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Given the current environment of political debate in our country in which it is increasingly acceptable to go beyond disagreeing with and contending with an individual to drag the families, friends and associates of the speaker into the debate despite their obvious non-involvement, I thought it necessary to put up the following disclaimer. It must be noted that the disclaimer has always been true despite just being posted. It will permanently appear in the footer of the blog.
The thoughts and opinions expressed here at Blue Collar Muse are completely and solely those of Ken Marrero, exercising his 1st Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Religion and to Petition Government for Redress of Grievances.
This is true despite the fact that my views are similar, and in many instances identical, to a large number of rational and thoughtful people, fictional and real, living and dead.
So, for the record, I and I alone am responsible for the thoughts, views and opinions shared here.
They are not to be seen, in any way imaginable, as those of my family, friends, employer, childhood imaginary companions or anyone else (Although it is true The Much Younger Trophy Wife made me say this. Seems she did some research and there was no promise in our vows, stated or implied, to the end of “in Right Wing, Bigoted, Hateful, Intolerant, Wingnut Idiocy and in Mental Health”. She just wanted to be clear). They are especially not those of handlers operating from the bowels of the VRWC (As if I’d admit it if they were. There are confidentiality agreements involved after all!). Just pay no attention to that guy behind the curtain.
If you like what you read here, pat meon the back! If you disagree, kick mein the shins. But it’s me, me, me - it’s all about me! That seems rather appropriate, don’t you think?
Ken Marrero
The Blue Collar Muse
We now return you to your regularly scheduled postings …
Evidently there’s a bit of historical revision that the Left wants to do. I thought they were outraged that Hollywood might be encouraged to “blackball” actors, writers and such for their political views. Wait, this breaking news …
Ahhh, yes … It’s only bad if the folks being blackballed are their folks! If someone calls for blackballing the other buys, that’s not a bad thing. It’s responsible protective measures for the country! Riiiiiight …
Tyson and the Union representing workers at their Shelbyville, TN plant, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, reached a 5 year contract settement that included exchanging one of the plant’s traditionally observed holidays, Labor Day, for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr celebrated each year at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This effects only the Shelbyville plant. It was done because the plant’s 1,200 member workforce contains around 700 Somali Muslims. They wanted the change and the union represented their desires to Tyson and an agreement was struck. In 5 years, they can vote again. I again ask, what’s the big deal?
I believe in allowing people the freedom to do as they please with their businesses. Tyson is not the government and is not constrained, Constitutionally or otherwise, from making whatever accomodations it sees fit to address the concerns of an increasingly diverse workforce. Every business in America was forced by the government to spend money to comply with the ADA a few years back. The government is implementing “No Smoking” practices against the will of many businesses around the country. These are great examples of behavior we should be outraged with. But being bent out of shape because a business went out of its way to accomodate the needs of a large section of its workforce? Is this really an issue we want to push as outrageous? Instead, shouldn’t we be championing corporate America’s willingness to be responsive to the needs of its workers? Shouldn’t we be using this as an example of management and Unions working together to address the concerns of Labor?
Much of the negative response to the situation centers around the idea that this is America and people who come here should celebrate American holidays. But there is nothing un-American about Eid al-Fitr. In fact, since Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday, it is not patriotic or political in nature at all. It is a religious holiday. And what is more American than ensuring that the Freedom of Religion is permitted here? The holiday being replaced is Labor Day, a day set apart to honor workers in general and union workers in particular! If the majority of the workers in the plant decide they don’t want a holiday honoring their efforts, preferring instead a holiday honoring their faith; and, if the union will back them up on this, how is this un-American? It’s about as American as it gets!
I support Tyson’s right to choose their corporate course, but they also need to be prepared to deal with the consequences. If people decide to boycott their products because of the decision, then Tyson and the plant’s workers will suffer. Tyson and the workers may change their mind later and find it more expedient to go with Labor Day. That’s the market in action and that’s a process I support. I also support people’s right to choose to be offended by Tyson’s decision and to take whatever legal steps they want to express their displeasure. As with so many things, I may disagree with what you say but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it! I’d just much prefer you to have a good reason to believe the things you’re giving voice to.
