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Douglas Carpenter
Douglas Carpenter's Journal
Douglas Carpenter's Journal
December 31, 2015
First of all I am not talking particularly about Bernie's chance of winning the nomination or the Presidency. BERNIE CAN WIN!! But it is not going to be easy and there is simply no denying that as of this moment - Hillary is the front runner and significantly the front runner. That can change and I hope it will. If it does not change and Hillary goes on to win the nomination - This campaign has still not been in vain - we will have made a real difference in altering the parameters of debate, changing the political paradigm and brought back social-democracy or at least the New Deal into the mainstream of discussion.
What I am primarily talking about is the question of, what if Bernie does win and becomes President of the United States?
First of all not even FDR or Ronald Reagan came close to achieving all or even most of their goals. What they did was put the country on a whole new course and direction. They established a whole new body politic that dominated the whole nation's body politic and to an extent most of the world's body politic for at least a generation. They made their agenda the dominant political force for a long, long time after they were gone.
I have lived and spent a great deal of time in Europe and observed first hand how social-democracy operates. I'm convinced that it works better than any other system. In fact I would say that nothing else works and social-democracy is the last best hope for humanity.
However, ordinary people do pay higher taxes - including ordinary middle-income and perhaps even lower middle income people do in fact pay higher taxes. It is certain in my mind and in the minds of the overwhelming majority of people who live under more social-democratic systems that it is well worth the price. Even the most conservative of people who live under social-democracy would not want to trade their system or reduce it to U.S. levels. Even Margaret Thatcher promised the British public that the National Health Service and their socialized health care system would be safe under them.
But, again I must mention that even ordinary middle class people do pay higher taxes. Is Bernie being dishonest for not emphasizing this more? NO, I don't think so. I think he understands what many leading Democrats don't seem to understand and that is you must always start negotiations at the maximum one might get - not the minimum. But, the point remains that like with FDR or Reagan - compromises will be made including some very significant compromises. I hope that if Bernie does become President people here are not calling him a sell-out when he has to compromise as he did when he was mayor of Burlington.
Even on foreign policy and military issues - most of us on the progressive end of the spectrum and many others as well would like to see the United States get out of the imperialism business. An unsustainable global military empire is simply not a viable option - realistically. However, as things currently stand almost the entire global security system and even the guarantee of borders and nation/state legitimacy is largely in American hands. We absolutely must try to reduce this to viable and sustainable levels. But it is not going to be easy. We all saw the chaos that came when Soviet power came to an end. In other words, yes we can greatly reduce U.S. interventionism - But it is going to be a very difficult and one might say a very "tricky" process.
Anyway, Rome was not built in a day nor was Rome overthrown in a day. I just hope that none us put our hopes for a better future for our country and our world to such lofty levels that disappoint that cries of "sell out" will be inevitable. Again, take this as either concern trolling or an appeal to reason. For me it is simply a matter of being realistic.
I support Bernie 100% - but a few of my fellow supporters are not being realistic
This is either concern trolling or an appeal to reason depending on how one wants to take it..First of all I am not talking particularly about Bernie's chance of winning the nomination or the Presidency. BERNIE CAN WIN!! But it is not going to be easy and there is simply no denying that as of this moment - Hillary is the front runner and significantly the front runner. That can change and I hope it will. If it does not change and Hillary goes on to win the nomination - This campaign has still not been in vain - we will have made a real difference in altering the parameters of debate, changing the political paradigm and brought back social-democracy or at least the New Deal into the mainstream of discussion.
What I am primarily talking about is the question of, what if Bernie does win and becomes President of the United States?
First of all not even FDR or Ronald Reagan came close to achieving all or even most of their goals. What they did was put the country on a whole new course and direction. They established a whole new body politic that dominated the whole nation's body politic and to an extent most of the world's body politic for at least a generation. They made their agenda the dominant political force for a long, long time after they were gone.
I have lived and spent a great deal of time in Europe and observed first hand how social-democracy operates. I'm convinced that it works better than any other system. In fact I would say that nothing else works and social-democracy is the last best hope for humanity.
However, ordinary people do pay higher taxes - including ordinary middle-income and perhaps even lower middle income people do in fact pay higher taxes. It is certain in my mind and in the minds of the overwhelming majority of people who live under more social-democratic systems that it is well worth the price. Even the most conservative of people who live under social-democracy would not want to trade their system or reduce it to U.S. levels. Even Margaret Thatcher promised the British public that the National Health Service and their socialized health care system would be safe under them.
