Pedantic Political Ponderings

02 June 2012

FollowUp 34: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

This is mostly a guest post. My commentary is in the last four paragraphs. Friends of mine in Wisconsin received mail today. They put the following into e-mail to me:

The front page of the 8.5x11 mailer displayed a simple enuf message:

********[Begin Quote]**********************
ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 5TH
SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION
********[End Quote]*************************

And then there is the back (I have removed the name):

********[Begin Quote]**********************
Greater Wisconsin Political Fund
P.O. Box 861
Madison, WI 53701

UNITED STEEL WORKERS
UNION MADE LOCAL 318
WAW12078_BNR

[Our Address, addressed to my wife, NAME REMOVED]

Authorized and Paid for by Greater Wisconsin Political
Fund, Jane Gellman, Treasurer. Not Authorized by Any
Candidate, Candidate's Agent or Committee

Dear Registered Voter:

Scott Walker won in 2010 because too many people stayed home!

Two years ago, more than half a million Wisconsinites who supported Obama failed to vote in the 2010 election. And that's how Governor Scott Walker got elected. This year, we're taking a new approach. We're sending this mailing to you and your neighbors to publicize who does and who does not vote. [Italics and bold face, mine]

We need to all pull together. The chart shows the names of some of your neighbors, showing which have voted in the past.

After the June 5th election, public records will tell everyone who voted and who didn't

Do your civic duty - vote.
********[End Quote]*************************

They offer the following commentary:

With the exception of what I emphasized in Italics... If the add had stopped at this point I would not have had an issue with its message. Granted, the message in a sense is using straight-arm tactics to essentially shame and/or harass voters (specifically those who have not fulfilled their civic duty) into voting on June 5. Unfortunately, the flyer then prints the first and last names of each and every man and woman along with the physical address of where they live. The flyer also specifically lists which of these individuals had voted and who had not voted in prior elections, on November 8, and November 10 of preceding years.

Let me be clear on this point. I personally feel (and believe) everyone in this country should fulfill their civic duty and vote. However, that's just my personal opinion. Unfortunately, this flyer's straight-arm tactic of specifically listing the names and addresses of those who voted and DIDN'T vote was blatantly inappropriate. Reading this flyer felt like a violation of my right to privacy - to everyone's right to privacy. But it's far worse than that. The pubic distribution of a flyer of this nature potentially endangers the lives of those who specifically don't want their first and last names PUBLICLY listed alongside their physical address. This was information that was presumably distributed throughout local neighborhoods. God only knows where else this information has also now been distributed. Did it ever occur to those who created this flyer that there are individuals who are specifically trying to avoid publicly advertising their physical address. Did it ever occur to them that some of these individuals may be trying to avoid an abusive spouse or x-spouse, a stalker, or someone with ill-intent?

It gets worse. The message and strategic political intent is more likely to backfire. Setting the potential life-endangerment issue aside, if I, Joe Schmoe, was nothing more than an undecided voter, and individual still waffling on whether to vote for Walker or Barrett, does any political strategist with two working brain cells in their head really believe such straight-arm tactics would influence me to vote for Tom Barrett? Quite the opposite is more likely to happen. I would have felt personally violated. I would have assumed that liberal-minded democrats are once again being inappropriately intrusive, that a bunch of bleeding-heart liberals are once again trying to run my life. Those are precisely the kinds of issues conservative right-wing Republicans are most concerned about. This flyer will most certainly give them added incentive to go out and vote - for the other guy.

One last comment: It's possible, however ever remote that possibility might be, that this disgusting flyer is actually the work of another republican funded dirty trick operation... The objective: to "conquer and divide" liberal democrats and independent voters amongst each other, and to help nudge undecided voters to vote for Scott Walker. Yeah, it's still possible, and if so, it needs to be documented for the record so that those who were responsible for creating this crap are eventually prosecuted to the full extent of the law - after all the political campaigning is over and done with. But quite frankly, I don't think the "opposition" is that smart. Devious??? Most certainly. But smart???? NO. This is too sophisticated a scenario to have been thought out by the opposition, IMHO. I think it was our own damned fault.

Quite frankly, it seems to me that a more likely scenario was that a group of individuals (democrats and/or liberal minded individuals) terrified of the possibility that Scott Walker will once again get re-elected felt that the means justified the ends. Yes, I too am terrified of the thought that Walker could get re-elected. However, I don't want it on my head that my personal fears caused me to violate the rights, privacy, AND SAFETY of those who specifically didn't want their voting record and address publicly exposed in such a manner. That's not the kind of karma I want listed on my grave stone.

