Patriotism: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Sometimes, it seems as though the rhetoric of the Right can't get any worse.  And then it does!  We have run head-long into the former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, who has never had difficulty with saying something that shouldn't be said.  Here he is most recently, quoted from Daily KOS: 

"I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America,” Giuliani said during the dinner at the 21 Club, a former Prohibition-era speakeasy in midtown Manhattan. “He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.” 
 

Then, he decided to double-down on his outrageous statement by going on “Fox and Friends” within a few days saying he more often hears Obama criticize America than celebrate it.  
 

CNN.com added the following quotes from Giuliani: 

“Giuliani… insisted that Obama doesn't love the United States because he "doesn't express a great love of this country" and criticizes the United States at home and abroad, an outlook on the U.S. that Giuliani tied to Obama's upbringing. 

"President Obama was brought up in an atmosphere in which he was taught to be a critic of America," Giuliani said in a phone interview with CNN. "That is a distinction with prior American presidents." 

But still, Obama is patriotic even if he doesn't love America, Giuliani said, pointing out that "there have been an awful lot of patriots who were critics." 

Giuliani's definition of a patriot? "Someone who is dedicated to the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and the U.S. Constitution.”  And while the former mayor said he believes Obama is committed to those principles and the constitution, he said he didn't "detect" a love of country in Obama and "honestly" doesn't know whether Obama does. "Honestly, I don't and you don't know what he truly believes. I'm talking about the way that he expresses himself. I can't tell you what's within his heart," Giuliani said. 

Maybe Obama doesn't have "as romantic a view" of the United States as past presidents, Giuliani suggested.  As he did at the dinner on Wednesday, Giuliani pointed to the love former presidents like Ronald Reagan who saw America's problems as the "footnotes." Obama, Giuliani said, sees American problems as "the headline." 
 

In explaining the role of Obama's education in his love for America, Giuliani revived old attacks used against Obama during his two presidential campaigns regarding his ties to socialists like Saul Alinsky.

He also revived criticism of Obama's time attending Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church, the pastor who infamously said "God Damn America.  "The fact that he remained in Rev. Wright's church for 17 years...If you had deep in your heart a love of America you would have quit if the minister said something like that," Giuliani said. 

"There's a real attempt to make it a racial criticism. It has nothing to do with race," Giuliani said, pointing out that "he was brought up by the way by a white mother and white grandparents."

 We could spend a lot of time arguing over whether or not Giuliani’s remarks have anything to do with racial criticism or bias.  I think they do; he believes they don’t.  What’s clear is that he mentions old data about Obama’s origins, being brought up by a white parent and white grandparents, attending white schools, having an association with a black pastor who criticized America, and having an alien upbringing and attitude toward America.  However, for the moment, it seems futile to engage in a debate about this topic. 

Instead, I want to raise another issue for your consideration. For his own purposes, Giuliani has tried to say that Obama is a patriot but not a lover of America.  But, Rudy’s  ”America” is a personal construct, all based on what Giuliani believes.  America is more than that, of course.  It is a nation made up of people: citizens, voters, immigrants, non-citizens, human beings.  What Giuliani, and other ‘critics’ miss is that President Obama has made it a mission of his two-term presidency to serve the people; to make sure that he acts on behalf of individuals, of real people with real needs and real freedoms, as well as real responsibilities.

In my estimation, the President’s concept of love for America is a demonstration of love, respect and meaningful action on behalf of people.  “America” is to him The People.  Giuliani's definition of patriotism? "Someone who is dedicated to the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the U.S. Constitution.”  I’m sorry:  “America” equates to three principles and a written document?  No mention of citizens or people from Mr. Giuliani.  I’ll take President Obama’s love of America through advocacy for people, the citizens and inhabitants of this nation.

So Giuliani has ultimately made of patriotism or ‘love of America’ a construct of impersonal principles and the articles of an all-important document.  He approached policing of NYC in much the same way as he instituted a profiling of certain people and a ‘stop and frisk’ policy all in support of one of those principles defined by Republicans as Law and Order.  And guess what, as with any governing principle, this one gets perverted and twisted into actions that are contrary to protecting the needs, safety and freedom of all citizens.  Omigosh, there’s one of those criticisms that Republicans claim is un-American, or at least showing lack of love for America.  They would shut down all criticism if they could. 
 