But, again I must mention that even ordinary middle class people do pay higher taxes. Is Bernie being dishonest for not emphasizing this more? NO, I don't think so. I think he understands what many leading Democrats don't seem to understand and that is you must always start negotiations at the maximum one might get - not the minimum. But, the point remains that like with FDR or Reagan - compromises will be made including some very significant compromises. I hope that if Bernie does become President people here are not calling him a sell-out when he has to compromise as he did when he was mayor of Burlington.
Even on foreign policy and military issues - most of us on the progressive end of the spectrum and many others as well would like to see the United States get out of the imperialism business. An unsustainable global military empire is simply not a viable option - realistically. However, as things currently stand almost the entire global security system and even the guarantee of borders and nation/state legitimacy is largely in American hands. We absolutely must try to reduce this to viable and sustainable levels. But it is not going to be easy. We all saw the chaos that came when Soviet power came to an end. In other words, yes we can greatly reduce U.S. interventionism - But it is going to be a very difficult and one might say a very "tricky" process.
Anyway, Rome was not built in a day nor was Rome overthrown in a day. I just hope that none us put our hopes for a better future for our country and our world to such lofty levels that disappoint that cries of "sell out" will be inevitable. Again, take this as either concern trolling or an appeal to reason. For me it is simply a matter of being realistic.
December 28, 2015
Unlike chicken Republican candidates, Sanders not afraid to hammer Trump
Sanders calls out Trump for having no plans to help working class. The Donald responds in usual way: with lies.
by Sean Illing
Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders (Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall/Reuters/Mark Kauzlarich/Photo montage by Salon)
On CBS’ “Face The Nation” this weekend, Bernie Sanders made an obvious but important point about Donald Trump: When you cut through the bombast and the xenophobia, Trump’s campaign offers nothing to the working-class conservatives who support it. As I wrote a few weeks ago, “Most Trump supporters, if they weren’t blinkered by racism, would be supporting someone like Bernie Sanders, who actually represents their economic interests.”
On “Face The Nation,” Sanders addressed this directly to host John Dickerson:“Trump’s supporters are working-class people and they’re angry, and they’re angry because they’re working longer hours for lower wages, they’re angry because their jobs have left this country and gone to China or other low-wage countries, they’re angry because they can’t afford to send their kids to college so they can’t retire with dignity. …. Meanwhile, interestingly enough, John, this is a guy who does not want to raise the minimum wage. In fact, he has said that he thinks wages in America are too high. But he does want to give hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to top three-tenths of one percent. So, I think for his working class and middle class supporters, I think we can make the case that if we really want to address the issues that people are concerned about why the middle class is disappearing, massive income and wealth inequality in this country that we need policies that bring us together that take on the greed of Wall Street, the greed of corporate America, and create a middle class that works for all of us rather than an economy that works just for a few.”
It was encouraging to see Sanders tackle this head-on. Trump is skating through a Republican primary without presenting anything resembling a solution or policy. He remains an empty vessel onto which angry white people can project their working-class resentment. More importantly, Trump has become a populist champion for blue-collar whites and no one on the Right has noted the obvious contradictions girding his campaign.
http://www.salon.com/2015/12/28/bernie_does_what_gopers_wont_unlike_chicken_republican_candidates_sanders_not_afraid_to_hammer_trump/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
December 28, 2015
Sanders: Trump is ‘Getting Nervous’ - Quoting Donald Trump’s assertion that wages in the United Stat
December 27, 2015
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BURLINGTON, Vt. – Quoting Donald Trump’s assertion that wages in the United States are “too high,” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday said Trump’s attempt to back away from his own words shows that the Republican front-runner is “getting nervous that working families are catching on” to his views.
“Donald Trump says that I’m a liar because I said he believes wages in America are too high. Really?” Sanders said in response to Trump’s assertion on Twitter on Sunday. “This is what CNN reported last Nov. 12,” Sanders added. “Trump insisted on Thursday that the U.S. must keep wages low in order to compete with other countries, one day after he dug in on his assertion that ‘wages are too high’ in America. ‘Whether it’s taxes or wages, if they’re too high we’re not going to be able to compete with other countries,’ Trump said Thursday morning on Fox News. Trump first said he believes wages are ‘too high’ during Tuesday night’s Republican debate.”
“It appears that Mr. Trump is getting nervous that working families are catching on that his policies represent the interests of the billionaire class against almost everyone else. He refuses to support raising the minimum wage. He believes wages are too high and he wants to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the very richest families in America. That’s not an agenda that ‘makes America great.’ It’s just another Republican billionaire wanting to make the very rich richer at the expense of working families.”
https://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-trump-is-getting-nervous/
Email Link
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Quoting Donald Trump’s assertion that wages in the United States are “too high,” U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday said Trump’s attempt to back away from his own words shows that the Republican front-runner is “getting nervous that working families are catching on” to his views.