Back to comments from Some Teacher.

I then learned from another friend that e-mail address that is on the card is NOT valid. Yet another friend who received the same card had a person listed as being on the voting rolls who has not lived in his house for a decade. So, some information is out of date, but it does appear to be real information. Four friends have sent me information so far. This is reaching a wide area.

Time for a little searching. The Wisconsin Democratic Underground has a thread discussing this card. They included a link for the Greater Wisconsin Political Fund, a site that appears to be anti-Walker. Attempts to contact the organization are unanswered so far and probably won't be answered until Monday at the soonest. This is a last minute stunt that is either an inept effort at what it claims to be or a dirty trick.

There have been so many examples of Dirty Tricks since Mr. Walker took office that it would be easy to just accuse him of more. Unlike my friend, I don't think that people need to fear for their safety if their voting record (that is the record of when, not for whom, they voted) is made public. I share his concern that this card may act as a disincentive for voting on Tuesday.

Voting is incredibly important. The election on Tuesday is too close to call. If those who are frustrated with the lies and divisive policies of Governor Walker stay home, then Mr. Walker will remain as Governor. Wisconsin is tired. Half are tired of dirty tricks by the GOP and the other half are tired of being accused of dirty tricks. Divide and conquer has worked to a large degree.

4 June 2012, afternoon update: The Cap Times has the story on the card that so many received. The Greater Wisconsin Political Fund is a real, left-leaning super-pac. They paid a lot of money to the Government Accountability Board and got the full voting history of the state for 2008 and 2010, information that is public and expensive to pay for. They did it because, as annoying as many of my friends found this card, studies at Harvard and Yale show that it is effective to shame people into voting. So amidst the various dirty tricks, this one wasn't.

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.
14 April 2012, FollowUp 23.
17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.
23 May 2012, FollowUp 31.
24 May 2012, FollowUp 32.
30 May 2012, FollowUp 33.

4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.

01 June 2012

Praise: President Obama on Pride Month 2012

I really like this message from Barack Obama. On the issue of LGBTQ equality, he is an excellent leader. Thank you, Mr. President.

31 May 2012

Praise: Smoke-Free LGBTQ Proposal

As one who cannot tolerate tobacco to the point where when I was dating I would not go out with a smoker, this is particularly touching. Gays are as human as straights, but for various reasons have a higher percentage of smokers. It is my hope that as we gain equality we can lose the need for so much tobacco.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

30 May 2012

FollowUp 33: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

While most of the attention in Wisconsin continues to be on the gubernatorial recall election, coming up on Tuesday 5 June, there is a lot more happening on the ground. Here is an example of a state senate ad and a news story on the issue. I will then offer a few thoughts as to why this is really horribly misleading.

Originally, there was an ad on this topic that was mailed out. It was discussed on Channel 4.

"Lehman voted for felons. Putting our communities in danger, John Lehman voted for early inmate release."

That was the beginning text in the video version of the ad, sent out by the Wisconsin Recall Action Fund on their Stop the Recall YouTube Channel. The words are certainly provocative. The inmate release was, according to the ad, part of the 2009 Assembly Bill 75. If you follow that link, the first thing that you are likely to notice is that the pdf is over seventeen hundred pages long. This is the 2009 state budget, not a simple and isolated bill. The part regarding early release for inmates is fairly early in the document, beginning on page 13 and running for four solid pages of text.

Early inmate release is limited to those inmates who gain approval of a parole board and, depending upon the class of felony, sets conditions for rehabilitation programs, supervision, electronic monitoring and tracking, appeals and hearings. Those who committed violent crimes and crimes against children, those who would most put communities in danger, are not eligible for early release.

On its face, the ad is horribly misleading. But the scare tactic being used is based on a flawed premise, that early release of inmates endangers communities. If you speak with a prison warden, she or he will tell you that they are opposed to fixed sentences without parole. Having a parole possibility gives the guards a tool, an incentive for good behavior within the prison. That incentive helps inmates through their rehabilitation programs, making the prisons safer, lowering recidivism, and allowing for safer communities after inmates are released.

The truth is diametrically opposed to the conclusion of the ad. Mr. Lehman's vote made Wisconsin communities safer.

