RUNNING FOR CONGRESS

I’m still in the aftermath of my yard sale, but life is always full of interesting side trails, doncha know. My brother Will Moore is running for Congress in the newly drawn Sierra Foothills (CD-4) Congressional District. I frankly think he is crazy. You have to be crazy to run for any torture chamber, oops, I mean public office, especially in this devisive, vicious climate. Oh, well. He is 73 years old, not married, his kids are all grown and his Grandchildren, too. He has the time and the fortitude. Not that he hasn’t filled his retired life with work. He has. All volunteer. He has never held a public office, but he has been  politically involved all of his adult life. And like so many of us, disgusted with the way our Congress is going.
He is a member of the World Affairs Council, a think group that gathers people from all walks of life, from every ethnic derivation, to discuss and propose solutions to global problems. He has worked construction most of his life from the State of California, and his platform is about jobs in this country. He worked the politically controversial Alaskan Pipeline and he can tell you some hair-raising  stories about “cost overruns” or skimming, as he prefers to call it. He wants to stop that type of thing and get real people, not corporate executives, back to real work. He did a stint as a Fisherman in Alaska, one of the most dangerous professions on the planet. He lives on a pension, and his T-Party Opponent, McClintock, has never held a real job other than hopping from one legislative position to another, and McClintock doesn’t live in the district. Politics is such a crazy institution. Sometimes being mad as hell works. But, it is a tough run without big money.  Will  doesn’t intend to beholden himself to donations from Halliburton and the like as McClintock does.  No PACs. Well, I spent my morning working on his brochure so I’m all fired up. I’m biased, I love him, he is and always has been a hard-working individual. I still think he is crazy.

I’ll have to clean up the residue of my yard sale today, since I didn’t do anything productive yesterday. Just rested.

BICYCLING IN AMERICA

I have friends who walked across the United States at 61 and 63.  They came up against the brick-bats of a world made for cars 28 years ago.  Their journey revealed the total disregard for humans over the automobile.  It was evidenced in driveways, street crossings, short cuts, freeway overpasses without pedestrian or bike lanes,  attempting to cross bridges with signs  that warned NO PEDESTRIANS ON BRIDGE. Especially dangerous were freeways, four or five lane highways with no place for a walker or bicycle to cross without walking miles out of their way, and often no meridian center to stand on to make the second half of a crossing.   The highway engineers were basically saying, you cannot cross this river or this highway, or this freeway if you are on foot. And, now, they wall freeways in with huge costly edifices to protect  residents from noise.
This week I learned about the guy who got a $42 fine after killing a bicycler. Then another about a driver (who refused toxicology and breathalyzer tests) who plowed into five bicyclers. Five!  Outrageous. The number of bicycle deaths is unacceptable.  I got a message from Pot Calling the Kettle Black from Delaware who has a blog about bicycling in his state. It seems to me its time to go National with this problem. There must be a bike organization in every state.  In any case, check out his blog at:
http://www.bikede.org/2011/10/19/pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-1397
And BikePortland.org as well. If you are unfamiliar, as I was with the bicycling community, you will learn a lot. My whole perception of bicyclers has been quickened by this accident and has changed me forever. It shouldn’t take an accident.  Previously, I thought of bicyclers as hobbyists, racers, trekkers, exercisers, but not as pursuing an alternative method of everyday transportation and long distance vacation travel, even though my youngest daughter is a bicycle commuter.  It could be your son, daughter, parent or grand child who meets an offending vehicle on a bike.   PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY AND MAKE IT A POINT TO SEE BICYCLES AND PEDESTRIANS.
As I said once before, the words are inadequate.
http://bikeportland.org/2011/10/04/collision-on-hwy-101-north-of-gold-beach-leads-to-serious-injuries-60050
Maybe we should tax vehicles by the mile and more people would  stay off the road or use alternative methods of travel  for short distances, and promote public transportation.
Geez!  All I do is rant anymore. Must be time for me to get back on the road.

