Congressional Record: Lack Of Separation Between Church And State

I thought I’d share an example of the wall of separation between church and state, or the lack thereof. Below is from the Congressional Record for Friday, June 29, 2012. I am sure this opening prayer is nothing new, but I wonder if congress allows opening prayers by clergy of all religions? I think I already know the answer to that question.

• • •

AP – Is Libertarianism Gaining Ground In American Politics?

As a liberal I can agree with libertarians on some social issues. Libertarians, at least true libertarians, would not want government telling women what to do with their bodies. Libertarians also tend to see the nonsense that is the war on drugs, particularly when it comes to marijuana. And as a liberal I feel strongly about person freedom and civil liberties, but I also recognize the role that government can play as an extension of the community. If institutions like government aren’t working it’s our job to make them work, not rebel against them. I believe a fundamentalist libertarian worldview is untenable on a hot and crowded planet of 7 billion people.

• • •

Chernobyl’s Radioactive Pine Trees

Of all the consequences of nuclear disasters this I not one that was on my radar. Wow! I used to reluctantly support nuclear power because I know power generated from fossil fuels is damaging to the climate and the environment and it is also unsustainable. But with stories like this of the consequences I never even considered, along with the devastation in Japan’s Fukushima meltdown, it’s pretty hard to look at nuclear as a practical alternative to fossil fuels. We need more investment and government subsidies for renewables like wind, solar and geothermal.

• • •

American Jobs Act: Real Jobs For Real People

President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act back in September of last year, a full 10 months ago. This proposed legislation could have put millions of Americans back to work but congress decided doing nothing was a better idea. More specifically, Republicans decided doing nothing was a better idea. There are millions of Americans who could now be working or would be working soon as that money was spent but instead they are on the sidelines, still looking for work and not consuming, only making the economy worse, not better.

• • •

The Political Spin Of The Jobs Report

Another jobs report, more spin by both sides. The reality is that the economy is creating jobs but it’s not really improving, it’s just treading water. Unfortunately many think Romney would do a better job, but he and his fellow Republicans are what stand between the current stagnant economy and an economy creating the jobs needed to return to full employment. When Romney says Obama’s policies aren’t working he is being disingenuous. Obama’s policies are the American Jobs Act, proposed last September, but Republicans want nothing to do with it. Why? Because it would work.

• • •