“Donald Trump says that I’m a liar because I said he believes wages in America are too high. Really?” Sanders said in response to Trump’s assertion on Twitter on Sunday. “This is what CNN reported last Nov. 12,” Sanders added. “Trump insisted on Thursday that the U.S. must keep wages low in order to compete with other countries, one day after he dug in on his assertion that ‘wages are too high’ in America. ‘Whether it’s taxes or wages, if they’re too high we’re not going to be able to compete with other countries,’ Trump said Thursday morning on Fox News. Trump first said he believes wages are ‘too high’ during Tuesday night’s Republican debate.”
“It appears that Mr. Trump is getting nervous that working families are catching on that his policies represent the interests of the billionaire class against almost everyone else. He refuses to support raising the minimum wage. He believes wages are too high and he wants to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the very richest families in America. That’s not an agenda that ‘makes America great.’ It’s just another Republican billionaire wanting to make the very rich richer at the expense of working families.”
https://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-trump-is-getting-nervous/
December 23, 2015
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Donald Trump is heading into 2016 with a commanding lead over the GOP field at 39% support, more than double that of his closest competitor, Ted Cruz, a new CNN/ORC poll Wednesday has found.
Cruz picked up 2 percentage points and now sits at 18%, while both Ben Carson and Marco Rubio have lost ground.
Republicans are coming around to the idea that the GOP has its best shot for winning the presidency by nominating the New York real estate mogul. Overall, 46% of voters say the Republicans have a better chance to win in 2016 with Trump as the party’s nominee, while 50% say the GOP has a better chance with someone else at the top of the ticket. In August, just 38% said Trump brought the Republicans their best chance
http://wsav.com/2015/12/23/donald-trump-holds-commanding-lead-over-the-gop-field/
Donald Trump holds commanding lead over the GOP field (latest poll way ahead of Cruz)
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Donald Trump is heading into 2016 with a commanding lead over the GOP field at 39% support, more than double that of his closest competitor, Ted Cruz, a new CNN/ORC poll Wednesday has found.
Cruz picked up 2 percentage points and now sits at 18%, while both Ben Carson and Marco Rubio have lost ground.
Republicans are coming around to the idea that the GOP has its best shot for winning the presidency by nominating the New York real estate mogul. Overall, 46% of voters say the Republicans have a better chance to win in 2016 with Trump as the party’s nominee, while 50% say the GOP has a better chance with someone else at the top of the ticket. In August, just 38% said Trump brought the Republicans their best chance
http://wsav.com/2015/12/23/donald-trump-holds-commanding-lead-over-the-gop-field/
December 22, 2015
The from salon.com: DNC’s “data-gate” disaster was completely avoidable—and extremely troubling
The DNC turned what should have been a small-bore scandal into national news — and for what?
by Bob Cesca
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2014 file photo, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. speaks to the news media.(Credit: AP)
The Obama administration boasts a relatively simple mantra when it comes to foreign policy: “Don’t do stupid shit.” The Democratic National Committee and chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz would do well to adopt this slogan, especially given the stakes of the 2016 election and how badly it fumbled the data breach fracas.
The DNC, along with the two top-shelf Democratic campaigns, have one basic job in addition to electing Democrats, and that is to avoid drawing negative attention away from the Republicans while they continue to self-immolate within the Trump inferno. The immaturity, in-fighting and intellectual violence of the GOP was on full display during last week’s CNN debate, and so Schultz and the DNC reacted how? By unnecessarily and quite loudly yanking the Klieg lights away from the Republican shenanigans and squarely onto the Democrats for an infraction that, while questionable, was quickly buttoned-up and resolved by the Sanders campaign.
Long story short, the DNC should have kept this internal. And it should have handled the breach with kid gloves rather than with a Hellfire missile. Now, the two Democratic campaigns hate each other even more, splitting the Democrats at a time when unity is absolutely critical to winning in November, but it also showed how the Democrats are just as capable of internal poop-flinging as the Republicans. But while there’s still the odor of smoke hovering over the Democrats and before 2016 rolls onto the front pages after the holidays, perhaps now is the time, as Salon’s Bill Curry wrote, to replace Schultz with someone more disciplined and, you know, silent. There’s no room for error when “President Trump” is a possibility and Schultz’s penchant for “stupid shit” seems to be the rule rather than the exception.
read full article: http://www.salon.com/2015/12/22/the_dncs_data_gate_disaster_was_completely_avoidable_and_extremely_troubling/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
by Bob Cesca
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2014 file photo, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. speaks to the news media.(Credit: AP)
The Obama administration boasts a relatively simple mantra when it comes to foreign policy: “Don’t do stupid shit.” The Democratic National Committee and chairperson Debbie Wasserman Schultz would do well to adopt this slogan, especially given the stakes of the 2016 election and how badly it fumbled the data breach fracas.