OCCUPYING WALL STREET

Occupying Wall Street for me is tomorrow, on Earth Revolution day, October 15th, at Sonora, a small community in Tuolumne County.
This movement is really the first major grassroots revolution going on in America since the Viet Nam protests.  Its been a peaceful revolution and I expect it has put our legislators on notice, maybe…  Maybe not. Did they pass a jobs bill?  No.

Keeping Millions Out of Work to put One Man Out of a Job.
Republicans have turned into a fringe element as in you have to refuse any compromise with Democrats, especially any budget compromise. You have to question Science, because all those environmentalists are a bunch of crazies. You have to think  you can  run a country without any taxes, or regulation, nor listen to any sensible tax plans; you can’t support any muslim citizens of the United States, nor allow women to have control over their bodies.  And, if you are a candidate, you have to PLEDGE to hew to the party line, don’t even think of having an independent thought.  And, while Republicans sympathize with alternative lifestyles, maybe, well, some do, they start to shake when it comes to the word marriage as in same-sex marriage.  The word scares hell out of them. And, you have to deny  environmental holocaust and climate change exists because those pesky environmentalists want to phase out coal and dependence on oil where the $$$$$$ comes from.   And, you can’t be friendly to anyone who ever worked with or compromised with a Democrat.  And gun control, cannot be touched, even for a child safety lock, or for assault guns that can kill an elephant.  And you can’t associate with the “wrong” people,  as in Democrats or anyone who thinks a Union has any merit. Lock our borders, don’t let anyone in, but let cheap goods flow freely across the borders. Why make anything in the U.S?
So, I’m going to put my legislators on notice,  that this movement is about holding Wall Street, the banks, the money grabbers pushing for legislation that benefit only a certain segment of corporations, accountable.  This is about taking back Democracy By The People For The People. This is about basic freedoms and it is just part of a global revolution.
Occupy Wall Street has websites and demonstrations in every state,  ten provinces in Canada, and Puerto Rico. This occupation has been going on for 28 days.
There are protests for PEACE, and REBIRTH of  DEMOCRACY  in Egypt, France, England, Italy, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Syria, and Tunisia. Oh, and don’t be surprised if it doesn’t surface in your local newspaper.
In Ohio, the state is bulldozing houses to keep neighborhoods from turning into slums, and our Congress can’t pass a jobs bill?  They send people to prison for stealing a loaf of bread, but banks and corporations that steal billions get away without even a reprimand?
This isn’t the Democracy that I grew up with.  It may take Americans a long time to wake up, but change is in the air.  Revolution is a painful way to make change, but it works. And, it could get bloody.

PUBLIC CITIZEN COMEDY, WHY NOT?

We’ve moved from Vancouver to the Long Beach peninsula where they have a 28 mile long “garage sale.”  Everyone sets out their wares along the road for the world at large. Must be a fun affair for the sellers. I can imagine  the barbeques and tailgate parties as neighbor greets neighbor, and everyone kind of looks over the offers. And, I can imagine the fun junk to be found here. But, darn, the weather has not been cooperative.  Maybe I could use a flash trip to Los Angeles  next month where political comedy is planned. I’ll tell you about it.
Public Citizen has earned a reputation as the countervailing force to corporate power in America.  It seems like everyone I know complains about the power corporations have exerted over our political process. Public Citizen does some heavy lifting on our behalf, which is why I support them. But hear yea, hear yea!
On June 12, Public Citizen will be traveling far outside the Beltway to Los Angeles, where their favorite progressive comedians are getting together to celebrate Public Citizen’s 40th anniversary:
Stand Up For Main Street: An All-Star Comedy Benefit for Public Citizen
This star-studded event is being organized by Public Citizen board member and Hollywood comedy writer Steve Skrovan to raise awareness of and support for our work.
I wanted to make sure you knew about this event, one of several around the country in which creative and influential people are rallying behind Public Citizen.
I’m hoping to help  get the word out about Stand Up for Main Street by blogging this event to intelligent people who care, (the readers of my blog, of course.)
And if you’ll be in Los Angeles on June 12 — or if you have friends and family there — click here to get your tickets!
They have a dynamite lineup of comedians, including:

