Senators and the RIAA

Got this link from a friend. It is a really good article.

I can see both sides to some extent. On one hand you have folks who make money by creating stuff, they should get the money they need to survive. The other hand is that the industries that control this process are charging so much, people cant afford the product.

Movies are a great example. I love going to the theatre to see a movie. I love the large screen and the experience of seeing something with people around me. I hate the price of tickets now. I think they are way over inflated. I think everyone wants too much money for it. I hate that I pay a fortune and have to sit through commercials. I hate that food prices are like I am buying a gourmet meal. I understand why all these elements exist, but I dont have to like it. More often than not, I am voting with my feet by not going. I constantly debate going to see a movie or waiting to rent it. More and more often, rent it wins.

The movie/music/art/game industries have gotten greedy. They need a dose of reality otherwise, they will continue to see their products stolen. If they dont get a handle on their greed, the situation will only get worse.

Conversely, we need to stress that stealing isnt really acceptable. I understand it goes on and people do it, but when we steal media others can lose their jobs. It isnt the fat cat lawyers and executives that get hurt. It is the artist or roadie or key grip who loses their jobs and careers. The top of the chain never hurts and the bottom always does. Nor do the Senators and Lobbyists care because they still get their money.

Republican Bob Hall on Marriage...

This article was a really pleasant suprise. With Virginia preparing to enshrine in its state constitution discrimination, I thought this would be a refreshing read.

Harkening back to beginning of the conservative movement I would quote Barry Goldwater who said, "Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar." He also said, "You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight."

Marriage is between a couple. It is their affirmation to others and to God that they are one. From the standpoint of the state, they are now one corporate entity. To their neighbors and friends, they have made a vow to cleave unto each other and support each other. Their friends are called on to support this couple. For those of faith, the same is testified and exalted before God. God is called upon to aid the couple and allow them to grow together.

Marriage doesnt impact those outside that union other than they are called on to respect those peoples wishes and to treat them with liberty and justice.

Makes you wonder...

Imperial President

More and more we are seeing Bush transform the US from a Republic with at least 2 parties to one of One Party state headed by a dictatorial leader.

Lets look at some of the stuff that is happening in the last few years.

1. The increased use of Presidental Signing Statements. Bush has used these more than any President in recent memory. These statements are basically Presidental instructions to the Executive Branch on how to interpret and use the law he is signing. Bush has increasingly stated in these that these new laws dont apply to him as Commander in Chief. Here is a rather good article that goes into more detail.

2. Bush has repeatedly attacked people for being Unpatriotic if they dont support his views. Patriotism is not blind obediance.

3. Bush repeatedly views himself more and more as Commander in Chief and uses this as the pretext of waving civil liberties. Another good article on Slate.

4. Bush has used his office to further the goals of a small group of people, who are opposed to the American Way of Life. More than any other President, Bush's supporters have profited at the expense of everyone else.

5. Corruption and Nepotism are rampant in the Bush Administration. Look at the appointees. Since the new Chairman of the Fed has come in, more and more of the Fed staff is leaving. Our UN ambassador is a personal friend, who was appointed without the Advise and Consent of the Senate. We repeatedly see people elevated to jobs that they are not trained to do or understand.

6. World Perspective - Lets be honest, the world is increasingly viewing the US not at the Beacon we should be. Do we run our country to please the world, no but we need to realize that we are not being the Light on a Hill. We cant critique others when we act as bad as they do.

We need to restore the American Republic. We need to return to practicing Liberty and Justice for ALL. We need to return to the rule of law, not whim.

Using Children...

Over the weekend, I was visiting my partner's brothers house. They were talking about heading down for the anti-Roe V. Wade rallies today. The children attend a Catholic school. The children are being let out of school to attend a mass and then go down and protest. All of the kids said how they were happy that they were getting out school. They were not talking about the issue or how they felt about it. When I asked the parents spoke for the kids.

I have a real problem with this. I dont think any cause should use children. They are not voters. They cannot express their opinion. They are expected to follow what their parents want and do. While I understand that they attend a private school, the school and the school system is using the children for a political end. I find that distasteful.

Once a person is 18, they should participate in the political system. Before then, they should be allowed to learn and hear all sides of an issue. Certainly, parents will influence their children I know mine did me. As will religion and other factors.

If you are going to protest or state an opinion, make sure you make your own not somebody elses.

Another Quiz

The Picto-Personality Test You are a person who is very calm and kind. You go out of your way to help people who need your help. When alone, you appreciate being able to do nothing if you want to, and setting your own pace for things. You are romantic, and when you are with your partner you like to woo them with your imagination. In the future you will be happy and live richly.

