The Community Financial Services Association's campaign to overturn House Bill 545 went live with a new website yesterday. Their website, Ohioans4financialfreedom, displays how out of touch they are with real Ohioans.
First, they say: "Protect 6,000 good-paying jobs that could be lost."
This is not accurate. House Bill 545 says absolutely nothing about closing any businesses or preventing the dispersion of payday loans. House Bill 545 simply caps interest rates and fees at 28% APR, protecting Ohio's consumers from predatory 391% APR interest. Payday lending stores have already started applying for licenses to continue operating under the new law from the Ohio Department of Commerce. If any stores close, it's because they choose to, not because they have to.
Second, they say: "Protect your financial freedom and private financial choices."
Payday lenders target low-income neighborhoods where it is easier for them to encourage people to walk through the door. Neon signs with "Get cash in minutes!" and "Easy cash quick," etc. Once a borrower is trapped in a cycle of payday loans, it becomes necessary for the consumer to keep taking out loans. This is not a choice! Usurious payday loans at 391% are bad for Ohioans and bad for the Ohio economy. Usury is not freedom!
Third, they say: "Protect your right to privacy about your personal finances."
This is a nice catch phrase that appeals to just about everyone! House Bill 545 includes a provision calling for the creation of a database that will let lenders know how many loans a person has taken out at a given time. This allows lenders to lend according to borrowers ability to repay - something neither predatory mortgage lenders nor payday lenders seem to care about.
And finally, once again, the industry uses their lame argument for why their referendum should be on the ballot: "Ohioans have a right to repeal bad laws."
Well, it bears repeating that House Bill 545 is one of the best consumer protection laws in the country and will help hundreds of thousands of Ohioans escape the debt trap. Ohioans do have a right to overturn bad laws, but this referendum effort is not being mounted by Ohioans, but by industry lobbyists and attorneys flown in on their corporate jets. Where are the citizens working on this referendum? Where are the consumers calling for 391% interest? They are nowhere to be found. Instead, the industry lobby CFSA is the sole donor to the effort to repeal House Bill 545. This is right in line with what they are doing in other states like Arizona where they've spent $8.7 million to overturn a consumer law and in Virginia where they succeeded in buying higher interest rates for a low, low price of $20 million.
The Ohio government should be PROTECTING consumers from predatory business practices that rely on borrowers getting trapped in a cycle of debt! Payday lending is bad for Ohio!
That worn-out Second Amendment seems to be my nemesis. Right to bear arms, huh? How about nukes? Explain that to Iran, NRA.
Why is it OK to secretly keep a gun collection in an urban area? We have the right to know if our neighbors are sex offenders or industrial polluters. Why not gun owners? This doesn't infringe on my neighbor's right to self-defense -- in fact, it may make him safer.
A couple of hand gun owners I know fancy themselves as defenders of their neighborhoods. To them I say, No Thanks. If anyone has a gun around my home, I want them to have a badge and ID.
Here is what Northern Ohio Live wrote about the book in their July Issue:
Advance Praise of "Please God Save Us" from the July 2008 of Northern Ohio Live Taken from Northern Ohio Live July 2008 Page 20
"Political Prose and Pics"
Bored with your summer reading list already? Derek Hess and Kent Smith can fix that. Their first book, Please God Save Us debuts July 4. The arguments begin shortly thereafter.
Hess, a Cleveland-based internationally known artist, contributes over 50 full color pieces of art in this magazine-sized soft-cover book. Smith, a Euclid School Board Member and former Free Times writer, provides written justification for Hess' angry images. (You may also remember Smith as the infamous doorman at Brillo Pad and Touch.)
Hess' well-known style remains; his works are oversized, angry, spiritual, funny and emotive. But the subject mater is not abstract; it is subjective and fresh from the evening news. The villain of the book is the menacing red elephant which seems to be killing soldiers and polar bears while polluting the sky.
Hess and Smith take on all the controversial topics including the Christian Right, the Iraq war, global warming, the oil industry, stem cell research, evolution, the media, rock and roll, and censorship. It's a safe bet that this is one way, George W. Bush does not want you to spend your economic stimulus check.
