He’s Not a Socialist, He’s Not a Muslim, and He Can’t Be Both

People who criticize others often expose their own ignorance. For instance, anyone who calls President Obama a Marxist or a socialist is ignorant of the definition of these words.

Don’t take my word for it; read what Ron Paul said about Obama: "In the technical sense, in the economic definition, he is not a socialist. He’s a corporatist."

Likewise, people who claim Obama is a Muslim ignore the fact that he was raised as an agnostic and  baptized as a Christian in the 1990s at Trinity United Church of Christ. Strangely, many of these same critics are quick to criticize Obama over controversial remarks made by the church’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Finally, Obama opponents who claim he’s both a Muslim and a Marxist seem ignorant of the fact that the two ideologies are incompatible.

Consider this from Defending Islam, whose articles are reviewed and spproved by Islamic scholars: "Islam does not instinctively respond to Communism (Marxism) nor accept its ideology. Communism does not have a place in the lives of Muslims." 

As citizens, we have a right—and an obligation—to review President Obama’s record. Most thinking people will agree with some of his policies and disagree with others, and a thoughtful review of his policies and his opponent’s should determine our votes. But our votes should be based on facts, not on lies and ignorance.

Sources

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/04/10/ron-paul-barack-obama-is-not-a-socialist/

http://www.defending-islam.com/page322.html

Judgment Call

If Mitt Romney had won the 2007 Republican primary and gone on to be elected president, it’s likely that Osama Bin Laden would still be at large.

“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will.” – Barack Obama, 2007

“I do not concur in the words of Barack Obama in a plan to enter an ally of ours… I don’t think those kinds of comments help in this effort to draw more friends to our effort.” – Mitt Romney, 2007

Romney and Obama are both moderates. Obama is pulled left of center by liberal Democrats, and Romney is pulled right of center by conservative Republicans. The main difference is that President Obama has shown good judgment in foreign policy matters, and he has earned a second term.

The Death of Bipartisanship

Moderate Republican Senator Richard Lugar’s loss in the primary to a Tea Party zealot is another sign of the Republican Party’s drifting farther away from the mainstream.

Lugar is one of the few politicians who still puts country ahead of party by seeking compromise. Universally respected, Lugar understood that compromise has always been a necessary component of good government. He was defeated by a more conservative Republican who defines bipartisanship as, “Democrats coming to the Republican point of view.”

Like most Americans, I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. I agree with the left on some issues and the right on others, and on most I can see both sides. The Republicans represent a narrow (and narrow minded) section of the public.

Let's Kill Coal (Before Coal Kills Us)

New EPA guidelines will prevent the construction of new coal power plants. This is a long overdue first step toward weaning our country, and the world, off the most dangerous and polluting source of power.

Environmental columnist David Roberts summarizes the issue well: “Coal is the enemy of the human race.” The mining and burning of coal creates health hazards and pollutes air, water, and soil. The true cost of this “cheap” power was examined by the National Research Council:

The damages the committee was able to quantify were an estimated $120 billion in the U.S. in 2005, a number that reflects primarily health damages from air pollution associated with electricity generation and motor vehicle transportation.  The figure does not include damages from climate change, harm to ecosystems, effects of some air pollutants such as mercury, and risks to national security, which the report examines but does not monetize.

Let’s hope these regulations are followed by increased research into clean power technology.  

The National Research Council report:

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12794

Other sources:

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/coal.html

http://grist.org/coal/2011-09-30-coal-is-enemy-of-human-race-mainstream-economics-edition/

http://www.catf.us/fossil/problems/power_plants/existing/

Words of Wisdom

The quote below is attributed to Thomas Edison, and as far as I can determine, it’s legitimate:

“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy--sun, wind and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”

Edison was one of the most brilliant human beings who ever lived. We should at least be smart enough to consider his advice. No one can realistically claim that we can currently harness enough solar and/or wind power to replace all coal power plants or quickly abandon the use of other fossil fuels, but we can—and should—invest in clean power technology to eventually replace fuels that pollute.

Don't Let the U.S. Get Dragged Into War

The U.S. seems to be moving closer to war with Iran. We need to learn from our previous mistakes and stay out of military conflict unless our country is directly attacked.

The United States is not the world’s policeman, and although Israel is our ally, under no circumstances should we follow them into war. Remember, England and France were our closest allies before WWII, but the U.S. did not go to war to protect these countries; we did not join the war until we were attacked. We need to seek diplomatic solutions, and we must not be drawn into a war.

If you agree, take action. Write your congressional representative and both your senators to express your disapproval of any use of force unless we are directly attacked. Feel free to copy the letter below and modify it to suit your position:

Dear ______:

I am opposed to any military action against Iran unless the United States is directly attacked. We should seek diplomatic solutions to our disagreements with the Iranian government. Our support of Israel should be strong but should not include committing U.S. troops to battle.

I hope you will oppose any authorization of force unless our country is directly attacked.

Sincerely,

The following Facebook pages and Web sites may be useful:

http://www.stopiranwar.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JOIN-NOW-Call-for-General-Strike-in-Iran-Israel-to-Stop-New-WAR-Plan/116401591744820

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stop-the-War-on-Iran-before-it-starts/142098302560840

Logo: http://www.payvand.com/news/06/feb/stop-war-on-iran.jpg

Pirates and Health Care

On Jan. 25, Navy SEALs rescued an American being held hostage by Somali pirates. Like all Americans, I was glad to see that when American lives are threatened by foreign governments, criminals, or terrorists, our military is there to protect us. President Obama said, “This is yet another message to the world that the United States of America will stand strongly against any threats to our people.”

Virtually all Americans agree that this was the right thing to do, and no one asked what it cost.  

But when American lives are threatened by disease, conservatives oppose spending any taxpayer money to save them.

A 2009 study conducted at Harvard Medical School and published in the American Journal of Public Health found that 45,000 annual deaths were associated with lack of health insurance.

Only a select few people have the mental and physical toughness to be Navy SEALs, but we too can save American lives by supporting policies that give all Americans access to health care.