And that’s the rub. For the life of me I cannot find a single good reason to oppose the agreement that Tyson, the union and the workers hammered out. I can, in fact, think of a single reason, but as I mentioned, it’s not a good one. The only reason for the objection that I can find is varying degrees of anti-Muslim sentiment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m as opposed as anyone to Muslims who even think it’s OK to kill infidels in the name of their faith, let alone those who actually do so. That’s an objection to a crime. But I’m not prepared to bash a faith or a factory because they make choices that are good for workers and good for wallets. That seems to me to be little more than a negative response to someone different from us expressing that difference. That has all the earmarks of prejudice.
If anyone has evidence the Somalis in Shelbyville are cooking up C-4 or prepping trucks with ANFO bombs to deliver along with their wings, now is the time to speak up. But if all you can find fault with is a group of refugees coming to America, working hard and practicing their faith, you might want to reconsider. Many others have come here for those reasons over the years. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Memorial Day are just a few of the holidays we observe on behalf of other Americans doing and defending the very same thing.
Time was every restaurant and honky-tonk was filled with lead singers and pedal steel players waiting tables, slinging hash or tending bar to make a living until their ship came in. It was always “just temporary” and that elusive meeting to “ink the deal” was just around the corner. It even happened for some of them which only fueled the drive of others to get to Music City to take their shot at success.
But this is the 00s and there are all manner of new things around for singers and songwriters to do while they’re waiting for Dame Fortune to smile on them. Evidently, one of those things is blogging! I logged in last night and found the following as a comment on the very first ‘Will the Circle be Unbroken’ post. I loved it and though I left it there, I’m promoting the comment in full to here. Watch out for those Honky Tonk Bloggers at your favorite establishment around town!
Joy, If You’re reading this, feel free to put it to musicand use it…we can be co-writers. A friend of mine is working on some music for it, too..
‘Til The Lord Takes Me Home (Over My Dead Body)
Lyrics by Harry Pratt 2008
Imok39@yahoo.com
I’VE BEEN HERE FOREVER,
OR SO IT SEEMS THAT WAY,
MAKING WONDERFUL MUSIC,
EACH AND EVERY DAY,
I PAY ALL MY TAXES,
I’M NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS,
BUT NOW EMINENT DOMAIN
IS KNOCKING AT MY DOOR.
CHORUS:
THEY WANT TO BUILD A HIGH-RISE,
NOT A BRIDGE OR ROAD OR SCHOOL,
THEY WANT TO TAKE MY LIFE AWAY,
AND PLAY ME LIKE A FOOL;
THOSE GREEDY POLITICIANS,
ARE TRYING TO RE-ZONE,
BUT I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE,
TIL THE LORD, HE TAKES ME HOME.
WE’VE MADE A LOT OF MUSIC,
WE’VE SUNG SO MANY SONGS,
WE’VE TURNED WORDS INTO MAGIC,
AND WE AIN’T DONE NOTHING WRONG;
I’M NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT,
BUT WHAT I OWN IS MINE,
THEY CAN’T JUST COME AND TAKE IT,
JUSTICE JUST ISN’T THAT BLIND.
CHORUS:
THEY WANT TO BUILD A HIGH-RISE,
NOT A BRIDGE OR ROAD OR SCHOOL,
THEY WANT TO TAKE MY LIFE AWAY,
AND PLAY ME LIKE A FOOL;
THOSE GREEDY POLITICIANS,
ARE TRYING TO RE-ZONE,
BUT I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE
TIL THE LORD, HE TAKES ME HOME.
THEY CAN CALL ME STUBBORN
BUT I’M NOT GIVING IN,
TO TEAR DOWN WHAT WE’VE BUILT UP,
WOULD ONLY BE A SIN,
SO WE’LL KEEP MAKING MUSIC,
ALL MY FRIENDS AND ME,
WE’RE GONNA STICK TOGETHER,
WE’RE A MUSIC FAMILY.
CHORUS:
THEY WANT TO BUILD A HIGH-RISE,
NOT A BRIDGE OR ROAD OR SCHOOL,
THEY WANT TO TAKE MY LIFE AWAY,
AND PLAY ME LIKE A FOOL;
THOSE GREEDY POLITICIANS,
ARE TRYING TO RE-ZONE,
BUT I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE,
TIL THE LORD, HE TAKES ME HOME
If you’ve ever loved a list of quotes that rocks your world with the philosophy it espouses but breaks your heart with the shortness of its length, despair no longer. Eric Odom has put together The Ultimate Libertarian Quote List at his blog. Or as I’m sure it will come to be known in the years ahead, the MOALQ.