For information about the book please check out www.strhesspress.com
Is it just me, or is our Columbus NBC affiliate obsessed with the story of Allan Patton, the guy caught repeatedly trying to collect and drink the urine of young boys? The story broke Friday and they've had team reporting on the urine-fetish beat every newscast since then.
On Saturday, Mike Bowersock told us in earnest that Patton's mental condition is known as "urophilia." How educational. Today the NBC 4 Survey Question is: "Do you think Allan Patton should have been arrested for being in a public restroom, even though no crime was committed?"
Hmm. Let's rephrase that question: Do you think it's a good idea to arrest people without cause?
The poll results -- 828 votes at last count -- indicate 71% FOR Patton's arrest. The Reader Reaction comments are a mix of disgust and desire for vigilante justice. This from Sickofit: "What is it going to take for the system to put this man way (sic)? Another innocent child's life destroyed by him?"
Sheesh. The guy didn't touch anyone in this incident. It's hard to believe he destroyed a boy's life by collecting his urine. Yes, he's a perv, but he's not harming other humans.
Live and let live and let drink urine, I say.
Readers, this is not about the Iraq War nor is it about the Afghanistan War, I'm talking about the War on Terror as defined by those who promote and benefit from it, and that is not only TERRORIST.
In our military families eyes every War Profiteer (including politicians of both parties, the Defense Industry, and vultures (not Eagles-Vultures) picking over the (green bones) of War Profits.
If your community is passionate about creating monuments to Soldiers who have yet to return from their war by all means contact your local Tombstone dealer, funeral director, or cemetery, and get started BEFORE the war in over. GET ON THE BAND WAGON.
You many even find one or two combat troops (above the rank of SGT) willing to go along with the program when they are not THINKING about the exploitation and message they are sending, that will come later when their war is really over, and really warrants any monument.
Folks, it is a given that Funeral Corporations, Tombstone dealers, and yes even cemeteries are going to get on the war profit band wagon, they are among the only winners in WAR. They've been profiting off of war way before embalming wagons followed Union and Confederate forces on battle fields across civil war Americana. They have already profited off over what near 4500 young American troops. Do we really have to allow them to profit more than needed or necessary. Screw this, I'm getting cremated and someone, even if it is only some lawyer, hopefully will ensure my dust and bones gets placed in the Crematoria areas of Arlington National Cemetery.
Why am I the only one who seems to be frustrated by this and sees something morally wrong in having parades or building monuments to troops STILL fighting their war? Because my fellow Americans that is what the Nazi propaganda machine did at the Nuremberg Rallies and Demonstrations to show the Third Reich's military prowess, even as Germany was losing the war on both fronts.
No, I'm not comparing our troops or our war effort to Nazi Germany, but I am comparing our political propaganda efforts beyond a doubt BECAUSE WHAT PEOPLE, POLITICIANS, AND YES TOMBSTONE DEALERS are doing is WRONG!
Praise the Lord, by all means build a Veterans Memorial to our Iraq and Afghanistan troops in every city, county, state, and National Park across America - WHEN OUR TROOPS COME HOME.
Why the urgent rust to DO IT NOW??? That is why this Veteran and Army Dad refuses to see any monument to my Soldier established before he/she comes HOME TO STAY.
Bobby Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (69-94)
THINK HARD ABOUT THIS - WHY DID THIS GESTURE INCLUDING PHOTOS OF THE MONUMENT MAKE IT'S WAY INTO NO LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET, TV, OR NEWS PRINT??? It most likely will be after the fact, or after someone who disagrees with me reads something like this. Read More »
In our hometown of Beavercreek, Ohio this Independence Day is full of irony and hypocrite's. To top the list, our 4th of July parade has a World War II theme that ignores the sacrifice of those Veterans who did not win our civilian government's wars. One, the Korean Conflict, the first dry run for the 99 year occupation of Iraq is still going if not strong it's going. The other, Vietnam, ended with the Vietnamese people celebrating their Independence Day, even it the south had to endure tragedy beyond any American's imagination to achieve it. It was called reindoctrination to a united Vietnam except for the Boat people, many who (like Iraqis to come) now call America home.