• Bill Burr (“Chapelle’s Show”)
• Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”)
• Dom Irrera (“The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson”)
• Andy Kindler (“The Late Show with David Letterman”)
• Paula Poundstone (NPR’s “Wait wait … Don’t tell me!”)
• Hal Sparks (“Queer as Folk”)
• Roy Zimmerman (satirical songwriter)
• And more!

All proceeds from Stand Up for Main Street benefit Public Citizen
Hey, sounds like fun. Hope they record it so if you can’t make it you get to see some of it.
Ciao

UNPRETENTIOUS TEXANS?

My niece, Melissa, messaged me about LBJ Hill Country from yesterday's blog. She was stationed in Texas for a period of time while in the Army and afterward. Her comment, "Unpretentious Texans? Go to Dallas. I think you'll find quite the opposite."
Well, the truth is, Texans weren't raised to be unpretentious, quiet and retreating, its true. And, I'm reminded of the Texas influx into Alaska during the 1970's for work on that notorious Pipeline built across the frozen tundra in deep, deep cold. The bumper stickers went something like this:  

THE ONLY GOOD TEXAN IS A DEAD TEXAN.  And:  TEXAN GO HOME. And: I DON'T BRAKE FOR TEXANS. In fact one man was interviewed at the Fairbanks Airport and was asked if he had a negative view of Texans and his answer was "I'd rather be dead in Alaska then alive in Texas."

To be fair, its my opinion that people are good, bad and in-between no matter where you land. Maybe some areas are overwhelmed with more of one type of trait than the other. When I had my first "real" job, my pay was $200 a month. Most girls spent their money on clothes. I spent mine on flying lessons at $11 an hour for dual, and $7.50 an hour for solo. Both my instructors, Keith Padlo and Sully Sullivan, and their wives were Texans. They were warm and caring and wonderful people that I will always remember. They talked about Texas quite a lot and were lonesome for their native state and family connections. I asked them why they stayed in California. Their answer? The weather.  In any case, the Texans I've personally known were friendly and warm.
Donna Huffer also remembered that her parents and she visited LBJ's boyhood home a long time ago. Her dad didn't like his politics and stayed outside in the car. LBJ happened to drive up and waved at him. That was certainly unpretentious. I wish it had been me. I'm of the opinion that we should respect the president, no matter his affiliation and ours. Its the civil thing to do. Time judges all.  The same goes for Texans.

WORK WEATHER

I had the privilege of designing my house, which was then built by my son, Doug, above. Everybody warned me don't build that balcony. It will leak. It did. Now comes the chore of redoing the flooring with a new acrylic product that is guaranteed for 15 years. Hmmm! I'll let you know in 15 years if it works. The weather cooperated and should be good for the next few days.

Jim finished small chores around the Motor Home including maintenance on the coach batteries which are charged by solar panels.
 For me, wading through magazines and paperwork is a continuous job. Election materials are a grand part. When I look at the billions, I mean billions of dollars spent on the parties trying to win this election, it makes me sick. I'm reminded of my blog from yesterday and thinking that fanatical candidates are all around us. Uncivil, divisive, name calling, dishonest, lies. Its ugly. Do any of them remember that divided we fail?

They argue about climate change and clean energy bills while China steps into the gap and becomes the world leader in clean energy with wind and solar panels.
They argue about the expense of rail and infrastructure and China rolls out major rail projects that give them a cost savings edge in getting product to market and people to jobs.
The new world leader is steam rolling while U.S. parties bicker and play to an audience. Its contentious, not civil debate. Its gridlock instead of progress. Its about power and control, not what is best for we the people.