Every principle and document that underlies the concept of America also has the potential to be corrupted and used wrongly.  That is why criticism in and of America is never-ending: simply because perversion of principles and values by certain individuals and groups is never-ending.  In order to preserve our representative democracy and its values and freedoms, American citizens must, as a part of their duty, criticize perversion of our constitutional principles and values.  Those critics are not non-lovers of America or of her citizens.  In fact, they are patriots for they know that American values must be protected and enhanced by her citizens acting to preserve her mission and essence.  

It would help immensely if Giuliani as self-appointed critic would explain just exactly what principle or value is being corrupted by the President in a way that actually shows a lack of love for American people.  Unfortunately, Giuliani has some trouble with being specific or with putting two or more cogent thoughts together.  (Remember that remark from Joe Biden: “Rudy Giuliani — there's only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb, and 9/11.” October 30, 2007 MSNBC Democratic Debate) 

Here are some things the President has done to show his love for Americans (thereby for America), based on a much larger list at http://pleasecutthecrap.com:

 

1.       Because of his fight to produce a health care reform act that would adequately insure many citizens, there are now over 11 million people enrolled who before were under-insured or uninsured.  Obama Cares! And this unequivocally demonstrates his love for America and her citizens. Thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, inflation in the healthcare sector dropped to its lowest point in 50 years.  http://on.wsj.com/1E6cYjF

2.      He also pushed numerous acts that stimulated our economy and brought us back from the precipice of Bush’s Great Recession.  Many people have benefitted from this turn-a-round because of the millions of jobs created under this President’s leadership.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy by 3.5%.  (http://reut.rs/i46CEE). 

3.       Not only did he complete the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, he also leaned on the banks and others, and recovered virtually all of the bail-out money. (http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVShttp://bit.ly/eCNrD6).

4.       He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. (http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl). He also signed the Democratic-sponsored Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures.

5.       Along with Democrats, and almost no Republicans, implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs.

6.       Created a climate in which there have been 55 consecutive months of job growth, totaling more than 10 million jobs, which is roughly 10,000,000 more jobs than Bush created in eight years.   http://1.usa.gov/1vBDeyC.  This is also the longest stretch of private-sector job growth in US history. http://wapo.st/1w3J8Zy

7.       Led the country to 64 consecutive months of economic expansion, eclipsing Reagan’s record, by far.  http://onforb.es/1sxJ2by

8.       Signed the Democratic-sponsored Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS

9.       Increased infrastructure spending after years of neglect. http://bit.ly/f77aOw

10.   Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery.   http://bit.ly/dZgXXwhttp://bit.ly/gORYfL

11.   Initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b

12.   Along with Congressional Democrats, provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR

13.   Oversaw a reduction in the dollar amount of the federal budget deficit by two-thirds since taking office. http://bit.ly/1xKMmjY

14.   Ordered all federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, leading the way to a national increase. http://wapo.st/1iaU5kd

15.   Established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities.  http://www.serve.gov

16.   Signed the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which closed many of the loopholes that allowed companies to send jobs overseas, and avoid paying US taxes by moving money offshore.  http://1.usa.gov/bd1RTq

17.   Established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses.  http://bit.ly/fnTayj

18.   Oversaw and then signed a Democratic bill constituting the most sweeping food safety legislation since the Great Depression.  http://thedc.com/gxkCtP

19.   Along with Congressional Democrats, advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.  http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7

20.   Pushed through, signed and demanded the Pentagon enact a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie in order to be eligible to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping.  http://bit.ly/fdahuHhttp://bit.ly/mZV4Pz

21.   Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.  http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj

22.   Wrote and signed an Executive Order establishing a White House Council on Women and Girls to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies evaluate the effect of their policies and programs on women and families. http://bit.ly/e1puTkhttp://1.usa.gov/rFfqMM

