A few days ago, a group of Massachusetts' Republican Senator Scott Brown's prominent campaign aides were caught on camera simulating Indian war whoops as well as doing the Atlanta Braves' tomahawk chop. Mr. Brown is engaged in a super-heated contest with Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren for what had once been Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat until his death in 2010. Senator Brown prevailed in a special election to serve out the remainder of Kennedy's term.
The significance of his aides' offensive and totally unfunny attempt to "play Indian" resulted from the first debate between the two candidates. Mr. Brown initiated the proceedings by questioning Professor Warren's Native American ancestry. After all, he opined, "she doesn't look it". He further accused her of claiming this heritage in order to enhance her chances of being admitted to Harvard --- something she vehemently denied. (There's no official record of her ever having made such a claim).
Scott Brown has made some feeble attempts to disassociate himself from his aides' behavior, but the sense I get is that it may be too late for damage control. Anyway, the embarrassing antics described above remind me of Cosmo Kramer, a regularly featured character in the popular '90s sitcom, Seinfeld.
In one episode, Jerry Seinfeld (who played himself) introduced his friends to his new girlfriend, a Native American. Kramer, a character totally lacking in social graces, reacted by dancing around and yelling war whoops, just like Scott Brown's guys. (Incidentally, I have the distinct impression that Michael Richards, the actor who portrayed Kramer, may have been playing himself as well. A few years back, during a standup comedy gig, he experienced an onstage meltdown, complete with racial slurs targeting some African-Americans in his audience).
Speaking of the unfair portrayal of Native Americans, it seems kinda hard to believe that we still have pro sports teams known as the Redskins, the Braves, and the Indians; the latter features a grinning caricature of a Native American on their uniforms. (And yep, Major League Baseball fans are gonna have to endure the Braves' tomahawk chop at least partway into the post-season).
In any event, at least a couple of other Republican senatorial campaigns appear to be experiencing meltdowns as well. For instance, there's Missouri Republican Congressman Todd Akin's mind-blowing observation regarding anti-pregnancy hormones that kick in whenever a woman is "legitimately raped", whatever that's intended to mean. According to the polls, prospects for incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill's reelection seem to be looking rosier.
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D. - Wisconsin), who hopes to fill the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Herb Kohl, seems to have experienced an uptick in the polls as well. Her Republican opponent, former Governor Tommy Thompson, stated that if it was appropriate for anyone to trash Medicare and Medicaid, he's the right guy to do it.
Then of course, not to be forgotten, is Master Romney and his trash talk regarding the 47% of households who pay no federal income tax (though the majority do pay other, generally more regressive taxes). Yeah, moochers all! He also made it abundantly clear that he doesn't believe that access to health care is a human right.
Yet despite the missteps catalogued above, there's no room for complacency. Many Republicans seem hell-bent on highjacking this election, however humanly possible. Efforts to combat state-mandated voter suppression statutes seem to be having some success, but when all is said and done, it's still likely that a lot of loyal voters will remain disenfranchised --- especially in Pennsylvania where many of the facilities providing voter IDs are short-staffed.
As for me, I plan to do everything I can to make a dent; even if it's merely a "dentlet". Included will be weekend day trips from my home base in Chicago to Southern Wisconsin for some good old-fashioned, salt-of-the-earth precinct work: door-to-door canvassing.
Onward to November!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
In the Wake of the Teachers' Strike: As the Dust Settles in Chicago
Earlier this week, a majority of the member-delegates with the Chicago Teachers' Union (CTU) agreed to end a seven-school-day strike. The actual contract still awaits approval, but it's widely expected.
Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel's hardline approach, which included a threat of legal action against the CTU, the teachers appear to have won at least a few concessions from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Among them were an agreement to give laid-off teachers hire-back priorities, hiring more teachers, especially for creative arts, and somewhat relaxing criteria for rating teachers based on standardized student testing. (But that last item is still very much in play, much to the dismay of most teachers as well as policy experts).
It was heartening to witness widespread support for the striking public school teachers from parents and students. But let's face it, they're still widely under-appreciated. And they're being buffeted by forces which are to a great extent beyond their control.
Like public employees across the country, school teachers have been singled out as national pinatas: many folks, especially those from the right flank of society have been taking merciless whacks at them. It's as if they're somehow considered undeserving of a decent living wage, enabling them to raise families.
Here in Chicago, the jobs and financial security of many public school teachers are being jeopardized by the headlong rush to establish charter schools (which incidentally divert funding from the public schools). Don't get me wrong: I understand that the staff at some charter schools are doing yeoman work, and have earned the respect of students and parents alike. In certain cases, public school curriculum planners would do well to pay attention to, and learn from their teaching methods.