This local ad in SouthEast Wisconsin counts as dirty tricks in my book. It is pulling legislative provisions out of context, presenting scare tactics without real basis, and telling implicit lies as to the goals of a candidate. Will it scare voters enough to vote against Mr. Lehman? Perhaps. The Recall for Governor is tightening, though still looking like it is in Governor Walker's favor. Gathering millions of signatures was not enough. If Wisconsin is to move beyond the Walker lies and destruction of unions and women's rights, then the Democrats and Independents who have had enough of Mr. Walker and Mr. Wanggaard need to cast their ballots on Tuesday. The election will come down to who turns out the votes.

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.
14 April 2012, FollowUp 23.
17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.
23 May 2012, FollowUp 31.
24 May 2012, FollowUp 32.

2 June 2012, FollowUp 34.
4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.

Praise: Barack Obama on Jewish American Heritage Month

Although I am Jewish, I was not aware of the history of Presidents Lincoln and Grant that President Obama describes here. Very interesting. The United States slowly is becoming a more perfect union, with greater equality for all. All benefit from equality.

Praise: Interview of Dr. Robert Spitzer

From Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out:

In 1973, Dr. Robert Spitzer led the charge to successfully have homosexuality removed from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), which is its list of mental disorders. This was a major victory and remains one the gay movement's signature achievements.

Given his stature and key role in declassifying gay people as sick, it was quite a surprise when Dr. Spitzer published a non-peer reviewed 2001 study in the prestigious Archives of Sexual Behavior that claimed some "highly motivated" gay people could become straight through prayer and therapy. The study said that some gay people could reach their "heterosexual potential."

When he announced his work at the 2001 APA meeting in New Orleans, it created a media sensation. An Associated Press story called his findings "explosive."

In 2012, Dr. Spitzer recanted in the American Prospect magazine. In a letter obtained by Truth Wins Out and sent to the Archives of Sexual Behavior, Dr. Spitzer asked that his study be retracted.

TWO went to Dr. Spitzer's home in Princeton, NJ and interviewed him. He not only repudiated his study, he also apologized to the LGBT community. He told anti-gay organizations -- such as NARTH, Focus on the Family, and the American College of Pediatricians to stop promoting his invalid study. He even told Parents and Friends of 'Ex-Gays' (PFOX) to take a video they have posted of Spitzer off their website.

With Dr. Spitzer's renunciation of his study, a crowning achievement in efforts to promote sexual conversion has been reduced to a crown of thorns. Now that Spitzer has revealed the truth, perhaps anti-gay and "ex-gay" organizations can begin to abandon the harmful practice of reparative therapy.

As we continue on the path to equality, Dr Spitzer was an early important player. Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out is among those who have been at the forefront of these recent battles for civil rights.

That so-called clinics and defenders of religion continue to use Dr. Spitzer's flawed and now renounced study is shameful and harmful to those who are drawn in to their fake therapies. As Mr. Besen keeps saying, truth wins out and the truth from Dr. Spitzer is important information.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

29 May 2012

28 May 2012: Marriage News Watch

28 May 2012

Memorial Day 2012

When I joined the Navy, after the Vietnam War and before the wars that followed, I was aware that there could be a war and that I could die for my country. I was aware, but I didn't believe it would happen to me. Like many young people, I believed that I was invincible and would live forever. Any war would be more like Hollywood and less like a battlefield. In other words, I was young and stupid, or at least naive.

We returned to fighting wars before my Honorable Discharge. I was not involved in our war in Grenada nor did I see action, other than a bar fight. I was incredibly lucky and thus I am here to be writing this blog post.

Freedom was built upon sacrifice and today is the day set aside to remember those who did not survive the fight for freedom. It is important to remember.

26 May 2012

FollowUp 3: "FRAC! Baby FRAC!"

Wow! Great lyrics, popular style, and a nuanced take on a real problem. I'm impressed with the students of Studio 20 NYU and their follow-up to ProPublica's ongoing research.

Thanks to The Young Turks for the heads up.

13 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
10 December 2011, FollowUp 1.
2 January 2012, FollowUp 2.

24 May 2012

FollowUp 32: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

Governor Scott Walker sent me an e-mail today, 24 May 2012. Here we go again.

Patriot,

Well, that is how I view myself. I didn't expect Mr. Walker to be so astute.

