Jim Ramelis's blog

I wrote this for a Lay Pastor program with the Presbyterians that I am in.

Assignment: How can we talk about being religious in America that includes more of diversity that represents present day America?

Naomi Klein, on "Democracy Now ! ",the other day, said all of we Obama supporters who are shocked at what is going on, were sold a "brand" and we bought it. Obama used all the right buzz words in his campaign, peace, health care, equality, education, jobs for Americans (remember re-visiting NAFTA ?) , but now like so many products, the brand isn't living up to the advertising.He actually promised little. I knew something was not right immediately when he kept Gates as Secretary of Defense. I knew maybe not so much change was coming. If he escalates the war in Afghanistan with tens of thousands more troops, I will lose that hope for change that I voted for.

No Government Enforced Bondage to The Insurance Companies!
By Jim Ramelis

Hey! I Want My Faith Values Recognized Too!
By Jim Ramelis

My Congressman, Bart Stupak of Michigan, recently introduced the anti-abortion amendment in the House of Representatives version of the proposed Health Care bill. It seems the only time the values of faith based voters are taken into consideration is in matters of abortion and Gay Rights.

I have a few right wing relatives and/or friends that I haven't pissed off and they still send me right wing orientated emails. I am deliberately trying to not piss them off so I can see what the righties are circulating.Check this one out if you have time. It poses as an instruction video in civics. It re-frames the right-left paradigm and then identifies Democracy as problem and the major contributing factor to the fall of Rome. I swear, Democracy is cast as evil in this latest right wing production. I am very afraid for our country. Check it out. http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

Faith-Based Activist Visits Alpena
Tom Cordaro, sponsored by the Alpena Coalition for Peace, visited Alpena Michigan this past weekend. Tom has worked for thirty years as a professional speaker, writer, organizer, and national leader in the faith-based peace and justice movement. He is currently the Justice & Outreach Minister at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Naperville Illinois. Tom is the author of “Be Not Afraid, An Alternative To The War on Terror”, published by Pax Christi USA. Tom’s talk to those of us assembled in Alpena was based on this recent book.

Recently there has been a lot of scoffing at the attempts of the Democrats for bipartisan support of their health care plan. In progressive circles, The Democrats are characterized as big warm hearted buffoons who foolishly court the right wingers. They are anything but warm hearted fuzzies.
Reality is the Democrats want bipartisan support so if the plan fails or becomes an object of scorn, the guilt is shared. The Republicans are having none of it. If the plan succeeds they risk a huge Democratic triumph, though. If they are betting the plan is a bonanza for insurance companies because of the influence of right wing and mainstream Democrats,and a boondoggle for the rest of us, they are probably making a good move politically. That does seem the direction the health plan seems to be heading in. If an insurance friendly plan with no or a weak public option is passed, then the Republicans can play the role of the “populists” defending the common folks against the big government Democrats who now have mandated insurance coverage for the poor working class.And if people have huge out of pocket expenses for that mandated insurance, it will kill the Democrats for a generation.

Many of us were enthused after Obama's last speech on healthcare. Then upon closer examination we realized he didn't really say a public option was non-negotiable. We very well might not get a public option.No sooner was the speech over and Democrats were making sounds to the effect that they might throw the public option overboard. Mandated health insurance with no inexpensive public option could absolutely be a nightmare. The Republicans play their base and the Democrats play theirs. Ultimately they are both bought and sold by the same people. This is an interesting article by David Sirota from Open left about Nancy Pelosi and her recently backing off from the Public Option.

Hours After Pelosi Backs off on Public Option, Health Lobbyist Announces Fundraiser in Her Honor
By David Sirota, Open Left
Posted on September 11, 2009, Printed on September 14, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/http://www.openleft.com/142589/

there has been some activity in my rural community lately with "tea parties" and letters to the editor, so I sent this to a local newspaper.

TO THE EDITOR:

I am absolutely amazed at the issues the conservative right gets itself into lather about. They were quiet as George W. Bush all but destroyed the country. No noise is made as billions is given to the profit heavy oil industry in government subsides. No cries of socialism from the “patriots” as billions are given to agri-business in subsidies. Then agri-business floods Mexico with corns and beans, and puts Mexican farmers out of business, who then immigrate here. No outcry from the right when military aid is given and weapons are sold to Saudi Arabia who supplied 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9-11 and continues to fund the hate schools throughout the Islamic world.