23.   Signed the Democratic-sponsored Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill.   http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg

24.   Signed two executive orders that mirror provisions of the Paycheck Fairness Act, because the GOP Congress refuses to pass it. It makes it possible for employees to talk about their salaries without retaliation, and orders salary data collection. These measures will make it harder for employers to pay women less.   http://huff.to/1nwVOWf

25.   Appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0

26.   Established the White House Council of Native American Affairs, to improve government-to-government relations with Native American nations. http://1.usa.gov/1cIEeEv

27.   Proposed new HUD rules that would enhance Fair Housing Laws, to give HUD and other enforcement agencies more teeth in enforcing them. http://bit.ly/1qkz4uQ

28.   Ordered a review of capital punishment policies after several botched executions. http://nyti.ms/RDJp58

29.   The Obama Department of Justice made significant reductions in drug sentencing guidelines for current prisoners, thus releasing thousands from US prisons. This is the first step in 30 years toward reducing the US prison population, which is the highest in the world, made worse by unjust and inflated incarceration of young men of color. http://n.pr/1mWBLkM

30.   Established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba

31.   Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto praised President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration as “very intelligent” and “an act of justice.”

“I have made acknowledgement of the very intelligent and audacious decision of your administration regarding the executive action for immigration, which is of course an act of justice for people who arrive from other parts of the world but are now part of the U.S. community,”

We do hear too often about “illegals” especially from Republicans, but it is important not to forget that how we treat that question determines how our “principles” play in other countries.

32.   Along with Congressional Democrats, supported and signed Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1

33.   Along with Congressional Democrats, ushered through largest spending increase in 30 years for Department of Veterans Affairs, with money to go to improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities.    http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x
 

Such changes, initiatives and actions go much further, most unknown to the majority of voters because they have not been sufficiently publicized (you can check out the entire list at http://pleasecutthecrap.com/obama-accomplishments.)

Meanwhile, our intrepid Mayor, both during and after 9/11, seemed to have some trouble concentrating on people rather than on himself and his part in 9/11.  We have merely to review some of his own quotes:

 “The attacks of September 11 were intended to break our spirit, instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom (Dedication for the exhibit "After September 11: Images from Ground Zero." 31 December 2001).  No mention of the people involved – just principles.

 “I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. I was there working with them. I was there guiding things. I was there bringing people there. But I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them.” (While campaigning in Cincinnati, as quoted in The New York Times 11 August 2007).  Apparently, 9/11 was all about Rudy…

"Aspiring dictators sometimes win elections, and elected leaders sometimes govern badly and threaten their neighbors. … History demonstrates that democracy usually follows good governance (emphasis added), not the reverse." As quoted in "Giuliani: Too much stress on two-state plan" at Jewish Telegraph Agency (15 August 2007).  Sounds to me like a criticism of America…

And guess what?  Nothing has changed.  According to MSNBC, not invited to a private party for Scott Walker and not originally on the speaker list, Rudy inserted himself into the midst of it all and uttered words that garnered much publicity for him; very little for Scott Walker.  Good old Rudy; he’s such a patriot…!  Here are a few quotes attributed to others on the topic of Giuliani as “patriot” or icon:
 

“Rudy Giuliani is a true American hero, and we know this because he does all the things we expect of heroes these days -- like make $16 million a year, and lobby for Hugo Chávez and Rupert Murdoch, and promote wars without ever having served in the military, and hire a lawyer to call his second wife a "stuck pig," and organize absurd, grandstanding pogroms against minor foreign artists, and generally drift through life being a shameless opportunist with an outsize ego who doesn't even bother to conceal   the fact that he's had a (yearning) for the presidency since he was in diapers. In the media age, we can't have a hero humble enough to actually be one; what is needed is a tireless scoundrel, a cad willing to pose all day long for photos, who'll accept $100,000 to talk about heroism for an hour, who has the balls to take a $2.7 million advance to write a book about himself called Leadership. That's Rudy Giuliani. Our hero. And a perfect choice to uphold the legacy of George W. Bush.” (Matt Taibbi, May 31, 2007).

