President
Obama promised we'd be disengaged com
pletely from Iraq by 2010, But recently sectarian violence
and death have increased, in direct proportion to our re
duced military presence; if our departure from Iraq allows
civil war to erupt again, what will he do?
pletely from Iraq by 2010, But recently sectarian violence
and death have increased, in direct proportion to our re
duced military presence; if our departure from Iraq allows
civil war to erupt again, what will he do?
In Afghanistan, our involvement has increased and
soon
he must decide whether to heed the recommendation of
his military and send as many as 40,000 more troops into
harm's way, Meanwhile, our military strikes continue to
kill Afghan civilians by the hundreds and we still refer to
them as "collateral damage." Where is Code-Pink, the or
ganization of women who practically camped out in front
of the White House for six years during the Bush years?
Why is "collateral damage" under the Obama administra
tion any less disturbing than his predecessor's? (Code-Pink
recently placed a very defensive statement on its web site,
insisting they still oppose the war and then disingenuously
suggest to their critics that THEY go out and picket the new
president)
he must decide whether to heed the recommendation of
his military and send as many as 40,000 more troops into
harm's way, Meanwhile, our military strikes continue to
kill Afghan civilians by the hundreds and we still refer to
them as "collateral damage." Where is Code-Pink, the or
ganization of women who practically camped out in front
of the White House for six years during the Bush years?
Why is "collateral damage" under the Obama administra
tion any less disturbing than his predecessor's? (Code-Pink
recently placed a very defensive statement on its web site,
insisting they still oppose the war and then disingenuously
suggest to their critics that THEY go out and picket the new
president)
He
promised to shut down GITMO, where at last count,
226 men remain imprisoned, some for years, and all with
out ever being charged with a crime. One of the bulwarks
of our justice system is the right to a fair and speedy trial.
Why still, does this fundamental right not apply to them?
In fact, the main thrust of the GITMO debate recently has
only been a question of where the detainees should be re
located. I am quite sure that for the prisoners, where they
remain locked up is of little difference or consequence.
They should be charged with a crime or freed NOW.
226 men remain imprisoned, some for years, and all with
out ever being charged with a crime. One of the bulwarks
of our justice system is the right to a fair and speedy trial.
Why still, does this fundamental right not apply to them?
In fact, the main thrust of the GITMO debate recently has
only been a question of where the detainees should be re
located. I am quite sure that for the prisoners, where they
remain locked up is of little difference or consequence.
They should be charged with a crime or freed NOW.
Obama
promised to take a stronger position in support
of gay rights and his rhetoric, as recently as October, still
made that commitment. Yet, his own justice department is
currently opposing in federal court, a law suit by two gay
men who are demanding survival benefits for gay couples.
of gay rights and his rhetoric, as recently as October, still
made that commitment. Yet, his own justice department is
currently opposing in federal court, a law suit by two gay
men who are demanding survival benefits for gay couples.
Obama
promised to bring an end to reckless and greedy
speculation by the banking industry, but gave them billions
of dollars once he was in office, creating an almost unfath
omable federal debt. His connections to banking giants like
Goldman Sachs are no less tightly bound than those of his
predecessor.
speculation by the banking industry, but gave them billions
of dollars once he was in office, creating an almost unfath
omable federal debt. His connections to banking giants like
Goldman Sachs are no less tightly bound than those of his
predecessor.
His attempts at health care reform are so muddled, I'm
not even sure what his latest proposal is.
not even sure what his latest proposal is.
According
to a government report, the Obama "stimu
lus package" has so far created just 30,000 jobs and un
employment has risen to almost 1096. While Wall Street
shows dramatic signs of a turnaround, the average Ameri
can continues to suffer.
lus package" has so far created just 30,000 jobs and un
employment has risen to almost 1096. While Wall Street
shows dramatic signs of a turnaround, the average Ameri
can continues to suffer.
He recently dodged meeting the Dalai Lama; liberal col
umnist Maureen Doud wrote that, "Obama had indeed tried
umnist Maureen Doud wrote that, "Obama had indeed tried
Meanwhile,
our military strikes continue
to kill Afghan civilians by the hundreds
and we still refer to them
as "collateral damage."
to kill Afghan civilians by the hundreds
and we still refer to them
as "collateral damage."
to curry favor with China by declining to see the Dalai Lama
until after the president's visit to China next month."
until after the president's visit to China next month."