This is it. The Wisconsin Recall election is less than three weeks away.

Um, no. Less than two weeks away, but it's okay by me if Mr. Walker's supporters turn out a week late.

The liberal special interests and Washington insiders have sworn to spend tens of millions of dollars to defeat me. I need your help right now to beat back this senseless Recall. Will you stand with me today?

No. Again, he claims that outside money is pouring in to his opponents. The truth is that Governor Walker has tens of millions more than do Wisconsin Democrats, much of his money coming from outside of Wisconsin.

For more than a generation in Wisconsin, the power of special interests and the liberal elite have gone largely unchecked. My Administration finally stood up to them, and we changed the way we do things in government in Wisconsin.

No. Mr. Walker wants to pretend that the last generation did not include Republican Tommy Thompson as Wisconsin's longest serving governor ever. Is he really calling Mr. Thompson a liberal? If you look at the recent history of governors of Wisconsin, it is fairly balanced between Democrats and Republicans. Neither side has "gone largely unchecked." Liar.

That’s why my opponents are so desperate to defeat me in this Recall. They want to roll back the clock and take us back to the days of skyrocketing taxes, bloated budgets, and unchecked and unaccountable spending. We cannot let that happen.

No. While Governor Walker has cut taxes on businesses, it is not true for the average Wisconsinite. He is spending money beyond Wisconsin's tax revenue, something that was not true of his immediate predecessor.

The moment I became Governor, I set about the work that the people of Wisconsin sent me to do. We eliminated the deficit left by my Democrat predecessor. We gave the freedom of choice to public employees. Our reforms have allowed public employees to decide if they would like to spend (in some cases more than a thousand dollars a year in dues) or keep their hard earned money. We finally put the control of state government back where it belongs, in the hands of the people.

No. This is a lie. Mr. Walker was not left a mess. His reforms took away collective bargaining from public employees; which is not an increase of choice. That was after lying during the 2010 campaign and stating that he was not going after unions. Mr. Walker is a proven liar on this.

I kept my promises to the voters here in Wisconsin. I didn’t raise taxes. We have not had massive lay offs of state workers. Our reforms have balanced the budget and lowered the unemployment rate to a level unseen since 2008.

No. Mr. Walker is using fake employment figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Wisconsin losing jobs in April. Mr. Walker is a liar.

Now I need you to help me tell the out-of-state special interests that we do not want another tax-and-spend liberal in charge here in Wisconsin.

No. Again, Mr. Walker is the one who has cornered the out-of-state special interests, CrossRoads GPS and the Koch brothers to name two of the biggest funders of his bid to keep his seat.

This Recall is not just about Wisconsin, it is about the cause of reform across this country. It is about deciding what kind of country we are going to be for generations to come. We must send a message that we can and will live within our means. We must not hand power back to a small group of special interests and let them run state governments into the ground across this great nation.

The recall is about deciding what kind of country we want. Do we want balance between labor and business? Do we want a viable middle class? Do we want women to have control of their healthcare and bodies? Do we want fully funded schools and strong education for our children? Do we want fair taxes for everyone including businesses? Or do we want Governor Walker's radical reform?

When we defeat this baseless Recall, it will send a powerful statement across our country about the kind of government we want to have and the bold reforms that will get us there.

The recall is not baseless. It is based on the actions of Mr. Walker; actions in contradiction to the promises that he made when he sought the office of governor.

We have less than a month to go. I need your help – not tomorrow, not next week, but right now.

Okay. Less than two weeks is also less than a month.

Today, I ask you to stand with me so I can continue to stand up for hard working taxpayers. Together, we can defeat this Recall and make history – in Wisconsin and across the country.

Keeping Governor Walker in office increases the burden on "hard working taxpayers" and relieves the burden on big business. Mr. Walker is a liar.

Sincerely,

Scott Walker
Governor

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.
14 April 2012, FollowUp 23.
17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.
23 May 2012, FollowUp 31.

30 May 2012, FollowUp 33.
2 June 2012, FollowUp 34.
4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.

23 May 2012

FollowUp 31: Wisconsin Republican Dirty Tricks

Ed Shultz has a good analysis of the big lie about jobs. The lies go far beyond what is popular in the news and the recall election is going to be very close.

One of the things happening is a subtle campaign to discredit unions and teachers in particular. One of the more blatant efforts occurred recently in Janesville, Wisconsin, with an anonymous flyer listing the salaries of hundreds of the highest paid teachers in the Janesville district.