However, the hardest hitting insult to those Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (regardless of their views on their war) who remain in combat, still fighting and dying in their war, is the shameful creation of an Iraq War Memorial by a company that makes tomb stones (Dodd's (Funeral) Monuments) of Xenia, Ohio. Come on folks, doesn't anyone see the immorality in this.
I'm not talking about the immorality of war or even opposition to war, I'm talking about a bunch of right-wing Veterans, lead by an influential Republican World War II Vet, placing a Memorial to 'younger' Troops in combat into a WWII Theme park they call a Veterans Memorial. It IS A POLITICAL MESSAGE - A PRO-WAR SLOGAN DISGRACEFULLY MADE BY A COMPANY THAT PROFITS ON DEATH.
As a Veteran, and Dad of an Iraq War Vet, I could give them a pass, if they at least had the class to contract with a artist or company that makes sculptures even patriotic memorials, BUT A TOMB STONE MAKER??? as a political message.
The last time I passed by our, yes I'm a Veteran of two wars with a brick laid at that memorial for me and my child, when I thought it really meant something other than POLITICAL PROPAGANDA, it was surrounded by more UNITED WE STAND political signs than American Flags.
My disgust at what is going down, former generations of Veterans, a few who won their war, and by the grace of God, the buzz word until they all die off is "Saved the World from people like G.W. Bush." are using their heritage to shame the rest of us into following their blind nationalistic march to disaster.
I had no problem with that, and could ignore it having half my brain tied behind my back, until they started using statues of troops who had not yet to complete their mission [whatever that will be next July 4th], come home from war, or even know what the future holds. A sorry sideline, is that neo-conservatives are USING and EXPLOITING even their own kind, World War II veterans who out of pride and glory for what they did do, no one, not even I can take that away from them despite my views. They do not even realize they are being PATRONIZED and USED.
Check out the flights provided to WWII Vets to the WWII Memorial flying out of the Wright Patterson AFB area, (look the other way as this right-wing scam is going into debt and bankruptcy from folks being too smart to donate to exploitation). It got national attention this Independence Day Weekend by showing a bright side that this is being provided free to old Vets who otherwise would not be able to see their memorial before their generation passes on. That's a good thing, however, what I question is TIMING and USING these Veterans to again send a political message of PATRIOTISM that was associated with the WWII generation.
Let me tell you something from my heart, it may not sound like it, but Major Bobby Hanafin has lots more respect and appreciation for what that generation lived through and endured, heck even their enemies [remember they are glorifying a period way before most of US were born], vast civilian populations they had to destroy in order to WIN. I take the good with the bad. I'm a realist, not a idealist I'm a PATRIOT not a NATIONALIST.
This is the spirit of the real respect I have for them. The Greatest Generation is appreciated by me and my military family for one reason and one reason ONLY. It is not because they won their war, nope, IT IS BECAUSE THANK GOD THEY WERE NOT US!!!!
Now before I allow my rants and raves to turn some of you off, we all are not that progressive, this is my long-winded way of saying, my passion and anger gave me the motivation to allow our younger generation of progressive Veterans to SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. That is the best way to really reflect the spirit of INDEPENDENCE DAY.
The official, national holiday is controlled by Political Correctness upon which our nation would NEVER have been born. It is to the Winter Soldiers that I dedicate this INDEPENDENCE DAY. May it some day be reachieved from the tyranny of thought control.
Bobby Hanafin
Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired (69-94) Read More »
Subtitle: "Celebrating our pride in God, country and troops." (April Fools Day in July)
Those in our area of S.W. Ohio who question, let alone oppose the Iraq War, decided to sit this 4th of July out and well, go shopping, play golf, or hold our own parades IN PRIVATE (only kidding). Well, we did plan on our own fireworks display with a CRUSADER theme, but decided the timing wasn't RIGHT or LEFT.
