Don't Ask Don't Tell repealed!

This Sunday, the Senate voted to repeal a law which made it illegal for any openly gay man or woman to serve in the military. The vote was a landslide victory, 65 to 31 with eight Republican votes for the repeal. This law was originally passed under the Clinton administration, as a compromise between those who wanted a blanket ban on gays in the military and those who wanted to abolish all forms of sexual-orientation based discrimination in the military. It's been in place for seventeen years, and it was high time it was done away with. This landslide vote will hopefully lead to more progress of this nature towards true equality.

WikiLeaks founder arrested

The founder of the website WikiLeaks has been arrested, but interestingly enough not for the creation of the website. For some years now he has been in Sweden, but recently was accused off the rape of two women and was arrested in London. As far as I know the website is still up, but this may not be for long. Here's hoping this exchange of information isn't censored by the US government. So much for freedom of expression when it comes to government secrets

More from Wikileaks

I was browsing Wikileaks for recently released documents today, and I stumbled upon a document titled, "LEFT USING HUMAN RIGHTS TO DISCREDIT US." At first I looked at the title and said to myself, "Well, I guess the government has looked at my blog, or Freedom Press, or something like that. No news to me, why was this confidential?" Then I realized it was because it contained information about declassified documents containing secrets about American funding of dictatorships in Uruguay. It didn't contain the secrets, just said they existed. And so our government doesn't want us finding out about any of its dirty secrets of the past, or even of their existence. Typical American lies by omission.

http://213.251.145.96/cable/2006/12/06MONTEVIDEO1179.html

Our Dying Democracy

The point of democracy is to ensure that majority of people are satisfied with the laws of the land. The point of representative democracy is to make the process of voting easier. For the past few years, the Republicans have been stopping all progress through a procedure known as filibustering.

A true filibuster is when one person who represents one viewpoint stands and talks for as long as is necessary to convey their point. Senator Bernie Sanders, from Vermont, did just that on Friday.

To overcome a filibuster--to make the person shut up--a 60% majority is required. The Democrats had 59 votes in the Senate.

But the Republican'ts weren't even truly filibustering. They weren't saying anything, they weren't providing new evidence. They were just stopping progress. When a landslide vote is required to do anything at all, the system is broken. When the minority party can bring the majority to its knees and make it submit, the system is broken.

Recently you may have heard that Obama made a deal to extend the Bush tax cuts for the richest of the rich. Why? Because the Republicans have threatened to filibuster the extension of unemployment benefits and welfare. So now the bloodsucking, capitalist elite in this country are getting richer. The rich are getting richer, the middle class is getting poorer.

While I do not in any way support violent revolution, I believe the people must take a stand. We need to be heard and we need to let the government know that we're not pawns in a great game of political chess, we're the kings and queens.

Our country is broken, dying. We can't rely solely on the government to fix it.

Humanist Sparta and Greed-Based Societies

Capitalism is, quite simply, a system based on greed. Self-interest. Selfishness. Whatever you want to call it. Capitalism favors those who can think of the most legitimate sounding ways to immorally pursue their own interests. Human nature is flawed, but is the purpose of government not to reduce the capacity for human failure? To create an entity that is greater than the sum of it's parts, great enough to limit the ways in which corruption can occur? Capitalism not only allows corruption but rewards it, capitalism not only leaves room for greed but requires it to function. That's not to say capitalism is ineffective. It is effective, in fact it is ruthlessly effective simply because it has such a strong driving force—self-interest.

But in considering government, one must consider not only effectiveness but morality. Is it trulyright to essentially glorify avarice in the way that capitalism likes to do? Not to mention the homeless and destitute and oppressed generated by a capitalist society. Communism goes to the opposite extreme, attempting to eliminate greed by instituting a system in which everything is freely distributed. The problem is that the system works only under the assumption that whoever is doing the distributing is not subject to the failings of human nature. Power corrupts, history has shown us this time and time again. Communist Russia became very authoritarian and because of this and the United States' interference, Communist Russia was unsuccessful.

Humanism (not affiliated with other movements of the same name) advocates something of a crossover between the two. If one attempts to learn from history's mistakes it will be clear that wealth, whether in a capitalist or Communist society, will generate corruption. The only society in history to actually abolish wealth was ancient Sparta, an incredibly powerful military force and cultural center. All necessities were distributed equally, free of charge. The one problem with such a system is that it eliminates individuality. Art and literature were all but nonexistent. No means for self-expression, no individualized property, was available.

