It would appear from all the data that those who are concerned with abortion rights being taken away have nothing to worry about.
AND it is also true that those who do not want the federal government to pay for abortions have nothing to worry about.
These are areas of intense emotional importance to many people. That's just fine.
But it is not fine for politicians to exploit this nor for anybody to not look at the facts and stick to rational discussion of it - neither should be acceptable if we want a well functioning society.
Nancy Pelosi flunks the objectivity, fact-based, rational test. She accuses the Republicans of wanting to deny care to women who need abortions where there life is threatened, that they will be left to die on the hospital room floor. It is not true by any reasonable interpretation of the actual words in the Protect Life Act recently passed in the House 251 to 172. The exaggerative language is readily apparent to any discriminating thinker.
On Sep. 9, 2009, President Obama told Congress that under his
legislation, “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal
conscience laws will remain in place.” The new proposed law only codifies his executive order, as executive orders can be changed at any time.
(See the contents, summary or full text: Act - and judge for yourself.)
A
March Pew Research Center
poll shows that 54 percent of Americans surveyed support the right to a
legal abortion in all or most cases. As more and more young people enter adulthood, this is likely to increase, as that age group strongly favors abortion rights. The Right To Choose will stay in place, so it is not wise for the "other side" to do battle against it - any temporary restriction would be overridden by popular movement.
About 2/3 of Americans are against federal funding of abortions. That, too, appears to be irreversible.
In both cases, it is wisest to now focus attention on what we can change, while saying a version of the Serenity Prayer.
Or, like the old song says, but in regard to these two issues: "Don't worry, be happy...".
Instead, focus on which candidate for President can actually run the country effectively to create a strong America for the future.
The Rational NonPolitician
Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Values. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Obama. Adult? Bringing people together?
In Ron Suskind's Confidence Men, a current history of the White House, etc., certain of Obama's main people state that working with Obama leaves them "home alone" with "no adult in the room", so they had to step up to fill the holes.
Evilizing the Republicans for "wanting more pollution" while "we want to employ the teachers" - is that an adult conversation? (A fuller version: "You can't pretend that creating dirtier air and water for our kids and having fewer people on health care and less accountability on Wall Street is a jobs plan!" I am deeply saddened to see our President tell such fibs, exaggerating, twisting, etc., as if politics and nastiness were an acceptable objective above making things work and causing cooperation. )
Will it lead to working together? Is this unfair exaggeration and "coloring" things unfairly? Is that the President we want to be the adult leader?
He neglected to say that the Republicans had already told him that no increase in taxes would be allowed and that it was part of his package that was to be accepted in whole (which even many Democats would not vote for). To color Republicans as being against the American people and against jobs is clearly not true, yet the President states it strongly. And he wonders why there is an atmosphere of non-cooperation.
Of course, the President blames others for the very same thing - as 'justification' for his not being an adult?
Will the President turn around and behave as an adult? Will he become effective so that the people who work with him will see that he is?
As I read this, it sounds as if it is political. But I am looking at it purely in what is logical, factual, and good for the country (not politics or winning elections). If there is something here that needs to be corrected or enhanced, with no blame or oppositional talk, please do share that!
The Rational NonPolitician
See also Evaluating The Obama Presidency.
Evilizing the Republicans for "wanting more pollution" while "we want to employ the teachers" - is that an adult conversation? (A fuller version: "You can't pretend that creating dirtier air and water for our kids and having fewer people on health care and less accountability on Wall Street is a jobs plan!" I am deeply saddened to see our President tell such fibs, exaggerating, twisting, etc., as if politics and nastiness were an acceptable objective above making things work and causing cooperation. )
Will it lead to working together? Is this unfair exaggeration and "coloring" things unfairly? Is that the President we want to be the adult leader?
He neglected to say that the Republicans had already told him that no increase in taxes would be allowed and that it was part of his package that was to be accepted in whole (which even many Democats would not vote for). To color Republicans as being against the American people and against jobs is clearly not true, yet the President states it strongly. And he wonders why there is an atmosphere of non-cooperation.
Of course, the President blames others for the very same thing - as 'justification' for his not being an adult?
Will the President turn around and behave as an adult? Will he become effective so that the people who work with him will see that he is?
As I read this, it sounds as if it is political. But I am looking at it purely in what is logical, factual, and good for the country (not politics or winning elections). If there is something here that needs to be corrected or enhanced, with no blame or oppositional talk, please do share that!
The Rational NonPolitician
See also Evaluating The Obama Presidency.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Barack Obama's Distinct Prejudices
Barack Obama is very intelligent and capable, but his distinct prejudices (and the lack of knowledge that permits this to continue to exist) dramatically hurt his ability to make decisions that benefit the economy and certain aspects of society.
These prejudices are understandable in light of his experience as a community organizer - and that his frame of mind continues in that vein. This is a good, positive trait, in that it connotes empathy and caring and values toward the good of mankind.
However, that viewpoint is not continued out into a broader view of the world.
If this is possibly political rhetoric, designed to appeal to the base, it reeks of inauthenticity compared to his stated goals of benefitting the nation. If it is authentic prejudice, then it is equally damaging and out of place - and he needs an education. Basically, he suffers from lack of awareness, which is an inevitable result of his limited experience.
He speaks of:
"fat cats"
"punish our enemies" (when referring to fellow Americans)
"being held hostage" (as if he was a victim - which is not good for a President to be)
And a myriad of such demonizing or make wrong statements.