Seriously, if you want to locate and rate your own personal hometown propaganda rag, check out Mondo Times and International Media Rating Service that request readers rate media outlets according to political bias, credibility, and so on. So it you are a conservative living in a liberal dominated area of Ohio or a liberal living in a conservative area of Ohio or BOTH, this is your opportunity to get even with YOU NEARBY FRIENDLY PROPAGANDA RAG.
http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/35/1921/14917
The Independent Day connection and my response editorial are within the text below. The Republinazis have stooped to an all time LOW. They are going to try SHAMING us as UN-AMERICAN for not supporting THEIR PRESIDENT and THEIR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, by asking us not to make Independence Day a political observance, because it is SHAMEFUL to do so.
After you read what they, and I have to say about SHAME, let me know if you are AHSAMED of yourself for doing the things our neighborhood propaganga rag suggests are UNPATRIOTIC.
Folks, we've been down this road before, and it is only going to get worse closer we get to November 2008, and especially if Obama WINS, than the right-wing radicalism could go the way of Timothy McVeigh - duck and cover. Keep in mind that one cannot think of Timothy McVeigh without thinking about his ties with elements that would eventually become the Minuteman Militia that patrols our SW border.
THE MUSTANG MAJOR
Read More »"And the things that's most nauseating about you douche bags, not one of you ever went into this store, you never knew a customer, you never knew an employee or owner but somehow you found it necessary "in your own holier than thou world" to make sure these relationships ceased.
Congratulations. You can go back to your arugula quiche and merlot now."
Normally I wouldn't bother rebutting inflammatory and poorly reasoned fantasy, but I doubt a lot of people know this:
- The Cleveland Diocese launched the Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending.
- Republican Rep Scott Oeslager was a crucial early champion of the bill.
- George Bush signed a very similar bill two years ago that capped lending rates for military personnel at 36%, which the Undersecretary of Defense thought was still too high.
- Ohio's payday lending law was bipartisan and passed overwhelmingly: 70-24 & 29-4.
So thanks to Rep. Scott Oeslager (R), US Sens. Jim Talent (R) and Ben Nelson (D), Pat O'Bryan, Jim Callen, Bill Faith, Tom Allio and many, many more (250+ groups) for doing the groundwork to get this common sense regulation passed. Arugula is on me guys, but you'll have to bring your own merlot.
Slate runs down Teodoro Obiang "the ruler of Equatorial Guinea whose life seems a parody of the dictator genre."
Some years after executing his uncle in a bloody coup, Teodoro hit the jackpot:
[S]ince oil was found in the country's waters in the Gulf of Guinea, ExxonMobil, Marathon Oil, Chevron, and other firms have invested more than $10 billion to extract the treasure, transforming Equatorial Guinea into the third-largest energy exporter in sub-Saharan Africa.
Teodoro then promptly sent the first $700 million in revenue to provide help to his country's desperately poor citizens be laundered in his personal bank accounts in DC.
What's the US's response to this brutal dictator who has "permanent contact with the Almighty" and therefore can "kill anyone without being called to account"?
Invite him over for Tea & Crumpets and have our Secretary of State call him a "good friend."
They're right, this is beyond parody.
Tony Fiore at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce takes a shot at paid sick days saying: "Ohio's small businesses will be hardest hit." Surely the Chamber of Commerce read the proposal and knows that all businesses with under 25 employees (read: small businesses) are completely exempt from the law.
The only good explanations I can come up with are:
A) Granting Ohioans a right even Ethiopia and Zambia have, will immediately cause big business to shutter. Small business won't flourish, but close the next day. By week's end, Morgantown, WV will eclipse Chicago in size. Ohio will revert to a hunter-gatherer society. In all this, small businesses will be hardest hit.
B) It's easier to stand up for the little guy than CEOs who strain families and risk public health to save a dime*, so it's 'ok' to lie.
If the Chamber gets their way, 2.2 million working Ohioans better dust off their wands because they're on their own.
*P.S. According to Harvard Business School and numerous other studies, paid sick days improve a company's bottom line.