And
finally, our retreat from any serious policy to deal
with the effects of climate change and its tragic conse
quences remain an embarrassment. Other than what ap
pears to be the biggest sell-off of public lands since the
transcontinental railroad to "green companies" who hope
to reap millions from the development of "alternative en
ergy" and devastate the American Landscape in the pro
cess, there is nothing coming from the current leadership
but more rhetoric. And "cap & trade?" It is a joke. Now the
public is having doubts about the validity of climate change
itself. The administration's lack of leadership and candor
must be held accountable.
with the effects of climate change and its tragic conse
quences remain an embarrassment. Other than what ap
pears to be the biggest sell-off of public lands since the
transcontinental railroad to "green companies" who hope
to reap millions from the development of "alternative en
ergy" and devastate the American Landscape in the pro
cess, there is nothing coming from the current leadership
but more rhetoric. And "cap & trade?" It is a joke. Now the
public is having doubts about the validity of climate change
itself. The administration's lack of leadership and candor
must be held accountable.
And yet, supporters of this administration sit silently
and say nothing. Why is this?
and say nothing. Why is this?
Camille
Paglia, one of the last true independent journal
ists in this country, a writer willing to express an honest
opinion and let the chips fall recently wrote:
ists in this country, a writer willing to express an honest
opinion and let the chips fall recently wrote:
But
affluent middle-class Democrats now seem to be
complacently servile toward authority and automatically
believe everything party leaders tell them. Why? Is it be
cause the new professional class is a glossy product ofge-
complacently servile toward authority and automatically
believe everything party leaders tell them. Why? Is it be
cause the new professional class is a glossy product ofge-
nerically
institutionalized learning? Independent thought
and logical analysis of argument are no longer taught...
Why has the Democratic Party become so arrogantly
detached from ordinary Americans? Though they claim
to speak for the poor and dispossessed, Democrats have
increasingly become the party of an upper-middle-class
professional elite, top-heavy with journalists, academics
and lawyers (one reason for the hypocritical absence of
tort reform in the healthcare bills). Weirdly, given their
worship of highly individualistic, secularized self-actual
ization, such prof essionals are as a whole amazingly cred
ulous these days about big-government solutions to every
social problem. They see no danger in expanding govern
ment authority and intrusive, wasteful bureaucracy. This
is, I submit, a stunning turn away from the anti-authority
and anti-establishment principles of authentic 1960s left
ism.
and logical analysis of argument are no longer taught...
Why has the Democratic Party become so arrogantly
detached from ordinary Americans? Though they claim
to speak for the poor and dispossessed, Democrats have
increasingly become the party of an upper-middle-class
professional elite, top-heavy with journalists, academics
and lawyers (one reason for the hypocritical absence of
tort reform in the healthcare bills). Weirdly, given their
worship of highly individualistic, secularized self-actual
ization, such prof essionals are as a whole amazingly cred
ulous these days about big-government solutions to every
social problem. They see no danger in expanding govern
ment authority and intrusive, wasteful bureaucracy. This
is, I submit, a stunning turn away from the anti-authority
and anti-establishment principles of authentic 1960s left
ism.
Some
defenders of the current crown will argue that we
have simply not given Obama enough time. But in the cruel
hard light of 2lst century American politics, there is NOT
a lot of time for a president to affect real change. It is im
perative that he act swiftly and decisively. With mid-term
elections less than 11 months away, the administration will
find itself being even more cautious, fearful of losing its
congressonal majorities. But what has it accomplished with
its veto-proof majority so far?
have simply not given Obama enough time. But in the cruel
hard light of 2lst century American politics, there is NOT
a lot of time for a president to affect real change. It is im
perative that he act swiftly and decisively. With mid-term
elections less than 11 months away, the administration will
find itself being even more cautious, fearful of losing its
congressonal majorities. But what has it accomplished with
its veto-proof majority so far?
I
remember what the great journalist, Edward R. Mur-
row once said: "We should never confuse dissent with dis
loyalty. When the Loyal Opposition dies, so does America."
It's possible to be the "Loyal Opposition" within your own
row once said: "We should never confuse dissent with dis
loyalty. When the Loyal Opposition dies, so does America."
It's possible to be the "Loyal Opposition" within your own
"...but really, 'progressive' has
always meant supporting the
oppressed against
the oppressor,
And from that point of view,
the Moab progressives'
are not progressive."
party
as well. Abraham Lincoln sought the advice and even
assigned cabinet positions to his most vocal opponents. I'd
like to believe that we can still offer criticism without being
disloyal, more than a century later.
assigned cabinet positions to his most vocal opponents. I'd
like to believe that we can still offer criticism without being
disloyal, more than a century later.