Humanism does not wish to take this route exactly but rather a modified version of it. All monetary wealth—and with it greed—would be abolished, all necessities provided by the government. But more than necessities. Things like paintings, posters, clothing, music, all would be distributed free of charge. Likewise the materials for creating art or literature would be government-provided. Thus individual expression is preserved but free of any sort of avarice. Art and literature would be created for self-expression only, not profit.

Of course the vast majority of the world today is very adverse to such “strict” government control, but this is no government like the American government, or the French government, or the Italian government, or any other form of social order flourishing today. This is a government that is genuinely of by and for the people, based off the consent of the governed and reflecting the will of the people as determined by majority. Saying the government distributes all commodities would be synonymous to saying the people distribute all commodities.

This sounds radical in the extreme, and profoundly Communist-leaning. Haven't we all been programmed with a deadly fear of anything so extreme, of anything remotely anti-capitalist? Of course. “Better dead than red,” America says. But America supports freedom of expression, doesn't it? Isn't that in the American constitution? The very first Amendment? Doesn't the US constitution say that all political factions have equal rights? So of course America would never say such a thing. Would it?

C O N F I D E N T I A L

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000043

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF

AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG

AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI

AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA

AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC

AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2030/01/18

TAGS: PGOV KDEM ECON EINT VE

SUBJECT: Making Socialism Easier to Swallow

CLASSIFIED BY: Robin D. Meyer, Political Counselor, DOS, POL; REASON:

1.4(B), (D)

¶1. (C) Summary: President Chavez made socialism taste better with the December 22 opening of a "socialist arepera" serving Venezuelan-style tortillas at a fraction of their usual price. The "Arepera Socialista" is planned to be the first of a chain of Venezuelan government (GBRV) restaurants run by the Ministry of Commerce. This restaurant is the GBRV's latest effort at setting up alternatives to the private market, branding national symbols, like the "arepa," as part of the Bolivarian Revolution, and providing tangible benefits to its electoral base before the September legislative elections. End Summary.

Socialism's Tangible - and Tasty -- Benefits

¶2. (U) President Chavez opened the "Arepera Socialista" with much fanfare on December 22, advertising its low price and high quality as symbolic of the benefits of his socialist revolution. (Note: "Arepas" are a Venezualan-style thick cornmeal tortilla usually used for a type of sandwich. End Note.) The restaurant, located in a lower middle class neighborhood of Caracas, serves "arepas" for about a fourth of their regular price. It is currently only open during weekday mornings, although there are plans to extend its hours, add coffee and fresh juice to its menu, and open two new locations in working class neighborhoods.

¶3. (SBU) On a January 8 visit, EmbOffs witnessed a long line of people waiting to get into the restaurant but surprisingly rapid service. Inside, one wall was dominated by a quote in large red lettering from Simon Bolivar: "The best system of government is that which produces the greatest happiness." An employee managing the line said the restaurant served 1,200 customers per day. One man in line said he worked in the neighborhood and came every day since the food was excellent and cheap.

Money is Secondary in Socialist Restaurants

¶4. (U) According to Minister of Commerce Eduardo Saman, people can count on low prices at the "arepera socialista" because the ingredients come from government-owned companies and other products, such as boxed juices, come from government-owned companies. Saman claimed the prices were sufficient to cover the store's operating costs. He also announced on December 23 that a chain of "Arepera Socialista" restaurants would be opened throughout Venezuela as part of the Socialist Market Cooperatives run by the Ministry of Commerce. Saman himself worked at the restaurant on December 24; other Ministry of Commerce employees were "volunteering" at the restaurant on the day of the Emboffs' visit. About 30 people work at the restaurant.

¶4. (U) Besides the price, Saman highlighted another key difference between socialist and capitalist "arepera": customers pay only after eating, while "in fast food chains . . . they only think about money." In the "Arepera Socialista," the cash register is in a corner of the room and customers pay only after eating, self-reporting how many of the "arepas" they ate.

Comment: Let Them Eat Arepas

¶5. (C) Facing high inflation, electricity and water rationing, and failing public services, Chavez may see the "arepera socialista" as a relatively quick and easy way to promote the benefits of "socialism" to his electoral base before the September legislative elections. The challenge will be meeting demand without raising the subsidized price or cutting quality.

CAULFIELD

This document, written in 2008, was leaked yesterday. It was classified as confidential. It has no U.S. government secrets, it just states how socialism is good. And so it is a document that threatens too-big-to-fail corporations. And so we're not allowed to see it. Lies by omission. Only half a truth. Less. They say capitalism is good? Capitalism doesn't feed the starving. Capitalism doesn't ease the pain of the suffering. Socialism does that. Altruism does that.