In an interview with Fortune magazine, McCain Campaign Chair, Charlie Black evoked the unthinkable. Black - a cunning political animal - dropped the terror attack bomb, claiming that another terror attack on the U.S. would be "a big advantage" to the McCain campaign.
When asked about this outrageous claim, Black conveniently forgot having made it. The candidate was equally tight-lipped, claiming ignorance of what his campaign brain had said. McCain did make a lame attempt to distance himself from his campaign brain. After refusing to acknowledge what Black was up to, McCain dismissed reporters and moved on to another question.
And what was Charlie Black up to?
Black is old political pro and rarely acts without an agenda. Like a lawyer trying to make a point with an objectionable question, Black knew he only had to plant a seed of doubt. The mere mention of another terror attack may get some voters to react out of fear - a tactic straight out of the Carl Rove playbook.
The claim was not an accident and Black knew the comment would reach a wide audience - without having to spend a dime. Free media time is invaluable to any campaign - especially to the McCain campaign. McCain has dug himself into a fundraising hole when compared to the Obama juggernaut of 1.5 million contributors.
McCain's Brain has long record of lobbying on behalf of an assortment of despots and political thugs. His lobbying firm was chummy with the Monster of Manila, Ferdinand Marcos at time when Marcos was brutally oppressing his political opposition.
If McCain has the brass, he will through Black under the Double Talk express. Black will have plenty of company as road kill on the campaign highway, joining the likes of Hagee and Rod Parsley. If McCain chooses not give Black a shove, he will have gone a long way towards driving the Double Talk Express off the moral high road.
Copyright 2008 Michael O'Brien All Rights Reserved
Sleeping on it, I must apologize if I sounded a bit harsh toward Brian, that was not my intention. My intention was to make a point and educate staff and members of ProgressOhio.
The anti-Iraqnam War movement in Ohio has been largely ignored in my opinion by not only the Republican controlled media but those politically correct elements of the Democratic party. That is why so many swing voters do not trust let alone support either partisan party.
With the advent of the Internet, and the interest of younger voters and political activists, at the young age of 57, I strongly believe that the concept of party loyalty will not be as significant in the future as a political ideologies skill at convincing intelligent and informed voters a candidate or issue is worth voting for or against.
That said, I want to start my blog with the facts behind protest and activism against Stop Loss on-going years (not months) since it finally got ProgressOhio's attention.
As long as I'm not expected to blindly follow any particular party line or be a Yellow Dog Donkey or Bloody Red Elephant, I'm willing to provide my very biased but non-partisan opinion to ProgressOhio on Veterans/Military Affairs without expectations that anyone agree with me but just LISTEN.
You have the power, more than I alone to influence our local, city, and state governments. However, your activism, passion, and concern must be genuine and realistic to undecided voters.
Bobby Hanafin
The Mustang Major Read More »
is Not the billing address for an out-of-control government that continues to fund private and corporate rescue missions along with unconstitutional wars of their choosing with OUR money, standing, reputation, lives, and liberties.
WE THE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, is to be the voice, the vote, and the actual government. We are to be the ones to monitor and to check and balance our government.
A true and correct democracy is to be, as our Constitution sets forth and requires, a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is not supposed to be the self - serving and big corporation funding bureaucracy that it has become. And it is not just our right, but indeed OUR DUTY, as THE PEOPLE to hold those accountable for violations and encroachments against the constitution.
The constitutionis only as strong as the PEOPLE and their actions. It can not defend itself. In fact our entire military is sworn To defend this constitution against all enemies, Foreign & Domestic. The Constitution is merely a document that provides both our rights and imposes duties upon us, THE PEOPLE.
In 2008, WE THE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES, find ourselves not too far from violations of powers and unchecked usurpations that led our brave and generous fore families from declaring their independence from the King. These men and women risked their lifes and their freedoms so that a true democracy could be born in this new land. And after fighting a war against their motherland, these wise men guaranteed each of us certain rights forever by enacting the Constitution.