The flyer urges parents to mail the district a cutout form if they want their student removed from the class of a teacher who signed the recall petition.

Fox 11 has the story:

Fliers seeking "non-radical teachers" in Janesville creating controversy: fox11online.com

This is just the latest of a long series of events designed to break the public schools. While that may sound like hyperbole, consider that Wisconsin is losing teachers.

"In the end both sides will look at this and say, 'See, I told you so,' " said Dale J. Knapp, research director of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.

Knapp said there were three major take-aways from the research.

"The decline in teachers particularly and staff overall isn't a one-year change," he said. "It is a continuation of a three-year decline that goes back to when revenue limits were tightened in 2009-'10."

He said, "declining enrollment districts are the ones cutting the most staff. They're the ones getting hit hardest by revenue limits overall. They're the ones that are really struggling."

Knapp added that "benefits did matter."

"Those districts that were able to do more with benefits were able to either add teachers or lay off fewer teachers than districts in similar situations," he said.

One more video regarding this flyer, this from Channel 3000:

So, as teachers remain under fire and big lies are circulated by the Governor, where are the Democrats? Speaking with friends in Wisconsin, they are wondering why the DNC and the Obama campaign are not visibly helping Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in his campaign against Governor Scott Walker.

One friend opined that there may be moles from the Walker campaign within the Barrett campaign who are offering false assurances that things are going well. I don't have any evidence for or against this happening, but with several of my friends concerned, it is important to consider what is happening. Look back over the last thirty-one posts for a pattern of lies and harm to the State of Wisconsin. I hope that the Barrett campaign gets its act together.

16 November 2011, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.
30 November 2011, FollowUp 1.
4 December 2011, FollowUp 2.
11 December 2011, FollowUp 3.
14 December 2011, FollowUp 4.
15 December 2011, FollowUp 5.
30 December 2011, FollowUp 6.
13 January 2012, FollowUp 7.
17 January 2012, FollowUp 8.
25 January 2012, FollowUp 9.
2 February 2012, FollowUp 10.
9 February 2012, FollowUp 11.
12 February 2012, FollowUp 12.
18 February 2012, FollowUp 13.
22 February 2012, FollowUp 14.
6 March 2012, FollowUp 15.
12 March 2012, FollowUp 16.
16 March 2012, FollowUp 17.
30 March 2012, FollowUp 18.
31 March 2012, FollowUp 19.
3 April 2012, FollowUp 20.
4 April 2012, FollowUp 21.
11 April 2012, FollowUp 22.
14 April 2012, FollowUp 23.
17 April 2012, FollowUp 24.
21 April 2012, FollowUp 25.
29 April 2012, FollowUp 26.
2 May 2012, FollowUp 27.
6 May 2012, FollowUp 28.
10 May 2012, FollowUp 29.
13 May 2012, FollowUp 30.

24 May 2012, FollowUp 32.
30 May 2012, FollowUp 33.
2 June 2012, FollowUp 34.
4 June 2012, FollowUp 35.
5 June 2012, FollowUp 36.

22 May 2012

Repudiation: Lawsuit to "Preserve Religious Freedom"


Preserve Religious Freedom -- The Roman Catholic Church

Generally speaking, I have a great deal of admiration for a number of Catholic educators, most of my undergraduate and graduate school professors. But, the lawsuit their church has filed does not make sense. Preserve Religious Freedom is the website that explains what the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) is doing.

This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference. It is not about whether people have access to certain services; it is about whether the government may force religious institutions and individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious beliefs.

The Quaker religion is opposed to wars, all wars. Yet all Quakers pay taxes that fund the Department of Defense. There is considerable precedent for funding things that violate religious beliefs. For the Quakers, there is the conscientious objection to serving. For members of the RCC, they do not have to participate in those services that they feel violate their beliefs. Same thing.

The HHS mandate that all employers provide abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization includes only a narrow exemption for certain organizations that the government deems sufficiently “religious.” The exemption applies only if the government determines that all four of the following criteria are met: the inculcation of religious values is the purpose of the organization; the organization primarily employs persons who share the religious tenets of the organization; the organization primarily serves persons who share the religious tenets of the organization; and the organization falls within a certain tax code provision defining a narrow subset of religious non-profits.