The Dead Colossus

Go away.
Go away now.
Go away now and don’t come back.
You’re not welcome here anymore.
We don’t want you anymore.
Go away you tired, you hungry, you poor.
Back to your homeland’s scary shore.
Send these, the homeless, away.
World wide welcome glows no more
From her beacon hand.
Now go all you
And die in the sand.
There’s no longer a lamp
Beside the golden door.

Creative Writing on The Humanist

The Humanist will now show creative writing and poems on the blog, as they are important ways of communicating our beliefs. Please, email any article you want posted to me at kb866825@gmail.com and I will post it as soon as I get the chance, provided that it is appropriate for the site.

Silent Screams

Originally posted by me on the blog that I used to write for, Freedom Press. It is a great blog and should also be visited by those who enjoy this site.
weneedprogress.blogspot.com

Imagine a few dozen people working in a field. They’re picking cotton. It’s over a hundred degrees out. They’re wearing loose-fitting clothes and straw hats. The state is Mississippi, and the year is 1810. Now imagine a few dozen people working in a similar field, picking beans. It’s about ninety degrees out. They too are wearing loose-fitting clothes and straw hats. This time the state is California, and the year is 2010. In the first image they are African-American slaves. In the second they are migrant farm-workers. In both images none of the people are citizens, and in both they are nearly entirely deprived of human rights.

Most migrant farm-workers are illegal immigrants, and therefore cannot speak up when their employers use and abuse them. This terrible breach of human rights has to stop. These immigrants, these people, these fellow human being of ours, are oppressed and put down daily. The Dream Act, a bill that would give illegal immigrants a path to permanent residency through military service or a college degree, is currently passing through Congress. If this bill passes, thousands of children who can’t hope for more than a minimum wage job and constant risk of deportation, will be given a path to become legal residents, and eventually citizens. These migrant workers that spend fourteen hour days doing slave-like labor, living in conditions worse than the way most of us give our pets, will be able to obtain the two things most dear to every human being—hope and freedom.

People say slavery no longer exists in this country. They are unable to hear the silent screams of the thousands of migrant workers that have been abused for so long. They do not see the evil, and so to them it does not exist. When people see their beans, they do not think of the oppressed people that picked the beans, they just think of how the beans are going to taste. How many years can this go on before it comes to an end? I feel it is my duty as a human being to bring this issue, this ugly, hated issue that most Americans would rather not think about, into the light.

Minimum Wage

My mother used to be a social worker in Detroit, Michigan. She worked with mentally handicapped and legally insane people. There was this story she once told me, of a man she worked with. He was mentally disabled, and working as a cashier at McDonald's, earning minimum wage. He had a young daughter. On his salary, he couldn't support himself or his daughter. It was the best job he could possibly work.

It is our belief that society should ensure every human being can support themselves and their family. Corporate America would hoard all the wealth, leaving none for those who work themselves to death trying to make a few cents. Of course, if there is no money there would be no wealth, and so no one would be rich or poor. Everyone would be able to support themselves, so no one would live in poverty. The minimum wage would be enough to live on, for everybody.

Imagine

John Lennon died thirty years ago today. He advocated peace and love between all people. We should all take this day to remember what he stood for, and work to make his dream of a world in harmony a reality.

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us,
And the world will be as one.

What is humanism?

Humanism is the belief that all humans are, no matter what, basically equal and should be treated as such. This means no rich and no poor. Nothing should separate the people. Humanism is also the belief that governments are only legitimate with the consent of the governed. All people should have equal rights and an equal say in what goes on in their country.

Although we like to think otherwise, humans are imperfect creatures and are made more imperfect by temptations like money and power. In a humanist society, there would be no money, and therefore no wealth. Everyone would be equal. A humanist government would, like our own, have a system of checks and balances, so that no branch of government or individual would become too powerful. Every politician would be instructed by his or her district on how to vote, and they would argue for that point accordingly. There would be no filibuster, each faction of agreeing politicians could only have one person speak once.

There would be no political parties, and so it would not be Democrat versus Republican or Liberal versus Conservative, just one point of view versus another. Districts would vote on their representatives, and the district would also vote to decide how that representative will vote in the end.

Now, you may be wondering--why do we have a picture of Che Guevara on our site?

The answer to that is fairly simply. Humanists are, according to him, at least, his comrades. He once said, “If you tremble indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine.”

By that quote we are Guevara's comrades.

He said, “Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.” Love--another core value of humanism. Che worked to overthrow fascist, murdering regimes, such as that of Fulgencio Batista, in Cuba. Ernesto 'Che' Guevara was, in an attempt to overthrow the brutal, murdering regime in Bolivia, captured and executed.