He denigrates the "profit motive" and forgets that it is the engine that drives the economy, which then permits us to have enough money to take care of all of our citizens. He imposes massive sets of regulations, which are an obvious damper to business.
I can imagine, given all of his many good traits, the power he would have without those prejudices, where he could seek unbiased, unslanted advice and hear it better.
But the prejudices and positions have been so strong that there is very little progress in enabling private enterprise to do its part, which would be if in a pro-growth stance toward them to drive us to prosperity instead of a web of entanglement that is disabling. (He should take, as well as the members of congress, a basic course in capitalism, such as that mentioned on the site: Capitalism.)
If he were to let go of the demonization and see that few businesses are headed by devils and that overall the business people are good people who want to create good, but are people who have a specific focus as to how they contribute, then he would have the possibility of being an effective President.
I would hope for change, so that he can implement "hope and change". I did vote for him, with the purpose of shaking things up, to run our country from more of an enlightened viewpoint - plus the judgment I made about McCain not being a very good source of hope plus his having a vice president that is too weak to be a President.
But, alas, there is no case for his being an effective President, unless he chooses to authentically run this country for the benefit of all and to let go of the politically driven rhetoric and motives.
Will he change? I would hope so. I would hope for a miracle...but with very little belief that it will happen.
Sad. Too bad...
The Rational Non-Politician
These prejudices are understandable in light of his experience as a community organizer - and that his frame of mind continues in that vein. This is a good, positive trait, in that it connotes empathy and caring and values toward the good of mankind.
However, that viewpoint is not continued out into a broader view of the world.
If this is possibly political rhetoric, designed to appeal to the base, it reeks of inauthenticity compared to his stated goals of benefitting the nation. If it is authentic prejudice, then it is equally damaging and out of place - and he needs an education. Basically, he suffers from lack of awareness, which is an inevitable result of his limited experience.
He speaks of:
"fat cats"
"punish our enemies" (when referring to fellow Americans)
"being held hostage" (as if he was a victim - which is not good for a President to be)
And a myriad of such demonizing or make wrong statements.
He denigrates the "profit motive" and forgets that it is the engine that drives the economy, which then permits us to have enough money to take care of all of our citizens. He imposes massive sets of regulations, which are an obvious damper to business.
I can imagine, given all of his many good traits, the power he would have without those prejudices, where he could seek unbiased, unslanted advice and hear it better.
But the prejudices and positions have been so strong that there is very little progress in enabling private enterprise to do its part, which would be if in a pro-growth stance toward them to drive us to prosperity instead of a web of entanglement that is disabling. (He should take, as well as the members of congress, a basic course in capitalism, such as that mentioned on the site: Capitalism.)
If he were to let go of the demonization and see that few businesses are headed by devils and that overall the business people are good people who want to create good, but are people who have a specific focus as to how they contribute, then he would have the possibility of being an effective President.
I would hope for change, so that he can implement "hope and change". I did vote for him, with the purpose of shaking things up, to run our country from more of an enlightened viewpoint - plus the judgment I made about McCain not being a very good source of hope plus his having a vice president that is too weak to be a President.
But, alas, there is no case for his being an effective President, unless he chooses to authentically run this country for the benefit of all and to let go of the politically driven rhetoric and motives.
Will he change? I would hope so. I would hope for a miracle...but with very little belief that it will happen.
Sad. Too bad...
The Rational Non-Politician
Thursday, September 22, 2011
WE ARE DECLINING IN WHAT MADE US PROSPEROUS
It is no mystery why our society and prosperity is declining. It's the loss of values and character.
The signs are clear. We have stopped doing what works.
An especially good overview is contained in The 6 Killer Apps Of Prosperity, a talk at TED.
Our work ethic is 1000 hours per year less than Korea. Our math capabilities are dramatically lower than other countries.
Yes, we need to fix certain things so that incentives are creating an ongoing opportunity for business. Yes, we cannot continue to seek to suppress business in favor of the people in the mistaken idea that one is bad for the other - which might be a concept that Obama is holding onto, though he appears to be learning it is otherwise, but not quite there. This suppression is like cutting off our noses to spite our faces or like killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
But we will not truly prosper until more of us are engaged and being productive.
It is not about education for skills only, as many will not learn if they are not so "inclined." Accordingly, it is only logical that we must first teach values and character. Ironically, we fail to see this. Even the excellent Gates Foundation emphasizes skills over character education. I would propose that they change the percentage allocated to teaching values, character, and reasoning to the mix, so that people can know how to run their lives.
What do you think?
The Rational Non-Politician
The signs are clear. We have stopped doing what works.
An especially good overview is contained in The 6 Killer Apps Of Prosperity, a talk at TED.
Our work ethic is 1000 hours per year less than Korea. Our math capabilities are dramatically lower than other countries.
Yes, we need to fix certain things so that incentives are creating an ongoing opportunity for business. Yes, we cannot continue to seek to suppress business in favor of the people in the mistaken idea that one is bad for the other - which might be a concept that Obama is holding onto, though he appears to be learning it is otherwise, but not quite there. This suppression is like cutting off our noses to spite our faces or like killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
But we will not truly prosper until more of us are engaged and being productive.
It is not about education for skills only, as many will not learn if they are not so "inclined." Accordingly, it is only logical that we must first teach values and character. Ironically, we fail to see this. Even the excellent Gates Foundation emphasizes skills over character education. I would propose that they change the percentage allocated to teaching values, character, and reasoning to the mix, so that people can know how to run their lives.
What do you think?
The Rational Non-Politician
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