Daily Archives: 11/17/2010

(Community Matters) Seriously, further consolidation of wealth and/or income risks the trust and optimism which are the fabric of our democracy. A 20th century study found that Americans didn’t begrudge the disparities in wealth b/c they felt opportunity was open to everyone and that their children would do better than them. And, growth of America’s middle class is what drove America’s economic engine. We are losing too many members of the middle class today – we have been for the last decade.

NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF in the New York Times

“And then I see members of Congress in my own country who argue that it would be financially reckless to extend unemployment benefits during a terrible recession, yet they insist on granting $370,000 tax breaks to the richest Americans. I don’t know if that makes us a banana republic or a hedge fund republic, but it’s not healthy in any republic”

article in nytimes

(Community Matters) Update:

Towleroad: Gay Groups: Harry Reid Will Bring Defense Bill to the Floor with the ‘DADT’ Repeal Measure Attached

(Community Matters)

ADL DENOUNCES INJECTION OF RELIGION INTO CONTEST FOR TEXAS HOUSE SPEAKER

Austin, TX, November 17, 2010—Saying appeals based on a candidate’s religion are “offensive and inappropriate,” the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today criticized public calls for the next speaker of the Texas House of Representatives to be a Christian.

ADL Austin Community Director Karen Gross issued this statement on behalf of ADL, in conjunction with ADL’s Southwest and North Texas/Oklahoma Regional Office:

“Those engaged in campaigning or advocating for candidates for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives should refrain from appeals based on religion.  The decision should be based upon a candidate’s qualifications, not his or her religion.

Calls for the next speaker to be a Christian are offensive, inappropriate, and inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on any religious test for public office.

We urge the Texas Legislature to categorically reject calls for a Christian Texas House Speaker, and to publicly denounce efforts to inject religion into the race.”

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ADL neither supports nor opposes candidates for political office.

see earlier reports of anti-semitism in race

I wish I could say I find the religion-baiting a surprise but I don’t. I might have a couple of years or so ago but I wasn’t very attuned to anti-semitism.  Since then, I pick up on it much more.  Recently, an entrepreneur expressed how we should bring religion back into the Texas classroom.  When I asked which faith, he answered “Christian of course.” When I asked how our Jewish friends might feel about this, he just shrugged and noted that there had to be sacrifices and we had to go with the majority.  This guy isn’t a bad guy, though he does believe we were founded as a Christian nation. As for following the majority, I’m not sure he’ll still feel that way in 2040. hasta luego

(Community Matters) rt @tlrd Medicare Finalizes Rules Reqrng Equal Visitation Rights 4 All Hospital Patients Including Gay Partners http://bit.ly/9wfERJ

yeah, can you believe it.  We could be denied this until now

(Community Matters) The White House (including Pres Obama) is very actively engaged in lame duck passage of DA/DT – Towleroad

(Community Matters) As I’m compiling our holiday movie watch list

(Community Matters) from Mike Allen:

“HILL & KNOWLTON and PUBLIC STRATEGIES to MERGE: International communications firm Hill & Knowlton and business advisory firm Public Strategies, Inc. will merge January 1, 2011 … Jack Martin, founder and chairman of Public Strategies, will become global executive chairman of H&K; Paul Taaffe will remain global CEO; and Dan Bartlett will expand his role to become President and CEO of H&K USA and Chairman and CEO of Public Strategies. … Combined, the entities will have over 2,300 employees and 83 offices in 44 countries. … Each company will retain its brand for the foreseeable future.” Full release http://politi.co/cf5nvZ

–PSI’s Mark McKinnon e-mails: “my deal is: nobody reports to me. i report to nobody. i run the breckenridge office.”