On this upcoming Independence Day, 4 July 2008, please reflect upon the words; your rights, and your duties as THE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Then stand up, Be heard and demand a real change to restore our Democracy and our rights. Only then can you enjoy the Pursuit of Happiness, Liberty, and Justice that you are entitleld to and have earned.
I Am The Constitution of The United States. I am a Rebel, a wounded rebel. I have been assaulted and violated by those entrusted to guard and protect me. I have lost a significant amount of my powers and strength. My respect and standing has greatly diminished. Many executive, legislative, and judicial officers have usurped my powers and eliminated my checks and balances. I am YOUR, The Peoples document and Protector. And yet, you have failed to protect me!!!
The duty to protect me, so that I may always protect you and your rights, was bestowed upon each of you by our forefathers. I understand your confusion and know that your neglect was caused by the very people, parties, and factions who have violated me so often. These are men and women who act out of self-serving interests. People aligned with their factions instead of with YOU, The People. These elected and appointed people have sought to prevent you from being the "Well Informed Citizenry" that our ancestors demanded. They know that uneducated and unknowing men and women can be more easlily led astray. That your weaknesses, weaknesses that are perpetuated by them, to cause you and I further harm. These Evil men and women, following their natural traits of greed and lust are in violation of all I stand for.
Be it known that I am The Constitution of These United State. That I was made effective in 1789 and should still possess all the powers and rights incorporated in me except those amendments made after careful deliberation and with the full knowing consent of YOU, The People. I contain The Bill of Rights, and the structural rules by which YOUR Democracy shall forever stand. My words shall protect every person in these United States and provide them all with Liberty and Justice; and allow each of you to pursue your own happiness.
However, I am merely a piece of parchment. I am a document&183; My words mean little or nothing if YOU the People do not defend and protect me and these words. These words are the only thing that prevents each of you from suffering the same evils, the rule of Tyrants, Kings, and Dictators that caused so many to risk their lives so that I may live and so that each of you may enjoy your liberties.
Your military men and women are sworn to "Defend and Protect" me from all enemies foreign and domestic. And yet, here I am being violated by the most powerful men and women in the world while those in the military and most of my citizens sit by silently and watch.
Our forefathers did bestow upon each of you certain inalienable rights, and duties. These rights and duties empower you and burden you with the powers and duties to follow them and defend me, so that I may live to protect you and your rights. You may assemble peacefully. You can speak as you please. You can petition your government and demand redress of all grievances. You may even abolish any person, party, faction, or form of this, your government through proper means. Because most of you do not know of these rights and duties, I sit unprotected against very powerful and knowledgeable men, women, parties, and corporations. The more I am violated, you are violated.
Therefore, in defense of me, in hopes of educating and alarming all of you, in hopes of instilling that patriotic loyalty to freedom and your pursuit of happiness that each of you holds so dear. Read More »
In terms of personal impact, the federal Do Not Call Registry has got to be one of the best things Congress ever put together in this millennium. No more unsolicited telemarketers! Whoopee!
As you may have noticed around election time, political pollsters and candidate robo-calls are exempted from Do Not Call rules. "Political" speech, as annoying as it may be, is protected under the First Amendment.
But now there's hope for those of us who, like Greta Garbo, simply "vant to be left alone" during election season: the National Political Do Not Call Registry
operated by a Washington-based non-profit called Citizens for Civil Discourse. (Thanks to Mr. Know-It-All in the current issue of Wired for the tip-off.) Lacking government backing, the registry appears to be a work in progress. But the idea of freedom from political intrusions is a worthy goal.
In fact, I'd like to take my right to undisturbed privacy to the next level. Even more intrusive than phone calls are knocks on my door from religious groups who solicit donations for who-knows-what.
What bugs me about these people is their arrogant assumption: We know the truth. You don't. We're here to teach you.
For some sects, proselytizing or "witnessing" is an obligatory religious duty. That's not my problem. I need not feel guilty for shutting my door in their faces.
In my community, solicitors need to get a permit before they can go door to door. As with gambling and taxes, church groups get a free pass. Why?