“Among other things, it seems Rudy's a bit of a fibber. Says one thing once, then denies it a few hours later, apparently not familiar with the concept of audio and video recordings.” (Josh Marshall, November 2, 2007.)  First Rudy says President Obama doesn’t love America, then within a day says Obama is a patriot.  Can that be cogent thinking when one concept contradicts the other?

 “He is a small man in search of a balcony.” (Jimmy Breslin, quoted by Paul Slansky in "'Giuliani Time!': The Rudy Quiz", The New Yorker, December 17, 2007)

“[He] didn't bring us together, our pain brought us together... “(Al Sharpton, quoted by Paul Slansky in "'Giuliani Time!’ The Rudy Quiz", The New Yorker, December 17, 2007)

And a much stronger condemnation of Rudy’s lying, posturing, and actions relative to 9/11 that help no one but himself is found at http://www.villagevoice.com/2007-07-31/news/rudy-giuliani-s-five-big-lies-about-9-11/full/. 

"The mayor had also done nothing to make the radios interoperable—which would have enabled the police and firefighters to communicate across departmental lines—despite having received a 1995 federal waiver granting the city the additional radio frequencies to make that possible. That meant the fire chiefs had no idea that police helicopters had anticipated the partial collapse of both towers long before they fell. Though he collected $250 million in tax surcharges on phone use to improve the 911 system, he diverted this emergency funding for other uses, and the 911 dispatchers were an utter disaster that day, telling victims to stay where they were long after the fire chiefs had ordered an evacuation, which potentially sealed the fates of hundreds. And, despite the transparent lessons of 1993, Giuliani never established any protocols for rooftop or elevator rescues in high-rises, or even a strategy for bringing the impaired and injured out—all costly failings on 9/11. But perhaps the best evidence of the Giuliani administration's lack of readiness was that no one at its top levels had a top-secret security clearance on 9/11.”

"A Times editorial concluded in May that the Giuliani administration "failed in its duty to protect the workers at Ground Zero," faulting its "emphasis on a speedy cleanup" and its unwillingness "to insist that all emergency personnel and construction workers wear respirators." John Odermatt, a former OEM director working at the campaign, couldn't tell the  Times whether Giuliani had lobbied Congress on behalf of sick workers, nor could anyone at the campaign offer any evidence that Giuliani had ever, while earning millions at his new 9/11 consulting business in recent years, tried to secure federal funds for responders.” 

 This assessment is basically reiterated by Alternet.org which also introduces its own assessment of Giuliani and his consulting firm, with the following:

“The most valuable commodity the new company had to sell was not management expertise but the aura of America's Mayor -- the man whose cool-headed 9/11 leadership had taken on mythic proportions. While Giuliani's first term as mayor brought him renown as a crime fighter who made New York livable again, his second term was a slowly escalating disaster before 9/11. The city, which admired his feisty stubbornness when the enemies were drug dealers and cop killers, had grown tired of a seemingly endless series of political catfights with school chancellors, black neighborhoods, museums, rival politicians and even hot-dog vendors. And, as would become clear later, Giuliani had allowed the city to meet the disaster unprepared in myriad ways, ignoring the well-noted lessons of the first attack on the towers, which occurred less than a year before he became mayor.”

 Alternet.org tells some of the story of how the former Mayor, who touts himself as a patriot, used his 9/11 experience to make himself millions of dollars, while basically ignoring the needs of others (read all about it at http://www.alternet.org/story/41443/why_rudy_giuliani_can%27t_stop_cashing_in_on_9_11/)

 
So, let us be clear:

§  Giuliani fails to define what he means by ‘America,’ although he does attempt to define patriotism which falls short.  In both cases, he uses vague terms to represent complicated definitions and he leaves out the very basic ingredient of America: her People.

