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AnyDay commented on the blog post People in Power Have No Reason to Change the System That Put Them There – Lessons from Progressive Ballot Initiative Reformers (Part One)
Hold up. Jerry Brown was governor when Prop. 13 passed. Yes, he did oppose it and introduced a competing initiative that separated residential property taxes from commercial property taxes that lost. This meat axe approach to issues that need a carving knife (if not a scalpel) is one of the biggest defects of the initiative process. I agree the process has seen a lot of abuse, but it is one of our tools for direct democracy. As Jon Walker suggests, people don’t give up power willingly. And yet we the people seem all too willing to do so. Under the guise of taking power away from someone we see abusing it we end up taking away our own power.
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AnyDay commented on the blog post OFA Tries to Get Supporters to Write Letters to the Editor Praising a Federal Worker Pay Freeze
Ditto. My first impression was that Obama was another Clinton (I loathe Clinton as the father of globalization–no Repug could have passed NAFTA) who would use triangulation. Later I supported him because he said all the right things (change from the people to DC, people support his campaign so special interests wouldn’t own him, etc.) Sadly, my first impression was correct. Just like Clinton destroyed unions (blue collar labor), I believe Obama will try to destroy social security but that is a fight we can win if we start organizing now and present a united front.
as as as Dem vs. Repug, I think of them as two whores trying to snag the same john. -
AnyDay commented on the blog post “Responsible” Obama Administration Doesn’t Think Federal Employees Facing Pay Cut Will Leave to the Private Sector
I meant an empty gesture as far as affecting the deficit.
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AnyDay commented on the blog post “Responsible” Obama Administration Doesn’t Think Federal Employees Facing Pay Cut Will Leave to the Private Sector
I work for the govt. Today I heard coworkers saying they wouldn’t mind the freeze if it went to somethng worthwhile, like extending unemployment benefits. We realize we’re about the only group that has job security and benefits and for most of us the 1.4% raise doesn’t make much difference, although our union is protesting it. Krugman is correct about it being an empty gesture. I’ve been waiting for the attack on us to begin–pitting private worker against public worker in a race to the bottom. Bush tried the same thing but Congress didn’t go along. This time I suspect they will.
