An open letter to Senator Patty Murray, members of Congress, and the Super Committee

The budget deficit The wrong steps taken by the Bush and Obama administrations and enabled by Congress following 9/11 by as yet unproven individuals has compromised America’s economy and actually weakened its security. The minions in government displayed incredible incompetence and downright dishonesty in the government’s response. Bush, Obama and Congress also took this nation…

Quickie: Super-majority requirement for waging war

Many states have super-majority requirements (60% or 2/3) for raising taxes.  Some people have proposed that there be super-majority requirements for establishing or extending tax exemptions. I propose that a super-majority requirement of 2/3 or 75% be imposed on the US Congress for sending troops to fight overseas. If necessary, there should be a constitutional…

Bob Hasegawa promotes a state bank: what matters is what works

Today at the Renton Library, State Representative Bob Hasegawa gave a presentation and talk about the efforts to establish a Washington state bank. Hasegawa began by saying that there’s really no downside to creating a state bank. It’s a no-brainer. (Sigh, that means most Republicans will oppose it.) Currently, sales taxes and other general funds…

On Obama's fear of a coup

According to a scary and eye-popping article, Obama Team Feared Coup If He Prosecuted War Crimes, President-Elect Obama’s advisers feared in 2008 that authorities would oust him in a coup and that Republicans would block his policy agenda if he prosecuted Bush-era war crimes, according to a law school dean who served as one of…

Virtually Speaking: Cliff Schecter, NYCeve, Susie Madrak, Stuart Zechman, Jay Ackroyd

Virtually Speaking on Second Life (a 3d virtual world) Schedule for Sunday, Sept 11 through Thursday Sept 15. With help from your commentary and questions, we talk with  some of your favorite writers: political analysts, media critics, technologists, historians, etc. Virtually Speaking is public affairs, progressive voices, current events. Comments and questions courtesy of a…