When
it comes to "progressive" matters at the local lev
el, I must plead ignorance. I really don't know what the
politics of Moab are like these days, having fled the prem
ises five years ago. I was reminded of that last year when I
criticized a compromise proposal by future County Coun
cilman Chris Baird to allow a smaller 75,000 square foot
Wal-Mart into Moab, if the giant retailer decided to make
such a move. I thought the idea was absurd and still do. A
"gentler and kinder" mini-Wal-Mart would still have a dev
astating effect on many small Moab businesses. Baird was
not pleased. He fired off a volatile reply but he did make
one fair point when he wrote, that I was "not engaged in
the community you write about."
el, I must plead ignorance. I really don't know what the
politics of Moab are like these days, having fled the prem
ises five years ago. I was reminded of that last year when I
criticized a compromise proposal by future County Coun
cilman Chris Baird to allow a smaller 75,000 square foot
Wal-Mart into Moab, if the giant retailer decided to make
such a move. I thought the idea was absurd and still do. A
"gentler and kinder" mini-Wal-Mart would still have a dev
astating effect on many small Moab businesses. Baird was
not pleased. He fired off a volatile reply but he did make
one fair point when he wrote, that I was "not engaged in
the community you write about."
He
is right. But I did recruit the comments of a friend of
mine, a resident of Moab for 30 years and a person long in
volved in the political process. I have also always admired
her candor and honesty, even when I suffered for it. And
because of her position in the community, she asked if she
could maintain her anonymity. Since her statements slan
der no one and because I think her points are well-made,
I sought and received her advice. As I have done in the
past, I asked her to play devil's advocate with me and as an
advocate for "progressive" government in Grand County.
I asked her how the "progressive" movement is faring in
Grand County and if she were a member of the governing
bodies, what would her claim to "progressive" government
successes be. Her response was as witty and direct as al
ways, but I could not help but wonder if she and Ms. Paglia
are related. She replied:
mine, a resident of Moab for 30 years and a person long in
volved in the political process. I have also always admired
her candor and honesty, even when I suffered for it. And
because of her position in the community, she asked if she
could maintain her anonymity. Since her statements slan
der no one and because I think her points are well-made,
I sought and received her advice. As I have done in the
past, I asked her to play devil's advocate with me and as an
advocate for "progressive" government in Grand County.
I asked her how the "progressive" movement is faring in
Grand County and if she were a member of the governing
bodies, what would her claim to "progressive" government
successes be. Her response was as witty and direct as al
ways, but I could not help but wonder if she and Ms. Paglia
are related. She replied:
One
of the difficulties is figuring out exactly what the
"progressive agenda" is...you can now raise chickens
in Moab, but last night at the city council meeting the
animal control officer reported a big jump in skunks in
Moab...Let's see, actual policy, there is nothing, but they
"progressive agenda" is...you can now raise chickens
in Moab, but last night at the city council meeting the
animal control officer reported a big jump in skunks in
Moab...Let's see, actual policy, there is nothing, but they
did,
as a county council, challenge the rest of rural Utah
on the question of oil and gas development (everyone
else is for it, Grand County is a'gin it), they rallied sup
port for DeChristopher, they spoke out against the Green
River nuclear plant, they made it known to the public that
Grand County leaders are against tar sands and oil shale
research, and they are considering bike trails in Spanish
Valley.
on the question of oil and gas development (everyone
else is for it, Grand County is a'gin it), they rallied sup
port for DeChristopher, they spoke out against the Green
River nuclear plant, they made it known to the public that
Grand County leaders are against tar sands and oil shale
research, and they are considering bike trails in Spanish
Valley.