The opening sentence of this paragraph is erroneous. The HHS mandate does not include employers providing any drugs or services. The mandate includes provision of insurance. Apparently the RCC does not feel that this separation is adequate. Even upon providing insurance, the decisions regarding whether to use any of these are between the individual and their doctor, not involving the RCC.

Perhaps that is why the RCC objects so strenuously. They cannot use their influence as an employer to prevent their employees, who may not be members of their faith, from using contraceptives. An employer, they don't get to dictate their employees' sex lives.

This exemption runs contrary to decades of federal laws that have consistently honored and respected the conscience rights of religious institutions and individuals (see, e.g., http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/upload/Federal-Conscience-Laws.pdf). This radical and narrow definition of what constitutes a “religious employer” attacks religious freedom by defining it away: by extending religious freedom protection only to houses of worship, HHS’s exemption reduces religious freedom to the freedom of worship.

Not at all. Every individual is still free to follow her or his conscience. Religious freedom is based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. There is no United States official, established religion. And the question is whether as an employer the RCC can call dictating healthcare to its employees the free exercise of religion. To agree with the RCC on this strikes me as "radical".

Dropping down a bit on their Issue page, the argument becomes completely absurd.

Effectively, the mandate prohibits us from asking what we’ve asked for more than 200 years, “Are you hungry?” Now we also have to ask, “Are you Catholic?” To qualify for the exemption, and so to be permitted to follow their beliefs, Catholic institutions may have to stop providing educational opportunities to as many non-Catholics as they currently educate, stop serving as many non-Catholics in need as they currently serve, and stop employing some of the non-Catholic employees they currently employ. But this kind of withdrawal from the world violates our religious commitment to serve all in need without regard to religion.

No. If the RCC stops providing charity to the general community, that is entirely their choice. They are not being asked to stop hiring non-Catholics as they are not being asked to force contraception on anyone. This is a threat to take away their community service, nothing more. They may even follow through on this threat (they did so when they stopped providing adoption services in Massachusetts in protest of marriage equality, including non-discrimination laws on adoption, in that state). But the threat is entirely their choice. Their hand is not being forced by the government.

The exemption also involves an invasive federal government inquiry into an organization’s religious beliefs and practices, conferring powers on government forbidden by the Constitution. Specifically, for an institution to know whether it meets the government’s definition, it must submit to a governmental investigation whereby federal employees determine the religion of those employed and served by the entity, whether their beliefs are the same as the institution, and whether the institution hires and serves “primarily” those of in agreement.

This is the single point where I think that the RCC has valid concerns. There is a loss of privacy. I still believe that they, like every business, should be required to open their books to the government. Determining the employees' religions is not an invasion into the frequency or ardor with which they practice those religions. It is purely to make a determination of granting an exemption to a standard of care for employees.

Businesses have claimed invasion of privacy when OSHA inspects to determine if working conditions are safe. I don't see this fear of invasion by the federal government as very different. Dropping to the end of their issue.

In sum, the HHS mandate jeopardizes religious freedom—a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution—and undermines access to a wide range of social services. Catholic schools, universities, hospitals, and social service agencies are in the business of educating and caring for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. As the President acknowledged, these organizations do “more good for a community than a government program ever could.” The mandate jeopardizes all of these good works by forcing Catholic institutions to violate their religious beliefs.

The RCC is what "jeopardizes all of these good works". There is no violation of religious beliefs in providing comprehensive insurance to employees. The lawsuit is a political distraction that will cost taxpayers when the government defends itself.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

21 May 2012

21 May 2012: Marriage News Watch

18 May 2012

Humor: The Atheist Pig on Religion and Same Sex Marriage

Oh my! Icky. One doesn't need to be an atheist (I'm not) to appreciate humor from The Atheist Pig.

17 May 2012

Praise: International Day Against Homophobia

I had not heard of the International Day Against Homophobia until seeing it this afternoon on Joe My God. This is the 10th year of it. About time I learned more.

Few minority groups have been as discriminated against as the gays and lesbians. But major breakthroughs have occurred, and homosexual people are stepping out of the shadows. From the outside, it could be construed that all problems have been solved. The media are sympathetic, public personalities come out, television shows feature lesbian and gay characters in scenes of everyday life. Nevertheless, the reality is quite different. Many individuals are unable to live their sexual orientation, encounter difficulties if they do, or end up role-playing to protect themselves.

