Tag Archives: Politics

Could the Occupy Movement’s theme of “fairness” be resonating? Frustration with executive pay and income disparity is a cornerstone to this movement, and part of the reason their protests took off in 2011.

Yesterday CitiGroup became the first major business that I’m aware of to get a “thumbs down” over proposed compensation for approving pay for its CEO by it’s share holders.  The embarrassing snub to Vikram Pandit’s pay is not quite a trend but it is noteworthy considering this is one of Wall Street’s and our nation’s largest companies.

Considering the horrible job Pandit has done the snub hardly seems to be without merit. In 2011 Pandit’s pay was $14.8 million. If this was a Tweet, I’d feel compelled to end it with #Occupy, because as more time passes the more I sympathize and identify with this movement.

The depths of despicability NOM has sunk is not news, nor is the fact that Mitt Romney donated $10,000 to this organization a few years ago .

What is news is the growing divide between corporate America and Romney. His support of organizations like NOM shows his “business-friendly” policies are limited to tax breaks only.  To paraphrase Microsoft, Romney’s views and support of NOM are “bad for business.”

Microsoft’s support for LGBT marriage equality in WA

Microsoft is by no means alone in their opposition to organizations like NOM.  Many of our country’s largest and most admired firms (e.g. Apple, Starbucks, TJX, etc)  have become more outspoken for marriage equality and LGBT acceptance.  In recent years, these firms have shifted from providing a ‘welcome’ workplace to advocating for LGBT rights.

Romney’s support for NOM deserves your disdain.

If asked, no I’m not a huge fan of Obama’s but I’ll take my chances with a candidate who isn’t bankrolling organizations like NOM.  Screw the economy, I have bigger issues like dignity and personal pride – voting for a candidate who supports organizations like NOM is bad for American business and even worse for those hoping for a more inclusive America.

Photo by Mark Stockwell

I’ve been openly critical of Senator Scott Brown’s lack of dialog with the LGBT community. No matter how you slice the demographics, MA has one of the largest LGBT populations in the country so to categorically ignore such a vocal and politically active constituency has made no sense.

Compound his total silence to date with the fact that his predecessor (the late Sen. Kennedy) not only maintained open dialog with the LGBT community but was also a huge champion and leader of LGBT rights.  To have such sudden and unwanted silence from our US Senator has been more than disappointing – its been disconcerting.

You may read Senator Brown’s guest opinion in Bay Windows, but if you cannot get access to a hard copy it is also available online here.

In the guest opinion, Senator Brown describes how he approached such important LGBT votes like DADT (by the way his support was crucial). He spends a fair amount of time addressing how much he and President Obama agree and have worked together which is rather refreshing to hear in an age of party bickering, but I’m not won over yet.  I’m still unsettled by a US Senator who has treated me and my community like we are invisible and my vote is still firmly for Elizabeth Warren. 

Last week I wrote about confidential documents from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) made public in my post here.  These documents detailed a blueprint written by NOM to drive a wedge between gays and blacks with a “divide and conquer” strategy.

NOM has been considered a fringe group from the beginning.  Their rhetoric and techniques have made them notorious and for that reason only the most virulent opponents to same sex marriage have associated themselves with this organization.

Mitt Romney’s support of NOM is shameful

It was both surprising and disappointing to learn last Friday in 2008 Mitt Romney donated $10,000 to NOM. With scores of organizations opposing same sex marriage, Romney could and did financially support many organizations opposing marriage equality.  So why did he feel the need to also provide such a generous donation to NOM? Political posturing? His belief in NOM?  Regardless Mitt Romney’s support of NOM is shameful.

Today is April Fools’ Day.  A day many use as an excuse to play all kinds of jokes and foolishness.  While the day is meant for pranksters and all in good fun, not all jokes are funny and sometimes a Fool really can try one’s patience.

Who is the bigger fool these candidates
or the men and women looking to them to lead our nation?

So I thought I’d share three fools who I’ve lost my patience with and who I no longer laugh or jest about. These three men in particular have successfully moved the political dialog in the United States so far to the right that I no longer can bear the thought of any of them.

These three men have dashed so far to the right that their meaningless debates have been about topics like should birth control be made available, initiating a war with Iran and building colonies on the moon – no joke.  If I had told friends likely to vote Republican in the next election these would be the topics dominating Republican debates I’m fairly certain I could have wagered them all  $100 (or maybe I should’ve bet $10,000 as Romney did to Gov. Perry in one debate).

Last year’s Arab spring led to toppling several long standing dictatorships. Unfortunately the Arab spring has turned into what looks like a civil war in Syria. Horrible reports are regularly broadcast about how children are being targeted and how the army is bombing hospitals so the wounded cannot be tended to. I’ve had to stop watching the news because it is so upsetting.

For those who follow world events, what I’m writing is not news and for those who may not be aware, I assume its because you have a lack of interest (hopefully not sympathy) in these people’s plight.  Watching the lack of any meaningful response from the U.N. and more importantly from neighbors in the region like Turkey, I’m left to surmise if evil does exist it must manifest in situations like this.