§  Giuliani constructed a false image of ‘not loving America’ and indicates that he just doesn’t ‘feel’ from his speeches that the President expresses a love of America in the way that former Presidents have done. Where have you been, Mr. Mayor? In almost every speech he makes, the President talks about American principles and values, and about the needs and responsibilities of her people.  In fact, in my experience of hearing the speeches of presidents all the way back to FDR, I cannot remember anyone more dedicated to elaborating on democratic values and principles than this President. 

§  It is very interesting that apparently Giuliani seems to think that because this African-American President was raised by a white parent and grandparents, it somehow reduces or nullifies racial criticism and bias.  It does not.  The whiteness of his mother and her parents does not erase the blackness of his skin.  As he has indicated, this President has experienced the same old bigoted reactions of white people to his color.  He has heard car door locks slam closed as he approached cars driven by white drivers, and has been followed in stores by white personnel.  As President he has had to endure all those remarks like Giuliani’s that endeavor to paint him as some sort of alien – outside the mainstream of American (mostly white) society.

In light of all that has been visited upon people of color in this society (read the overwhelming report on Lynching at DailyKos.com if you want to understand something of the burden of fear, lawlessness and recrimination imposed upon Black people in our nation), we might expect African-American citizens, including this President, to be less patriotic, or at least more ambivalent toward our government and officials.  But that is not the reality.   Black folks continue to vote in large numbers, serve in the armed forces in large numbers, work in government agencies, non-profits and volunteer roles that serve the public in large numbers, besides contributing to charitable enterprises, especially faith communities, in large numbers.  Having worked in a community action agency, and as the Director of large state-wide service programs for seniors with low incomes, I have been privileged to serve with men and women of color whose dedication and advocacy for the welfare of people with special challenges has been an inspiration and blessing that will last for a lifetime.

In light of the unjust criticisms and indignities that have been thrown at this President, and in light of America’s troubled history of race relations, it is all the more remarkable to me that this President has always kept his cool and maintained a love for all the citizens of our country.  After all the unjust and fabricated criticisms, denigrations and non-cooperation that this President has experienced, he still works every day for the advancement of the welfare of all members of this society.   That is true patriotism, and that is love for country and all its people that is unsurpassed!

§  ACTIONS speak LOUDER than words.  Love of America is demonstrated by what you do, not necessarily by what you say.  In that respect, President Obama wins every time over this epitome of a self-aggrandizer named Rudy Giuliani.  The latter has no right or standing or unblemished record strong enough to call anyone a non-lover of America. 

§  And, after all is said and done, there is that last remnant of graciousness to consider: respect for the office of President of the United States.  Disagreement, debate and even strong criticism of policy, procedure and programs is fair game in this society.  Veiled or open attacks upon the origins, race, religion and “inward thoughts” of the holder of the office are out-of-bounds.  And yet, Giuliani continues to run his mouth in this most despicable manner.  Too bad some Republican would-be presidential candidates have supported his remarks and his attitude, instead of standing for informed and well-thought-out discussions of policy and legislation. They must share the shame of Giuliani’s misguided rhetoric.

Fortunately, President Obama continues to stand above all the constructed cheap shots and criticisms from Republicans with a dignity and respectfulness that befits a President of the United States whose record of accomplishments for the People of America will be hard to match in the future.   Thank you, Mr. President, for your love for America demonstrated by your dedication to positive actions taken for the welfare and enhancement of all the People of this country and of others throughout the world.       

 

 

 

REPUBLICANS DENY & DELAY: the Planet Groans...

Winter is beginning to take its toll.  Ask anyone how they are doing, and they will invariably respond with a remark about the winter weather, with a hope that it will soon come to an end!  It has been a terribly brutal winter, and Punxsutawney Phil had no mercy as to its ending – ‘6 more weeks’ he predicted on Feb. 2^nd.  Even longer, if you believe the extreme pessimists, or some of our weather forecasters.

This should come as no surprise to us.  The planet earth is reeling from an attack on its atmosphere.  “Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into the Earth's atmosphere, possibly causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or built environment.  The atmosphere is a complex natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.  Indoor air pollution and urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst toxic pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst Polluted Places report.  According to the 2014 WHO report, air pollution in 2012 caused the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide.”(Wikipedia).

