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October 31, 2006
What Will Those Crazy Dems Do?
by Tina Grazier
We have been treated to weeks and weeks of campaign rhetoric and shock-wave media frenzy. Most of it so dazzling that it's rendered us dizzy and about to hurl. So I'm sure, good reader, that more information is just what you desire...no? Well, here it is anyway. The Patriot Post was kind enough to pass on likely democrat legislative faire if we should give them the privilege of serving "we the people". I give you the democrat record of proposed legislation from 2005 forward (and they said they weren't given a chance!):
*Charles Rangel (D-NY) proposed the "Crack-Cocaine Equitable Sentencing Act" (HR 2456) to eliminate mandatory sentencing for crack-cocaine convictions.
*Barbara Lee (D-CA) put forward the "Justice for the Unprotected against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed (JUSTICE) Act" (HR 6083) to permit the distribution of prophylactics in prisons.
*Robert Wexler (D-FL) offered the "Social Security Forever Act" (HR 2472) to create a new tax on workers, employers and the self-employed to keep Social Security afloat.
*Jerrold Nadler, (D-NY) proffered the "Antibullying Campaign Act" (HR 3787) to institute a federal-grant program against bullying in schools.
* John Dingell (D-MI) offered up a pair of bills, the "National Health Insurance Act" (HR 15) and the "Medicare for All Act" (HR 4683), each raising taxes to promote socialized health care.
*Rep. Barney Frank proposed the bill (HR 1052) for taxpayer-funded adult diapers, "To provide for coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs of incontinence undergarments".
*Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), in the spirit of Lennon, offered the "Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act" (HR 3760) to establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence to... well, act peacefully and non-violently.
Also in the mix during the past two years were bills to legalize medical marijuana (HR 2087), grant voting rights to ex-cons (HR 663), create a right to unrestricted late-term abortion (HR 5151), and provide gas to the poor at taxpayer expense (HR 3712). Proposed amendments to the Constitution include one guaranteeing equal public education (HJ Res 29) and equal health care (HJ Res 30), as well as constitutional rights to housing (HJ Res 40) and full employment (HJ Res 35).
Democrats believe they are god and your fairy godmother all rolled into one! Heaven help us from their constant meddling, fixing and helping BUT, for your final voting pleasure, the most idiotic and irresponsible of them all:
*Jim McGovern (D-MA) proposed his "End the War in Iraq Act" (HR 4232), which sought to defund the war in Iraq immediately and force a complete troop withdrawal.
Posted by Post Scripts at October 31, 2006 02:29 PM
Comments
I'd like to clarify Kucinich's legislation for a U.S. Department of Peace:
1. The Department of Peace (DoP) campaign is a transpartisan effort. There are plenty of Republicans working at the grassroots level along with Democrats.
2. The campaign for a Department of Peace is for peace and nonviolent solutions - it is not anti-war or anti-military. Proponents are quite aware that some situations cannot be resolved peacefully, as when irrational, suicidal terrorists are bent on destroying lives
However, through education on nonviolent communication and training on peace-building skills, we believe that a significant amount of the violence that is now escalating in our country and throughout the world could be eliminated. Incidentally, domestic, gang, and drug-related violence were the original targets of the DoP legislation, which predates 9/11.
3. House Majority Leader Roy Blunt says the DoP is expensive. It's significantly more expensive not to start being proactive on issues of violence. A recent World Health Organization report estimated the cost of interpersonal violence in the U.S. (excluding war related costs) at $300 billion a year. (The Economic Dimensions of Interpersonal Violence, World Health Organization, 2004).
That's expensive!
With the high cost of violence right here in our United States, myself and the many other Montanans who support the campaign for a Department of Peace, believe we can't afford not to wage peace
We are needing input from Republicans as well as Democrats and Independents on how we can modify this to meet everyone's needs to help reduce violence and create a better world for our children.
Posted by: Owen Kinser at November 2, 2006 06:03 AM
Owen, The purpose of the proposed DOP, at least as you describe it, is a noble one and your support of it heartfelt, I'm sure.
My concern with establishing another government "department" to address the problem would be that it will inevitably become yet another red tape producing monetary sink hole with lots of effort and expense for very little return.
The conservative position, in my mind anyway, is a personally proactive one. The "values" position, a position that we are constantly derided for, has to do with just this sort of concern. Decency begins in the home, and in the neighborhood, and will not survive or continue without agreement among the people. We have witnessed decline since the late sixties when standards were deemed too restrictive to self expression..."self" being the key word here. when human beings decide that anything goes pretty soon they are confronted with their worst nightmare. Restoring public standards and common decency requires a commitment by those concerned, a commitment to becoming verbal, a force of nature...applying "peer pressure" within our communities. It also requires an effort to elect values oriented leaders. Peer pressure works, just ask any parent dealing with a "pressured teenager". It's time the adults reclaimed this very powerful tool.
Thank you, Owen for posting on Post Scripts...and from Montana! I lived in Bozeman for six years. and I was raised in the rockies, so hearing from someone in that neck of the woods is a special treat. Jack and I both love writing but I think we enjoy the exchange of ideas and thoughts even more.
Posted by: Tina at November 2, 2006 09:16 PM