Grrrr

This makes me so. mad.

Not the fact that proposition 8 is being appealed, because it should be, but the fact that it has to be appealed at all. I really can't get over the fact that will still live in a nation where fundamental rights can be taken away from a group of people. Even more so that for prop 8 to even have been put on the ballot someone took time out of their day to essentially say, 'yes, I think I'll ruin this group of people's lives this year'. This is even sadder to me after watching Milk. While I really only listened to about half of the movie I was still bawling at the end and if you happened to see the acceptance speech given by the young man who wrote the screen play at the academy awards the movie is even more heart wrenching. By which I mean to say you should go watch the movie immediately if you haven't done so yet.

It's scary that something like prop 8 can pass in California, which is generally the most forward thinking on gay rights. What does this mean for the rest of states?

What I just realized

Is that I have the 'politics' folder in my Google reader spelled as 'polotics'. I'm still debating whether or not this should disable me from being able to participate in the political spear*. Although if the US kicked all the dumb ones out of politics we probably wouldn't have too many people left to run the country so I guess I'm good.

*and by political 'spear' I meant 'sphere'. I should probably just take a break from trying to write, apparently my brain does not wish to function correctly (aka, I am to lazy to proofread)

50 De-Stimulating Facts

A list of 50 things considered 'wast full spending' in the new stimulus bill. Because I think we can all agree that sending poor people to college, feeding infants, supporting Medicaid and taxing rich people more will do absolutely nothing to stimulate the economy.

An entertaining read if you're not a Republican.

I feel...accomplished!

Today I actually took the time to a) find out who my representatives are in the Washington State Legislature and b) write them! In case anyone is still reading, WA is cutting funding to higher education by 13%, which is a lot. We're talking like, millions of dollars to my University alone. As someone invested in the public educations system here I decided to let them know I don't like their 13% cut idea. Which resulted in this: Dear Mr. Carlyle, I am writing to express my concern over the suggested 13% budget cut to Washington's higher education facilities. As a junior at the University of Washington this cut will greatly effect me and my peers studies during the rest of our time at the U. I am especially concerned as the amount of money being cut to UW, at 13%, would be more than the College of Arts and Sciences' budget for one year. I want to be sure that I will have the same access to resources (both through student resource programs and professors, assistant professors, and TAs) as I finish my education as I did when I was accepted to the University. Thank you for your time and consideration on this point. Sincerely, Selena And I requested a response. Time to see if public servants are actually working for you!

Too True

Thanks, A Cup of Joe!

More politics

So I'm sure that everyone and their mom is tired of politics at the moment but the transcripts of Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric are a must read.

Domestic policy segment.
Foreign policy segment.

McCain's Speech on 9/18

John McCain speech about the financial market. All in all he does a nice job of saying nothing. However this phrase which, granted, is taken out of context is hilarious:

"And we will simplify the tax code so people can understand it and do their tax returns themselves."

Riiight. The only reason I did my own taxes this year was because I only needed to fill out one form and I'm a broke college student. Don't over extend yourself their McCain, that statement is called making a promise you can't keep.

Reading political jargon makes me so frustrated. there's all these words on the page and yet the candidates never actually say how their going to change things, just that they are.

Judge Rejects Plan for More Snowmobiles at National Parks

"A federal judge ruled Monday that the Bush administration’s plan to allow more than 500 snowmobiles a day into Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks was not in keeping with the National Park Service’s responsibility to protect the parks." (New York Times)

YES!!!

Google Government

Finally, something to get excited about in Washington!

"The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act) requires a single search able website, accessible by the public for free that includes for each Federal award: 1. The name of the entity receiving the award. 2. The amount of the award 3. Information on the award including transaction type, funding agency, etc. 4. The location of the entity receiving the award. 5. A unique identifier of the entity receiving the award. " (http://www.usaspending.gov/)

The bill makes it possible for the general public to use a Google like search engine to see where government spending is going. Definitely a step in the right direction!

Credit to P.S.A for the heads up.

One more two cents

This article made my day.

McCain gets questioned by the ladies on The View. Viewer comments on the bottom of the page also very insightfully.

My Two Cents

It bothers me to no end that annalists wonder if Palin being chosen as McCain's running mate will give McCain the 'women's vote'. The worst part is the news media doesn't even seem to notice that they are alluding to such a connection. Even is this Times article, which appears fairly neutral, the allusion that a women will vote for a women no matter what is made:

"There has been considerable speculation about whether Mr. Obama would be better positioned to curb the excitement that Ms. Palin has generated if he had picked a woman and whether Ms. Palin is drawing the support of women who might have voted for Mrs. Clinton, despite their vast policy differences."

I'm not going to vote for another women purely because she's female. I don't think, 'Hey! You're a women, I'm a women that means I have to vote for you!'. The idea that anyone thinks female voters will vote for Palin simply because we share two X chromosomes is seriously insulting. Just like the rest of the US (hopefully) I'm going to vote based on policy. Not race, gender or any other diversifying factor.

It's official,

Barrack Obama won the Democratic presidential nomination seat last night. Hillary has stepped down, finally excepting the fact that she won't be able to get enough delegate votes for the nomination herself. Now if we can only get him in office. I don't think America can take another republican president so soon.

Image courtesy of the New York Times site. Article picture was attached to here