Geenpeace.org spells it out a bit more: “Although carbon dioxide is the most significant greenhouse gas in terms of human emissions, human activity is also adding others to the atmosphere that are even more effective at trapping heat. The Kyoto Protocol covers the emissions of five gases besides carbon dioxide: methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).”   

It’s quite surprising, and scary, that there are still those in leadership positions who refuse to face reality, and thus refuse to do anything about pollution of the atmosphere.  As we know too well, these human ostriches are hiding from a reality that scientists are proclaiming loudly and urgently.  Why do these politicians continue to argue against the fact that human beings and human enterprises have helped to get us to this point?  Why do they continue to deny the effect of chemicals and gases on the atmosphere when they know perfectly well that chemicals and gases have the power to influence our immediate environment and our own bodies to a life-changing extent?

Before we answer these questions, let us refer to some examples of the effects of chemicals on our lives and our immediate environment. 

·         First, let’s be clear that the chemicals causing emissions into the atmosphere are already affecting our immediate environment before they even ascend into the ozone layer.  Consider this from sfgate.com:  “Although the atmosphere includes a layer of ozone, ground-level ozone is harmful. Not only does it add to global warming, ground-level ozone is detrimental to human health by causing or worsening respiratory problems. In addition, it negatively impacts ecosystems by damaging vegetation. Each year, ozone causes $500 million worth of reduced crops, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Factories involved with industrial processes, like manufacturing metals or chemical solvents, contribute to ground-level ozone production. Power plants, vehicle emissions and burning fossil fuels also produce ozone. Although these processes do not directly release ozone, they produce nitrogen and volatile organic chemicals. When these chemicals combine in the presence of sunlight, they form ozone” at ground level.

·         Why was DDT banned?  It was a heavily used pesticide that was used generally throughout the Western World prior to 1972.  It made people ill.  It killed flora and fauna.  It killed people.  More specifically, it is likely to:

o   Be a probable human carcinogen

o   Damage the liver

o   Temporarily damage the nervous system

o   Reduce reproductive success

o   Cause liver cancer

o   Damage reproductive system

·         What are some of the results of chemo-therapy in the attempt to kill cancer?  It’s so toxic that an incredible protocol has grown up around its administration.  It’s so toxic that people often say that the treatment is worse than the cancer.  It’s so toxic that recipients often vomit, feel weak, lose their ambition, and lose their hair.  It is so powerful that it often kills cancer – a good result all-in-all, but let us not forget that cancer is a malignancy that requires a devastating treatment to kill it.  Those chemicals are strong – and not just strong; they are overwhelmingly invasive.

·         Some of those cancer-curing chemicals are now being used to attack and retard other physical illnesses like the auto-immune disease, Multiple Sclerosis.   Some physicians are now using a cancer drug as chemo-therapy for some MS patients in the early stage of the disease to retard the process of the killing off of cells in the myelin sheath of the brain, which lesions are the loci of MS symptoms.  Again, the strength of these drugs administered intravenously, is strong leaving the recipients with some of the same symptoms that cancer patients often suffer.

·         Have you ever thought about those TV ads for strong drugs that have myriad side effects announced?  Other than the obvious requirement that such drugs must be advertised with side effects made clear, there is a message here about the effects of strong chemicals on one’s body.  Drugs today are stronger than ever, and the chemicals that go into them are ever more toxic for the human body.

·         Then we come to illegal drugs taken by some people as “recreational” or “mind-blowing” or just plain fun.  Here again, we find a basic denial of their devastating effects upon the human body and mind.  Even when we see people wasting away, or displaying effects like speech difficulty or memory recall challenges, or an effect upon motor skills, there is denial of what the drug – like heroin, ecstasy, hash or pot – is causing over time.  Of course, addiction to some prescription drugs can end up with the same effects – oxycodone and Xanax - to name just two.

