tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post5754420128355660772..comments2024-03-17T04:09:26.074-04:00Comments on SpeEdChange: Tom Whitby's Blogging Day: Insist on Changeirasocolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-80484691832453292342010-10-23T01:54:20.757-04:002010-10-23T01:54:20.757-04:00The above was a mispost... feel free to delete. I...The above was a mispost... feel free to delete. I've got it on the right post now.Cereus Sphinxhttp://cereus-sphinx.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-26186196616374005372010-10-23T00:30:32.971-04:002010-10-23T00:30:32.971-04:00I totally agree with you, it does get better. But...I totally agree with you, it does get better. But we also need to make it better now. There's no reason why it's as bad as it is.<br /><br />There's another project inspired by It Gets Better and making it better now:<br /><br />http://makeitbetterproject.org/Cereus Sphinxhttp://cereus-sphinx.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-36519879282494122422010-10-17T22:16:29.935-04:002010-10-17T22:16:29.935-04:00I understand our democracy. And as a DC resident, ...I understand our democracy. And as a DC resident, I do not even get to vote for congressional representation. But after working under Rhee, a democrat, for 3 years and watching Obama support her, I am sorry, I am done with supporting this nonsense with my vote. I fight in every other way I can, but I refuse to vote FOR this mess anymore. <br /><br />Anyway, thanks for chatting.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-10388871236918535562010-10-17T21:51:54.809-04:002010-10-17T21:51:54.809-04:00You are mistaking frustration for anger Anon.
And...You are mistaking frustration for anger Anon.<br /><br />And you are mistaking "angry response" for "voting for a position."<br /><br />Understand the need for system change first in politics. In both the US and UK - and Canada - with First Past The Post voting, you don't get to "vote your position." We can look at Canada, with 3 "left" parties splitting 65% of the vote in the last election and a Conservative government which rules by decree.<br /><br />This was the whole problem with the American "left" and the whole Ralph Nader nonsense. If Nader and his 2000 fans had put their energy into changing election rules in the US, that would have been one thing. Instead, they elected George W. Bush. Talk about getting the politicians we deserve.<br /><br />So, in politics, like education - you need to do the real work first, so you can make your statements later. The US right now only has 3 states which even allow "Fusion" voting. Most US states - via ballot access laws - make other political entities almost impossible. No state has a parliamentary system, much less Single Transferrable Votes or Multi-Member Constituencies. And those are the only circumstances which make "voting your position" possible.<br /><br />So, if you object to your leaders, work to change the flawed 18th Century way they are selected. Don't say "Obama isn't 'left' enough so I'd prefer John Boehner."<br /><br />- Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-12518327635896781862010-10-17T21:23:02.826-04:002010-10-17T21:23:02.826-04:00I would not "proclaim" myself far left u...I would not "proclaim" myself far left unless I believed in full, free, health care coverage for all. And I can not support Obama funding a rise in standardized testing. You yourself just posted a video which discussed how we need to make fundamental changes to education and you are then willing to belittle my position by simply saying I am "angry" at Duncan and so am willing to end social justice? I am not angry at Duncan, I find his position harmful. I understand some vote by strategy and some vote their heart. You are clearly the former and I the later. And finally, my wife is from the UK, not that it matters, but since you mention I should travel to the UK, I wanted to provide that detail. We get the politicians we deserve. And we deserve someone like Obama right now if someone like you gets so mad at someone like me for simply suggesting we should vote our position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-13676806048922300572010-10-17T14:15:53.364-04:002010-10-17T14:15:53.364-04:00Americans have such a funny romantic view of party...Americans have such a funny romantic view of party. So you, proclaiming yourself far left, will dump health care improvements, deny child health care, embrace privatized firefighting, and crush any shot at social justice because you're angry with Arne Duncan?<br /><br />As I said - visit the UK next year. You'll understand. <br /><br />Ira Socolirasocolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01412837280249622430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19457872.post-57716762446702205612010-10-17T13:48:51.869-04:002010-10-17T13:48:51.869-04:00How can you support Obama, or any Dem, who pursues...How can you support Obama, or any Dem, who pursues policies that in many ways are further right than Bush's education policies? You are wrong to think Dems represent the left anymore. They do not. A vote for Dems is a vote for corporate funded public education. Some GOP strains are actually closer to your position on this issue. Vote on the issue, not the party. You want fundamental change, you need to make fundamental changes to your thinking. I say this as a far left person. Obama is worse than Bush on education. You know it is true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com