...but
really, "progressive" has always meant support
ing the oppressed against the oppressor, labor against
the bosses, indigenous people against colonizers, with a
progressive media that "comforts the afflicted, and af
flicts the comfortable." And from that point of view, the
Moab "progressives" are not progressive...they support
restrictive zoning, which keeps out Hispanic and Native
American families from living in downtown Moab....Their
approach to oil and gas is not to make oil and gas devel
opment safer, less polluting and less impacting, but more
a NIMBY approach, where we don't have to look at it (no
thought to the drilling going in Nigeria and Mexico and
Brazil and other places with nowhere near the environ
mental oversight the industry has here).....and they are in
ing the oppressed against the oppressor, labor against
the bosses, indigenous people against colonizers, with a
progressive media that "comforts the afflicted, and af
flicts the comfortable." And from that point of view, the
Moab "progressives" are not progressive...they support
restrictive zoning, which keeps out Hispanic and Native
American families from living in downtown Moab....Their
approach to oil and gas is not to make oil and gas devel
opment safer, less polluting and less impacting, but more
a NIMBY approach, where we don't have to look at it (no
thought to the drilling going in Nigeria and Mexico and
Brazil and other places with nowhere near the environ
mental oversight the industry has here).....and they are in
fact
anti-sustainable, calling for decreased densities for
housing, encouraging a sprawl mentality that increases
infrastructure, energy costs, and greenhouse gases.....
housing, encouraging a sprawl mentality that increases
infrastructure, energy costs, and greenhouse gases.....
Once again, it is style more than substance that separates
progressives from their counter-parts. Rhetoric rules.
progressives from their counter-parts. Rhetoric rules.
Finally,
though I still heed Mr. Baird's comments about
my lack of engagement in Grand County affairs, I will take
the liberty of placing my unwanted nose into one corner of
Moab's changing community. If there is one aspect of the
"amenities economy" to which Dave Ehrley defends in his
November 5, 2008 letter, he must acknowledge it was and
is that very same economy that has made it virtually im
possible for anyone of modest financial means to ever hope
of buying a home in Moab without incurring unspeakable
debt.
my lack of engagement in Grand County affairs, I will take
the liberty of placing my unwanted nose into one corner of
Moab's changing community. If there is one aspect of the
"amenities economy" to which Dave Ehrley defends in his
November 5, 2008 letter, he must acknowledge it was and
is that very same economy that has made it virtually im
possible for anyone of modest financial means to ever hope
of buying a home in Moab without incurring unspeakable
debt.
Twenty-five
years ago, it was easy for someone like my
self, a lowly seasonal ranger living on $8000 a year, to buy
a home. Consequently it allowed for a remarkably diverse
and interesting population of varied interests to reside
side-by-side. I will also be the first to admit that when I
finally sold my home in Moab two years ago, I made a ri
diculous profit from my original investment.
self, a lowly seasonal ranger living on $8000 a year, to buy
a home. Consequently it allowed for a remarkably diverse
and interesting population of varied interests to reside
side-by-side. I will also be the first to admit that when I
finally sold my home in Moab two years ago, I made a ri
diculous profit from my original investment.
Yet,
I would give it all back in a heartbeat if I could
change history and discover that my same old bungalow
on Locust Lane is worth no more today than it was 25 years
ago. For if that were the case, I would still be living in that
same house, in the same town that I thought would be my
change history and discover that my same old bungalow
on Locust Lane is worth no more today than it was 25 years
ago. For if that were the case, I would still be living in that
same house, in the same town that I thought would be my
If there is one aspect of
the "amenities economy" to which
Dave Ehrley defends in his
November 5,2008
letter, he must acknowledge it was and is
that very same economy that has made
it virtually impossible for anyone
of modest financial means to ever hope
of buying a home in Moab without
incurring unspeakable debt.
home forever. Because Moab would still be the quiet little
town I discovered, so many years ago..
town I discovered, so many years ago..
So
the idea, now put forth by Mr. Ehrley that the "ameni
ties economy" somehow created a political atmosphere that
would allow the election of a progressive government and
an oppotunity to create solutions for issues like affordable
housing, when it was the amenities economy that created
the crisis in the first place...well the wrongheaded nature of
that kind of thinking is too obvious to pursue. I leave it to
the reader to form his or her own opinion.
ties economy" somehow created a political atmosphere that
would allow the election of a progressive government and
an oppotunity to create solutions for issues like affordable
housing, when it was the amenities economy that created
the crisis in the first place...well the wrongheaded nature of
that kind of thinking is too obvious to pursue. I leave it to
the reader to form his or her own opinion.
As
always, this publication has for 21 years and for as
long as it lasts, been an open forum. No letter has ever been
rejected, no matter how critical it might be of me or The
Zephyr's content. If Dave Ehrley or other Grand County
progressives, or President Obama himself (!) would like to
add their comments or take issue with mine, the door is
always open.
long as it lasts, been an open forum. No letter has ever been
rejected, no matter how critical it might be of me or The
Zephyr's content. If Dave Ehrley or other Grand County
progressives, or President Obama himself (!) would like to
add their comments or take issue with mine, the door is
always open.
3