·         But let’s not stop there.  Let’s move on to farming; dairy farming.  In his book, “Republic, Lost”, Lawrence Lessig talks about the government subsidies that are given out to protect certain products or crops such as sugar and corn.  He states that such government subsidies are harmful to small farmers and even to cows!  Then he launches into a story about cows not digesting corn well, farmers feeding them corn because it’s cheap, and having to supplement their feed with antibiotics because as cows eat corn, certain bugs brew in the poorly digested mix stewing in the cow stomachs.  Farmers use 25 million pounds of antibiotics a year or eight times the amount consumed by humans.  And guess what?  This overuse of antibiotics causes the growth of superbugs with resistance to the original antibiotics, so guess what children are drinking in their milk these days?  E coli and salmonella.  So, we should expect to hear about a three-year-old who died after eating a hamburger and a 22-year-old dance instructor who can no longer walk.

·         Chemicals in our food and beverages in quantities far exceeding anything resembling reasonable amounts (if there are any reasonable amounts for some of these chemicals like phenylketonurics which contain phenylalanine, aspartame and potassium benzoate, etc.).  Are these chemicals necessary; are they safe; are they having side effects we have not even considered?  We have to ask, is there any connection between the growth of heavy chemicals in our food and beverages and in our water that have any connection to the spike in diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS,  and in a condition like autism? 

·         Finally, we must point to chemical spills, chemical uses in natural gas exploration (hydro-fracking), many oil spills, explosions; and, the leaking or dumping of industrial effulgence in streams and lakes, lead in old house paint, asbestos left over in older houses and the left-over deposits of chemicals from old chemical plants over which housing developments have been constructed (with cancer outbreaks in those areas are much, much higher).

My point?  My point is that we are already experiencing in these attacks upon our own bodies and minds and our immediate living environment, the deleterious effects of chemicals and industrial wastes.  A similar assault is taking place in our atmosphere above the disasters created right here on the Earth, and yet somehow the non-thinkers and non-listeners find a difference between the chemicals attacking us here and the chemicals and effulgence attacking our atmosphere.  Somehow, nitrous oxide or bromine does not wreak upon the ozone layer and the atmosphere what heroin or anti-cancer chemicals or DDT do to our bodies.  It is a shameful lack of logic and common sense - to say nothing about denial of scientific method – for the climate change deniers to keep us in a state of denial and non-action so that our planet screams out with heat records and winter monster storms and low temperature records taking their inevitable toll on our quality of life and our well-being.  Why do politicians continue to deny the effect of chemicals and gases on the atmosphere when they know perfectly well that chemicals and gases have the power to influence our immediate environment and our own bodies to a life-changing extent?

We are being bamboozled by the oil and fossil fuel industrialists.  They know that denial and delay are not just to be contrary.  They know that this is part of their plan to keep us dependent on fossil fuels for as long as it takes to make many more billions of dollars (as the Koch Brothers have been heard to admit).  This is not just a denial of climate change; this is their approach to milking us of dollars that go into their pockets and their industries and their indulgences. 

Let me just remind you briefly of the positions and actions taken by the Koch Brothers:

“Charles G. Koch and David H. Koch have a vested interest in delaying climate action: they've made billions from their ownership and control of Koch Industries, an oil corporation that is the second largest privately-held company in America (which also happens to have an especially poor environmental record). It's timely that more people are now aware of Charles and David Koch and just what they're up to. A growing awareness of these oil billionaires' destructive agenda has led to increased scrutiny and resistance from people and organizations all over the United States.
“The Koch brothers, their family members, and their employees direct a web of financing that supports conservative special interest groups and think-tanks, with a strong focus on fighting environmental regulation, opposing clean energy legislation, and easing limits on industrial pollution. This money is typically funneled through one of three "charitable" foundations the Koch’s have set up: the Claude R. Lambe Charitable Foundation; the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation; and the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation.