But teachers and other charter school staff generally earn far less than their public school counterparts. Wherever they're employed, it's safe to assume that they're pursuing their passion; it's a labor of love.
But passion doesn't necessarily pay all the bills. Throughout much of the industrialized world, teachers are held in much higher esteem than they are within our own shores and are compensated accordingly.
Think Finland.
Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel's hardline approach, which included a threat of legal action against the CTU, the teachers appear to have won at least a few concessions from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Among them were an agreement to give laid-off teachers hire-back priorities, hiring more teachers, especially for creative arts, and somewhat relaxing criteria for rating teachers based on standardized student testing. (But that last item is still very much in play, much to the dismay of most teachers as well as policy experts).
It was heartening to witness widespread support for the striking public school teachers from parents and students. But let's face it, they're still widely under-appreciated. And they're being buffeted by forces which are to a great extent beyond their control.
Like public employees across the country, school teachers have been singled out as national pinatas: many folks, especially those from the right flank of society have been taking merciless whacks at them. It's as if they're somehow considered undeserving of a decent living wage, enabling them to raise families.
Here in Chicago, the jobs and financial security of many public school teachers are being jeopardized by the headlong rush to establish charter schools (which incidentally divert funding from the public schools). Don't get me wrong: I understand that the staff at some charter schools are doing yeoman work, and have earned the respect of students and parents alike. In certain cases, public school curriculum planners would do well to pay attention to, and learn from their teaching methods.
But teachers and other charter school staff generally earn far less than their public school counterparts. Wherever they're employed, it's safe to assume that they're pursuing their passion; it's a labor of love.
But passion doesn't necessarily pay all the bills. Throughout much of the industrialized world, teachers are held in much higher esteem than they are within our own shores and are compensated accordingly.
Think Finland.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Republican Voters: Accomplices to Murder(?)
Admittedly, the declaration in the subject line could be a tad over the top --- well, maybe more than just a tad.
But consider this: In the wake of the conventions, it seems apparent that the parties and their candidates have two starkly contrasting visions of our future. While the Republicans focus mainly on individual success as the driver of the economy, the Democrats recognize the vitality of community as well as the role of government --- while still respecting entrepreneurship and innovation.
However, as their budget indicates, the Republicans seem hell-bent on shredding our social safety net. If they have their way, funding for Medicare and Medicaid would be sharply reduced, thereby denying millions of families and individuals access to basic health care.
If this comes to pass, we as a nation could well be signing premature death warrants for untold numbers of people who have the tough luck of becoming seriously ill. For others, we may end up killing their spirits by denying them access to a decent education, and with it, the opportunity to foster their creativity --- whether through science or the arts. And if you happen to be a woman who gets violated, you're just gonna have to let that li'l kiddo spring forth out of your womb.
So, as harsh as this may look in print, I believe that a case can be made that anyone who votes Republican could, however unwittingly, become an accessory to legalized murder: not by the gun nor the sword, but by the stroke of a legislative pen!
It's supremely, if not tragically ironic because I don't believe that these folks are evil people. They may, in fact, be among your friends and neighbors; the first ones to help you up when you've fallen, to console you in time of grief and sorrow.
So, what accounts for the inconsistency, the seeming disconnect? An overdose of Fox News? Just plain old hide-bound tradition? Beats me!
Any thoughts?
But consider this: In the wake of the conventions, it seems apparent that the parties and their candidates have two starkly contrasting visions of our future. While the Republicans focus mainly on individual success as the driver of the economy, the Democrats recognize the vitality of community as well as the role of government --- while still respecting entrepreneurship and innovation.
However, as their budget indicates, the Republicans seem hell-bent on shredding our social safety net. If they have their way, funding for Medicare and Medicaid would be sharply reduced, thereby denying millions of families and individuals access to basic health care.
If this comes to pass, we as a nation could well be signing premature death warrants for untold numbers of people who have the tough luck of becoming seriously ill. For others, we may end up killing their spirits by denying them access to a decent education, and with it, the opportunity to foster their creativity --- whether through science or the arts. And if you happen to be a woman who gets violated, you're just gonna have to let that li'l kiddo spring forth out of your womb.
So, as harsh as this may look in print, I believe that a case can be made that anyone who votes Republican could, however unwittingly, become an accessory to legalized murder: not by the gun nor the sword, but by the stroke of a legislative pen!
It's supremely, if not tragically ironic because I don't believe that these folks are evil people. They may, in fact, be among your friends and neighbors; the first ones to help you up when you've fallen, to console you in time of grief and sorrow.
So, what accounts for the inconsistency, the seeming disconnect? An overdose of Fox News? Just plain old hide-bound tradition? Beats me!
Any thoughts?
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