Take this Test at QuizGalaxy.com

Quiz

You scored as Cultural Creative. Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational. Cultural Creative 81% Romanticist 81% Idealist 69% Existentialist 56% Postmodernist 56% Modernist 50% Fundamentalist 44% Materialist 13% What is Your World View? (updated) created with QuizFarm.com

Some fun quotes by Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson spoke often and eloquently about the establishment of religion and the role religion should play in the American body politic. I thought I would share a few quotes.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between church and State. -Thomas Jefferson, letter to Danbury Baptist Association, CT., Jan. 1, 1802

Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787

Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. -Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom

Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects every individual. State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of the church tends to make the clergy unresponsive to the people and leads to corruption within religion. Erecting the "wall of separation between church and state," therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society. Speech, 1808

for your own enlightenment...

Marriage/Union/Whatever....

Okay, here goes.

The whole marriage/union/whatever debate will never be settled. One side sees it as this moral imperative and they are once again defining the terms (see the debate over fetus abortion).

Here is an argument to try with folks.

1. Economic: Any economist will tell you people in long term relationships are more steady economically and contribute over the long term more to the economy and allow it to grow. These long term relationships allow people to acquire property and invest. It allows them to increase their capital expenditures. Some of this is back to psychology in that we are seeking safety and security. When that happens, we can invest more. Allowing homosexual couples to marry will increase economic investment and planning. The homosexual community will have more people buying houses, setting up joint retirement funds; planning ahead and investing the economy rather than living day to day. This will mean that wealth will grow, generating more jobs and so and so forth. This accumulated wealth will be turned over to organizations or willed out at death further infusing the economy. Death and Property distribution is a big business and only gets bigger as our nation ages.

2. Legal: From the Nations standpoint, marriage acts as a legal contract between to 2 individuals to treat them as one person for many functions. It grants them the rights to handle property; financial assets and other elements a certain way. At the core root, the state wants society to allow people to build contracts that nurture the growth of the middle and upper classes. This reduces the chance of revolution. The French and Russian Revolutions were not accomplished by a content middle class that felt that had some buy in to the system. Allowing Homosexuals to enter into contracts in this manner adds them slowly to the middle class and further stabilizes society. They feel that they have an investment in the nation as a whole. When that happens, they broaden the range of support for the Commonwealth.

3. Religious: The religious objection is one that will never be overcome. The thing is that faith and religion are personal. Neither side is bad and yet neither side is good. The core here is that marriage is in many ways different from the legal or political aspects of it. While one feeds to the other, it does not mean that you cant have marriage without a religious basis. First off, which religious basis do you accept. Islamic, if I understand correctly, allows a man to have 4 wives. Aso does some branches of Mormonism allow multiple wives. Some primitive tribes allow multiple husbands. Other religions consider this bad. For many people, marriage is not about love or caring, but about property/breeding/money. If marriage was just to promote the growth of religious values, then no one should be allowed to marry outside their particular sect. Given that we allow marriage between different religions and allow those religions to define marriage in their eyes, there are religious groups that support and accept homosexual marriage. Thereby because you can find a religion to support it you should allow it. (This is the dumb argument I know, but it is an exercise increasing absurdism, which opponents use to say that if they allow homosexual marriage people will start marrying turtles or somesuch. Basically, their argument twisted back on them and played at high speed.)

Cultural: Our Declaration of Independence says that we have the right to pursue happiness. A person's ability to enter into contracts with who they want as long as it causes no measurable harm allows them to pursue happiness. The key here is that we are talking about consenting adults of legal age. They are not juveniles and they enter into the agreements freely and of their own free will. Second point, we state in our Pledge, we are for Liberty and Justice for all. How is declaring one segment of society to be less worthy of protection and nourishment to be Just. Now the retort to that is that we dont nourish pedophiles and such. See my above comment about consenting adults and free will.

Free Will: Oh now I have said it. This touches alot of areas. People have free will. From a Christian understanding, we can talk and encourage and show, but people have to make up their own mind. If we take the choice away, we are no better than those who persecuted Christ. From the legal side, Free Will allows us to do as we will as long as we dont damage anyone else. Your right to do as you will ends at my nose.

So basically, yes I am saying that the Commonwealth(State) should allow homosexual unions. There is no reason to deny it and over the long haul, it will benefit the state. Simply saying that the majority should rule on an issue is too simplistic. The majority thought Separate But Equal was fine, but now we know better. The majority often sees nothing wrong with genocide, because it is not them that is being killed. Someone said, that you judge a society by how it protects the rights of the minority not of the power of its majority. There are many people who feel drinking is terrible and should be prohibited. We saw how that ended and the path it blazed across the country. So now we exist in a society, where we say you can drink but only once you reach the age of consent (dont get me started on the draft and drinking argument). If you dont want to drink, you dont have to. If your faith prohibits it, you dont have to. Free Will.