Despite these dire situations, the implementation of the International Day Against Homophobia should not rest on a “victimization“ philosophy. In fact, the Day may be seen as a great opportunity to highlight positive aspects of homosexuality and celebrate the contribution of lesbians and gays to society.

Now I need to spend more time reading.

Praise: University of Washington on Gaydar

One of the arguments that is sometimes made against including LGBTQ people in hate crime legislation is that we are not really discriminated again. After all, unlike most who are Black, we can "pass". But, then again, maybe we cannot.

Back in January, there was a study out of Albright College that indicated that homosexuals may have less symmetrical facial features than heterosexuals. This week we are learning about a study out of the University of Washington that indicates that people's gaydar, the ability to discern whether someone is gay or straight, may be real particularly at discerning lesbians.

After seeing faces for less than a blink of an eye, college students have accuracy greater than mere chance in judging others’ sexual orientation. Their "gaydar" persisted even when they saw the photos upside-down, and gay versus straight judgments were more accurate for women’s faces than for men’s.

The findings, published May 16 in the open-access online journal PLoS ONE, suggest that we unconsciously make gay and straight distinctions.

From the discussion section of the full paper:

[I]t would appear that minority sexual orientation is not the concealed stigma that many argue it is. Indeed, the need to protect gay people from discrimination would seem increasingly urgent to the extent that minority sexual orientation is tacitly inferred from aspects of personal appearance that are routinely available for inspection (e.g., faces).

Discrimination is real and we now know a little more about how that occurs. We also know that heterosexuals may be discriminated against because of false impressions that they are homosexual. Important for all in society to consciously endeavor to avoid discriminating against the LGBTQ Community.

Praise: Minnesotans United for All Families campaign

The endeavor to write discrimination into the Minnesota Constitution might go the same way as it did with the North Carolina Constitution. This ad makes the same argument that was made to give those eighteen years old the right to vote. Corporal Andrew Wilfahrt was not the first LGBTQ to serve in Afghanistan and he was not the first to die for his country. He died a second class citizen. Thank you Representative Kriesel for your words of support.

Here are links for the Minnesotans United for All Families:
www.mnunited.org
www.facebook.com/mn4allfamilies
www.twitter.com/mn4allfamilies
www.pinterest.com/mn4allfamilies

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

15 May 2012

Praise: James Clyburn on Marriage Equality

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Representative Clyburn of South Carolina, number three in the minority leadership, is spot on regarding marriage equality. On the other hand, I suspect that national equality will only be possible through the courts, similar to what happened with interracial marriage as resolved by the Supreme Court in Loving v Virginia.

The legislative route is easier if there is a Democratic Congress. If we can simply see the overturning of DOMA, then marriages between people of the same gender may still not be possible in forty-four states, but those states would have to recognize marriages performed in the six states where marriage equality is the law (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont) as well as the District of Columbia. Without DOMA, that recognition of marriages would be required by Article IV, Section One of the United States Constitution.

Either way, thank you to Leader Clyburn. Well said.

Praise: 2012 Living Planet Report

The World Wildlife Fund has been working for half a century to keep our planet healthy for us. I last mentioned them regarding Earth Hour. Their 2012 Living Planet Report is disheartening, but important information. The summation of chapter one says a lot:

2012 Living Planet Report, page 12.

The ongoing loss of biodiversity is frightening. We don't know how much more loss can be sustained without a collapse to the system ... a collapse that could include our species. As we continue to grow our population far beyond the numbers where we don't harm our environment, something is going to give. Some of that is seen in loss of species and diminished fresh water supplies.

The report is not all doom and gloom. Chapter four includes sixteen points for sustaining our world.

