Daily Archives: 09/20/2011

(Community Matters) “The key point is that it [sexual orientation] no longer matters,” said Doug Wilson, a top Pentagon spokesman. “Our feeling is that the day will proceed like any other day.”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) from a 9yo

Sadie’s mom, our dear friend Georgia Thomsen, wrote that she woke up to Sadie having written this letter on her own. Thank you Sadie and kudos to Georgia and Sloan Spaeth for raising such an enlightened and generous daughter.

Dear Governor Rick Perry,

Hi my name is Sadie. I’m 9 years old and me and my friends think that your laws are unfair, really unfair. As a kid even, I think, I mean come on, you won’t let people of the same gender marry or adopt if the parents are both girls or boys? There are kids that need homes in Texas and you don’t care. What, are you blind to reality; you don’t want to be mean do you?

Sadie Spaeth

Austin, Texas

(Community Matters) On President Obama’s plan to cut $3.6 trillion from the deficit

The New York Times Editorial: This time, President Obama did not compromise with himself beforehand, or put out a half measure in hopes of luring nonexistent Republican support. This time, he issued an unabashed call for economic fairness in cutting the federal deficit, asking as much from those on the economy’s upper rungs as from those lower down whose programs may be trimmed. . . . . For once the president did not let that predictable line of argument stop him, and even had a good rejoinder: “This is not class warfare. It’s math. The money is going to have to come from someplace.” It could come from the middle class, from the elderly and the poor, by asking them to give up benefits from programs like Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps — as many Republicans are advocating. It could come by pulling money from road building, schools, food inspection and other vital government services.

I’m not unsympathetic with my friends who’ll be crestfallen by the President’s practical and ideologically driven proposal. But, when the ideology is that the wealthiest Americans & corporations should share in the costs of eliminating our deficit, this is an ideology worth fighting for. Let’s not forget, there will be several dollars of cuts for every dollar of new taxes, and we’re in this mess because we previously cut taxes during a time of two wars and the introduction of the most expensive new entitlement program in decades (the prescription drug program approved in 2003).  David Brooks speaks for those who’ll be disappointed that the President’s plan didn’t assume the Republicans would come to the table in good faith.

earlier posting on contributors to deficit