Republicans aren't the only ones nervous about a "Black" who could become our President. Demos can be just as racist...but my heart goes out to Obama who has to walk a fine line between being articulate and wise, and being "too" articulate and wise. Kinda like Margaret Fuller, one of our UU Transcendentalists in the 1800's who felt the cultural pressure to dumb down her intelligence if she wanted to get a man in her life. She didn't dumb down, and ended up being one of our nation's first women foreign correspondents, and falling in love with an Italian revolutionary. Good for her.

And thank you Senator Obama for being such a wonderful role model for all children, white and black...yellow....brown...and mixed, as you are.

"Privatizing Gains, Socializing Losses"

I heard a good phrase today...about the terrible economic mess we are in...it described the mess as a process of "privatizing gains, socializing losses." Doesn't that just about say it all? Big oil ships dump their oil, we the public and the marine life take the losses; Enron declares bankruptcy amidst criminal charges, and it's employees lose their retirement; we go to war on false pretenses, Halburton gets rich, the American public bankrupts its children; banks act stupid, executives make lots of money, and now we bail them out. Privatizing gains, socializing losses.

can the American public get that? Or are we indeed a nation of (sorry Garrison Keillor) really below average people?

I'm practicing breathing in and breathing out...