Significantly expand the global protected areas network
• Protect 20 per cent of representative land, freshwater and
marine areas, including areas key for ecological processes
necessary for biodiversity, food, water and energy security,
and climate change resilience and adaptation.
• Implement adequate funding mechanisms for effective
protected area management.
Halt loss of priority habitats
• Achieve Zero Net Deforestation and Degradation by 2020 and
maintain thereafter.
• Halt fragmentation of freshwater systems.
• Increase the area of effectively managed marine protected areas
from 5 per cent to at least 20 per cent.
Restore damaged ecosystems and ecosystem services
• Prioritize restoration of ecosystems and ecosystem services
necessary for food, water and energy security, and climate
change resilience and adaptation.
Significantly reduce inputs and waste in production systems
• Increase total food supply-chain efficiency.
• Maximize energy, water and material efficiency.
• Maximize recycling and recovery.
• Minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
Manage resources sustainably
• Eliminate overfishing by commercial fleets, including the
indiscriminate capture of non-target organisms.
• Eliminate water over-abstraction.
• Implement policies to secure water quality.
• Minimize further habitat conversion through maximizing
the sustainable use of productive land by improving
genetic selection, adopting best practices, increasing
efficiency, improving soil organic matter and rehabilitating
degraded lands.
Scale-up renewable energy production
• Increase the proportion of sustainable renewable energies in
the global energy mix to at least 40 per cent by 2030 and 100
per cent by 2050.
• Increase the share of renewable energy in the overall energy
mix, along with ambitious energy demand management,
especially in sectors with limited renewable options that are
likely to be dependent on bioenergy. (Aviation, shipping and
high heat industrial applications are likely to be among these.)
Change energy consumption patterns
• Decrease energy demand by 15 per cent by 2050 compared
to 2005.
• Increase the proportion of electricity produced using
renewable energy to cover all global energy needs by 2050.
• Provide sustainable energy to everyone in “off-grid” areas.
Promote healthy consumption patterns
• Balance protein intake per capita as recommended by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
• Minimize retailer and consumer food waste in high- and
middle-income countries.
Achieve low-footprint lifestyles
• Minimize resource consumption and waste by high income
individuals.
• Maximize market share of certified sustainable products.
• Transition urban areas to “smart” cities with low-footprint
solutions for meeting urban housing, food, water, energy, and
mobility needs.
Value nature
• Implement an inclusive and globally accepted system
for measuring the economic and non-economic value of
natural capital.
• Fully integrate this value into mainstream economic
development policy and decision-making.
Account for environmental and social costs
• Integrate social and environmental costs of production and
consumption over long timeframes into standard national
and corporate accounting and reporting methodologies.
• Ensure that social and environmental costs are reflected in
the market price of all commodities and products, and in
environmental impact assessments.
Support and reward conservation, sustainable resource management and innovation
• Eliminate all subsidies that undermine sustainable resource
use and conservation, particularly those underpinning fossil
fuel use and unsustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
• Develop/implement new financial mechanisms that redirect
public and private investment to support sustainable practices
and new technologies for sustainability, and provide new
additional financing for conservation and restoration of
natural capital.
• Improve policy for increased investments and large-scale
deployment of innovations and new technologies that
can enable sustainable development in both public and
private spheres.
Share available resources
• Implement natural resource governance built on inclusive
processes and broad participation by communities dependent
on natural resources.
• Minimize the footprint of high-income populations and urban
areas (see “Consume more wisely”).
• Promote the transition toward sustainable, resource-efficient
cities and reduce the direct impact of cities on water and land
by limiting urban sprawl, promoting urban agriculture and
sustainable waste (water) management.
Make fair and ecologically informed choices
• Implement policies and tools for analysing, resolving and
managing competing land use and water use claims.
Measure success “beyond GDP”
• Include social and environmental indices in national indicators
to measure and reward success.
• Implement economic policies with targets and indicators to
monitor the impact of economic governance on natural capital
and human well-being.
Sustainable population
• Explicitly integrate population dynamics (size, growth
rate, composition, location and migration) and per capita
consumption trends into national planning policies to support a
better balance between population and available resources.
• Ensure universal access to gender-sensitive reproductive health
services and information, reduce child mortality and support
the empowerment of women and young girls through greater
access to higher education and employment opportunities.

Most of this is common sense. A few points are political triggers (#13 smacks of socialism, #15 smacks of anti-capitalism, and #16 will grate against religious fundamentalists who think that there are not enough humans ever). Still more is based on science that some will be eager to deny. Nonetheless, this report needs to be taken seriously. We don't have a control group for the experiment we are running with our ecosystem.

14 May 2012

Praise: Audra McDonald on Obama and Marriage Equality

While the hyperbole of "superhero" is at first hear a bit extreme, Ms. McDonald may be entirely accurate. If President Obama's words stop a teen in North Carolina from committing suicide, he is a superhero. Saving a life is what heroes do. Thank you, Ms. McDonald. Your prescience may also be saving lives.

Thank you, Freedom to Marry, for sharing this video.

Various Direct Links