My right to privacy supersedes their right to exercise their religious beliefs -- especially on my property. Sure, they mean well. So do lots of polygamists and snake handlers who claim God is their copilot.
Yeah, it's petty and bitchy, but I'd like to propose a National Do Not Proselytize Registry.
Just when we thought we were safe from divisive religio-politics, here comes The Matthew 25 Network, a faith-based Democrat PAC supporting Sen. Obama's presidential bid.
Hoo-boy. Here we go again. The last time I chided religious leaders, my computer shut down twice, apparently from outside security threats. It's flattering to believe someone is paying attention. I just wish they'd leave comments.
The Carpetbagger Report says: "Called The Matthew 25 Network, the new organization, which is still in its earliest stages, is being spearheaded by Mara Vanderslice, who was director of religious outreach for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and did similar work for several statewide Democratic candidates, including Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio....
"In case you're wondering, the name of the project comes from the 25th chapter of the Biblical book of Matthew, quoting Jesus: 'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"
So what's the problem?
Two things:
First and foremost, Democrats and Republicans alike: What part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" don't you understand?
It's like the one thing our government is charged with keeping its nose out of -- religion -- and the pols can't help themselves but to take a heady whiff of this Pandora's box.
Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael "Mockmeister" Pfleger didn't do Obama any good. Rev. John Hagee and Hometown Anti-Hero Rod "Lock n Load" Parsley didn't do McCain or their respective congregations any good. Partnering with religious groups looks like a sin-sin proposition to me.
Besides, Christian beliefs are as diverse as political beliefs. There are plenty of pro-choice churches, for example. They just aren't as vocal as the pro-life evangelicals.
Likewise, it's a bad idea to post the Ten Commandments in public places for a lot of reasons, but mainly because we can't agree on which version is the "right" one. (I, for one, won't be coveting my neighbor's wife, but I'm not making any promises about his ass.)
The second problem with The Matthew 25 Network initiative -- and I can't believe it takes an Ohio housewife slacker like myself to point this out -- is that the first story of Matthew 25 is a sad example of spirit-crushing sexism.
From the the New International Version (the most current widely available) Bible: "The Parable of the Ten Virgins: At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise...." (Note to Bible translators: If you mean "girl," say girl. If you're talking about Jesus's mother, say virgin. Otherwise, it's confusing.)
The name is disappointing and its goal -- to gain votes for Obama -- doesn't sound very Christian-like to me. I wish Democrats would stop trying to imitate Republicans and promote Obama for the secular hero that he is.
For once I'd like to see a gay man portrayed in an AIDS/HIV+ public service announcement.
I'd like to see men get pregnant. Specifically, I'm curious as to how John McCain would have handled an unplanned pregnancy during his naval career.
I'd like to see universal health care happen for all Americans in my lifetime. Employers don't pay our car insurance bill, why should they pay for health insurance? The current system just doesn't make sense and excludes so many.
A congressional group hug -- that I'd love to see.
Sorry to dwell on nostalgic topics so often, but today I accidentally found a Columbus Free Press from 30 years ago with a great article about "Yippie-Republican" Steve Conliff. It made me wonder: when did politics get so humorless? (And, did it have anything to do with the invention of the stun gun?)
Rhodes Faces Pie-Man in Primary
Every four years, Ohioans elect someone, usually Jim Rhodes, to sit in the governor's chair and carry out the will of the voters. And every four years he doesn't.
The FREE PRESS had a chance to talk with Steve Conliff, the man who treated Governor Rhodes to a tastily flung banana cream pie at the opening ceremonies of last year's Ohio State Fair. Conliff will go to trial March 29 for assault and disturbing a lawful meeting -- the charge alleges he "did knowingly attempt to cause physical harm to another; to wit, Governor James A. Rhodes, by means of striking him about the head and shoulders with a pie." [Conliff was convicted, although his pie actually missed Rhodes.]
Steve Conliff is also running for governor against Rhodes -- in the Republican primary.
"It takes just 1,000 signatures to get on the ballot, and then anywhere Governor Rhodes goes to speak, they'll have to let me speak," he said. "It's the American way."