The DNC, along with the two top-shelf Democratic campaigns, have one basic job in addition to electing Democrats, and that is to avoid drawing negative attention away from the Republicans while they continue to self-immolate within the Trump inferno. The immaturity, in-fighting and intellectual violence of the GOP was on full display during last week’s CNN debate, and so Schultz and the DNC reacted how? By unnecessarily and quite loudly yanking the Klieg lights away from the Republican shenanigans and squarely onto the Democrats for an infraction that, while questionable, was quickly buttoned-up and resolved by the Sanders campaign.
Long story short, the DNC should have kept this internal. And it should have handled the breach with kid gloves rather than with a Hellfire missile. Now, the two Democratic campaigns hate each other even more, splitting the Democrats at a time when unity is absolutely critical to winning in November, but it also showed how the Democrats are just as capable of internal poop-flinging as the Republicans. But while there’s still the odor of smoke hovering over the Democrats and before 2016 rolls onto the front pages after the holidays, perhaps now is the time, as Salon’s Bill Curry wrote, to replace Schultz with someone more disciplined and, you know, silent. There’s no room for error when “President Trump” is a possibility and Schultz’s penchant for “stupid shit” seems to be the rule rather than the exception.
read full article: http://www.salon.com/2015/12/22/the_dncs_data_gate_disaster_was_completely_avoidable_and_extremely_troubling/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
December 22, 2015
Video - 1984 Democratic Debate - "Don't Throw away your conscience"
December 22, 2015
Two questions - Sorry it was more than six months ago that I posted my announcement
that I had been diagnosed with Esophageal and upper Gastric Cancer - now determined to be level 3 to 4.
Since then I completed 28 radiation treatments and five chemos and am taking my sixth one - a 48 hour session - now as I sit here typing.
So far there has been some decrease in the diameter of my tumor - but not its length - It apparently is a real tough one - as one gastroenterologist told me - it is like a long - 11-13 cm tube of tough rubber and metastasize has spread to my lymph nodes and perhaps elsewhere.
My first question for those who would like to answer - How do you feel about making yourself DNR/DNI? - do not resuscitate/do not intubate - in other words - if one stops breathing or their heart stops - let them go - if that is what is happening. Since I am a Respiratory Therapist by trade - I do have some idea - probably a bit more than many on the realities of the situation. So today, I did sign the forms. The doctor did NOT bring it up to me. I brought it up to him and he was supportive of my decision. For me - I just don't want to live if I should reach such a point - only to be revived and then be even sicker than I am now.
My second question which has nothing to do with my first question and is of a totally different nature involves a very strange symptom I have been experiencing lately. I have heard of it before associated with cancer and one friend who has bowel cancer says he has experienced many times also.
Just recently - and it was more than a month after my last chemo and before I started my recent regiment that I am doing right now as I type - I started seeing spots before my eyes and sometime blurry colors off to the far corner of my vision. My primary physician who is a doctor of internal medicine - not an oncologist says that he was not familiar with this symptom being associated with cancer. But like - I do recall hearing that from people with cancer. Am I one of very few?
Anyway thank you for your time. I should have come back sooner to check in. But what can I say? I have been terribly moody since my diagnosis.
thanks,
doug
December 22, 2015
Kenyan Muslims shield Christians in Mandera bus attack
21 December 2015
A group of Kenyan Muslims travelling on a bus ambushed by Islamist gunmen protected Christian passengers by refusing to be split into groups, according to eyewitnesses.
They told the militants "to kill them together or leave them alone", a local governor told Kenyan media.
At least two people were killed in the attack, near the north-eastern village of El Wak on the Somali border.
When al-Shabab killed 148 people in an attack on Garissa University College in April, the militants reportedly singled out Christians and shot them, while freeing many Muslims.
Last year, a bus was attacked near Mandera by al-Shabab militants, who killed 28 non-Muslims travelling to Nairobi for the Christmas holidays.
◾Africa Live: BBC news updates
◾Why is al-Shabab targeting Kenya?
"The locals showed a sense of patriotism and belonging to each other," Mandera governor Ali Roba told Kenya's private Daily Nation newspaper.
The militants decided to leave after the passengers' show of unity, he added.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35151967
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Corry (Erie County), Pennsylvania 16407
Home country: USA
Current location: Saipan, U.S. Commonweath of the Northern Mariana Islands
Member since: Wed Jun 1, 2005, 08:56 PM
Number of posts: 20,226
