Twain quote

From my mother...

The timid man yearns for full value, and asks a tenth.
The bold man strikes for double value; and compromises on par.

I must become the latter.

To Dennis Hopper

Just found out today that Dennis Hopper died this year.
Don't recall if I heard that when it happened, but if I did I clearly forgot cause when I read in my favorite German magazine (Der Spiegel) that Hopper was among those we lost in 2010, I kept thinking - no, he's not dead. Sure enough, he died in May. I was saddened.

So here's to Mr. Hopper!
A messy life, but a life that was unquestionably *lived*.
And one that contributed greatly to the pleasure of others through a thoroughly entertaining acting career.
I'll miss you.

On the Bush Tax-Cut Extension

A letter to my local US House Representative, David Price...


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To the Honorable Mr. David Price

Dear Mr. Price,
Recently the "Bush tax cut extension" was approved by both the Senate and the House, with your vote being among supporters. The debate over this quickly centered on extensions to the wealthiest 2%. President Obama put forward the extension of the entire Bush tax cut, to the dismay of many Liberal supporters, including myself, who considered it a point of symbolic resistance to reject the Bush-era give-aways to the smallest segment of society which simultaneously laid a heavier burden (now or in the future) on the middle.
I am saddened that the reasons for this compromise, as it as come to be known, are not better explained - or perhaps more accurately, are not compelling enough to overcome the symbolic perception that this has become to so many of us.
Often the symbolism embedded inside political choices becomes larger than the choice itself. I believe this has happened here as well. It became less important to me what was passed (or even not passed), than knowing that my elected officials (you and President Obama) understood how significant it was to stand up and say no to Republican bullying over this single symbol - holding the wealthiest 2% of the population accountable for their fair share of the cost of success in this great nation.
Perhaps if the Health-Care reform had not so callously sacrificed adults with pre-existing conditions, while nonetheless claiming deep care and concern for children in a similar situation (if it's needed for the children, it's needed for the adults as well - pure hypocrisy), and perhaps if it had not so willy-nilly cast-off the inclusion of a public-plan, then this tax issue might not be so cutting. Unfortunately, such is not the case. And as such, this capitulation on what has finally boiled down to the 'last' remaining symbol that our elected Liberal congressmen and President have the willingness to stand up and defend what we (I) elected them to do, has come as a massive disappointment.
It seems perhaps there was great fear that if this was not passed, then there would be no agreement at all. But if no agreement were made, all blame can be placed on the Republican platform that espouses support for the wealthiest elite among us at the expense of everyone else - a political win. And with respect to unemployment benefit extensions, yes that is crucially important for so many people. But a no-agreement scenario plays the same negative rich-elitist blame-game, and heaps huge public pressure on the Republican members (if the Democrats properly frame the public perception) to give in to the common good. So I really don't see how ending up with no deal is worse than (again due to the symbolism this has taken on) giving in to Republican demands that the wealthy get more than is deserved. The symbolism of it paints the entire transaction as giving-in (irregardless of gains achieved to the contrary). I had hoped that our Democratic members of Congress could see this clearly.
And if, after this plan was put forth by President Obama, it was feared that House rejection would weaken his Presidency, perhaps that has truth. But it would also have made it exceedingly clear that, although understood as a centrist-President from the beginning, even the center-Left considers his actions on this to be too far into the space of the Right.

I have appreciated the great work you have done, Mr. Price, through your tenure in office supporting issues important to society as a whole, and our community here locally. And I will continue to support you. I must say that I am gravely disappointed in the President's record of follow-through on even the smallest numbered but most significant issues he promised during campaigning. Yes, campaigning results in many things said and not done. But the issue of a public-option in health care cost coverage, and the issue of expiring undeserved tax cuts to the top 2% of people - these were issues President Obama had always argued for even before declaring his bid. One or the other is with difficulty forgivable. Giving in on both of them... to my great dismay, I find it hard to say that I can support him in a re-election bid. This has cost him and the Democratic representation in Congress dearly among even the pragmatic, center-left (like myself) members of the party.
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Life

I come to conclude, that life is a river of constant frustration, interrupted only occasionally by joy :|.