 Total Koch money to the Climate Denial Machine, 1997-2011 = $67,042,064.”  (GreenPeace.com)
 
In 2013, the Koch’s enlisted “Republicans to make it unlikely any bills regulating carbon emissions ever become law, and because they are requiring accompanying off-setting tax cuts, they guarantee their anti-climate change policies will remain the law of the land. The Koch brothers’ pledge is the work of their tax-exempt Americans for Prosperity, and the “No Climate Tax” has successfully prevented Republican lawmakers from addressing climate change particularly by thwarting efforts to control greenhouse-gas emissions by killing cap-and-trade energy bills in the Senate.
The No Climate Tax pledge…garnered signatures from 411 lawmakers nationwide including the entire House Republican leadership,  one-third of the members of the House of Representatives, and a quarter of U.S. senators. According to a New York Times report on the Koch pledge, “Since most solutions to the problem of greenhouse-gas emissions require costs to the polluters and the public, the pledge essentially commits those who sign onto it to vote against nearly any meaningful bill regarding global warning, and acts as yet another roadblock to action.” Roadblock is putting it mildly, and it means regardless the threats from climate change, there is little Americans can expect from Republicans in the way of relief because they are beholden to follow directions from the Koch’s and their source of power ALEC.”

In a complicated ruling June 23, 2014, the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Koch Brothers by not overturning the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gasses.  The utility industry, the Chamber of Commerce, and 13 states led by Texas argued that the EPA does not have the legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, but by a vote of 7-2, the court ruled that the EPA does have the authority to regulate emissions at facilities that already release pollutants.”  (politicususa.com)
Nonetheless, there is still the basic factor that the SCOTUS has ruled that individuals (and corporations) can continue to give huge amounts to these foundations and think-tanks and PACs anonymously, so that the public will not generally know who or what is backing the deniers.

In an article written for HuffingtonPost.com, dated 10/02/2014, Mike Lux reminds us:

“It is no wonder why the Koch brothers hold their political retreats with their fellow millionaires and billionaires in highly secretive sessions, the things they say and the agenda they lay out, while ‘inspiring’ to Mitch McConnell, is repulsive to most Americans.  They say that they want to decrease regulations so they can make more profit’.”

            “Even more absurd is their offensive overall agenda (laid out clearly and unequivocally at the Koch secret meeting at Rancho Mirage in California in June of 2014).  The Koch’s VP for Policy and Research described “an ideal society where the only government would be the military, police, and court system. Government is thus limited to a small but absolutely critical number of tasks, basically keeping our neighborhoods and cities safe from crime, defending our country from those who might violate our national territories, our commerce at sea, and providing justice in a fair and apolitical court system.  In this ideal system, there would be no water safety protections, no national park system, no public roads and bridges.  There would not be taxes on corporate profits or on the wealthy at all.  There would be no consumer, homeowner or worker protections from Wall Street banks, big energy companies, pharmaceutical plants, health insurance companies, fast food companies.”

So, the climate-change-by-human-hands deniers will continue their quest to stop legislation, to prevent new regulations and to block actions by the EPA and others.  The Koch Brothers and their followers do not take orders from anyone, including the Supreme Court.  They are intent on destroying their opposition and they know that, in most cases, money will win, not hubris or unfunded persuasion.

Have I thus written this in vain, as one more meaningless contribution to progressive opposition to money in politics and the rise to power of individuals and corporate entities that make up an elite cabal of governance of this country, mostly done in secret?  Perhaps.

However, bringing awareness of environmental dangers in any form to the public forum is never a waste of time.  Hopefully, drawing a parallel of the effect of chemicals on our own individual bodies and minds will serve to remind us that chemicals and gases with carcinogens being spewed into the earth’s atmosphere are also exceedingly dangerous to our planet and our planet’s atmosphere.   Just as we have made people sick, we are making our planet Earth sick and perhaps threatening its very existence.  After all, we are a part of an expansive universe full of planets, suns and moons, and other celestial bodies of matter.  Are we too parochial to believe that our planet, like others before it, might become too toxic to support life, unless all its many systems and essential life forms are nurtured, cared for and protected? 

The Koch brothers and their ilk, with all their earthly treasure and political agenda, are as nothing compared to the vastness of our universe.  The physical and scientific laws and systems of that universe will determine our fate in the long run if we choose not to act in the interests of the preservation of life and eco-systems that exist here and now.  Time is running out….