Conliff stated that his first act as governor would be to pardon himself.
"My second act," Conliff related, "will be to pardon all political prisoners, all marijuana offenders and perpetrators of any victimless crimes, and all those imprisoned due to racial, sexual, economic, cultural or religious discrimination."
As commander of the National Guard, Conliff would appoint Arthur Krause, father of Allison Krause (one of the 4 Kent State anti-war demonstrators killed by the Guard in 1970.)
Every welfare bureaucrat he appoints will be someone who has been on welfare, and every judge will be someone who has done time, Conliff said.
If Conliff is elected governor, profit will be a dirty word in Ohio. Conliff said, "We will seek to eliminate poverty, crime, high taxation and unemployment by enacting a 100% excess profits tax on all large corporations and all individuals earning more than $25,000 per year." Conliff told the FREE PRESS that "the only loophole will be a tax break for industries that hire more workers. Establishment of a 30-hour work week, with the proviso that no one's actual income may be lowered, ever if they have been working 60 hours a week, will force industry either to hire more workers or to put the bosses to work. Splitting up the labor will create jobs for all who want them. Any industry that attempts to flee the state to avoid its taxes will have all its property seized under the right of eminent domain."
"We will avoid, unless absolutely necessary, sending the National Guard into Bexley and Upper Arlington with live ammunition to put down rioting bourgeoisie."
When I get discouraged about the level of political discourse in America, I say to myself, 'at least our politicians don't resort to fistfights.'
Then there's this.... Congratulations, New Zealand you'll no longer be known as that one country where they shot Lord of the Rings.
Tired of the same old Bible study discussions? It's time to put the Fun in Fundamentalist Christianity and start questioning religious authorities about the role of women 2,000 years ago and today:
1. Why did ancient men have such low opinions of women? "Let your women keep silence in the churches" [1 Corinthians 14:34]; "Suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" [1 Timothy 2:11]; "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands" [Colossians 3:18]; etc., etc. Even in the New Testament, women didn't count: Jesus feeds 4,000 ("besides women and children") with seven loaves and a few fishes [Matthew 15:38]. Like Jesus' mother Mary, women were only valued for what they DIDN'T do. For the most part, women were regarded as chattel.
2. How would women write the Bible? Despite frequent sermons about the diversity of the Gospel writers, we have no holy texts written by women (except maybe the obscure Mary Magdalene scriptures). A female author or editor probably wouldn't have dwelled on a woman hemorrhaging for 12 years (three times we get the story) or how Jesus is apparently sapped of energy when a woman merely touches his robe [Mark 5:30], yet suffers no consequences when he heals blind and paralytic men. A Bible author with a female perspective might also be more specific when advising people to "love thy neighbor" -- she would understand that literal translations can get a gal in a heap of trouble.
3. There are so many whores in the Bible. Do you really expect me to believe they were volunteer whores? Was it like a Miss Kitty in Gunsmoke kind of arrangement or did they have pimps?
4. Where's my seven-day vacation every month? [Leviticus 15:19-28] Can I really make a guy unclean by just sitting in the same chair he does while menstruating?
5. Jesus says nothing about abortion -- not even close. The word abortion isn't in the Bible. Without scriptural basis, aren't pro-lifers just political tools? (Jesus does make clear in Matthew 19:8, however: no second marriages.)
6. If the writers of the Gospels knew so much, why didn't they include all of Jesus' maternal ancestors in his genealogy?
7. It's been 2,000 years, guys...and you still can't properly address us? Ministers are quick to point out that "virgin" usually translates as "girl." So where's the Bible translation with The Parable of the 10 Girls [Matthew 25]? Between airhead Eve, Lot's salty wife, sacrificial daughters, and the multi-Marys, there's not much Bible material about women that preachers can talk about without being offensive. They need to fill in the gaps for us if they want to provide credible spiritual guidance to women today. Just throw us a feminine-pronoun bone every once in a while. That would help.
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In Ohio's Supreme Court