My favorite (about half way down the list) is from P. J. O’Rourke,
We’re told cars are wasteful. Wasteful of what? Oil did a lot of good sitting in the ground for millions of years. We’re told cars should be replaced with mass transportation. But it’s hard to reach the drive through window at McDonald’s from a speeding train. And we’re told cars cause pollution. A hundred years ago city streets were ankle deep in horse excrement. What kind of pollution do you want? Would you rather die of cancer at eighty or typhoid fever at nine?
Take a half hour and enjoy the rest of the quotes.
It seems Memphians need to be asking it anew. And anyone who, like me, enters the bloodsport known as blogging. Because the Memphis, TN Police Department is getting a lil’ sporty.
The blog is highly critical of the Memphis PD, popular with Memphis police officers and seems to get regular tips and information from sources inside the department. If there is a legal problem there, it would seem to be on the part of the leakers, not the blogger. If officers sign documents to the effect they will not divulge department documents, there’s an issue. If, however, those leaks don’t hinder ongoing investigations then there may be some room to apply Sunshine principles and note that the MPD works for Memphians, not the other way around. Obstruction of Justice is one thing. Abuse of power is another. I can’t find an application of the catchall “national security reasons” which would apply to the quashing of publishing material from a metropolitan source.
I just found out about this so I’ll be watching to see what issues unfold. At a minimum there are 1st Amendment implications here for bloggers and other authors and journalists. If Godwin and the MPD get away with this, what do we do with our local TV and print investigative reporters, for example? And how will knowing who Dirk Diggler is make a difference other than to expose Diggler to potential punitive actions based more in snark than statue?
Sound off in comments and click through to the stories. I’m sure there’ll be more ahead in the days to come, too. Stay tuned.
Last year on the 4th, 588 American service members re-enlisted in Baghdad. This year, in the largest re-enlistment ceremony in the history of the US military, 1,215 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines extended their military service. Both Gateway Pundit and Steve Foley have noted in their posts referenced above that the Left will be beside themselves in trying to explain this. I assumed they would be but didn’t think we’d have any evidence. I was wrong. Check out the comments for the video at YouTube. And those addle headed folks dare to talk about Domestic Enemies …
I thought I’d add the bad, grainy camera phone video of my son’s enlistment oath to finish up. To the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and all his comrades in arms, “Hooah! And thank you for your service! You are so much more to and for this country than your detractors!”
Blue Collar Muse
Connecticut votes in November on whether or not to hold a Constitutional Convention to amend or revise its constitution. Some want to do so to give citizens the right to directly petition their government via the Initiative and Referendum (I&R) process. I&R allows an issue to be voted on by putting it put on the ballot by citizen request as opposed to legislative action.
The I&R process is not well liked by politicians as it usually limits what they can do. It may curtail their ability to raise taxes at will or to take your property if you don’t want to sell. As such, it is not easy for citizens to actually get something on the ballot. I&R may be granted by a state’s constitution but laws governing the process are made by the legislature. Lawmakers determine how many signatures are needed to get an issue on the ballot and the length of time available to collect them. Such power often impedes the process so effectively it’s a wonder initiatives manage to get on the ballot at all. But If Mr. Satter had his way, you wouldn’t even have that right. Mere citizens aren’t qualified to speak to issues.
Satter starts out well enough.
The right of initiative is the right of citizens to propose laws or constitutional amendments that, if approved by a majority vote, have the force of law.
From there, his description of I&R makes it appear those desiring the power to propose a law are selfish, power mad and out to corrupt the process. Well, he’s right about that, too. He just got the subject wrong. Satter thinks voters are like that. In reality it’s a better description of lawmakers. I&R is a powerful tool for citizens to curb the excesses of government, not the other way around.
When Mr. Satter says I&R proposals
… are drafted by private lawyers representing narrow interest groups. Their wording frames the issue and cannot later be changed.
he’s arguing that’s bad for citizens. Has Satter never heard of lobbyists, lawyers and lawmakers? Are outsider Environmentalists OK as a narrow interest group when seeking to impose their view on the state but citizens who actually have to live with the laws passed too narrow an interest group to have an interest in the law?
Mr Satter says,
Those signatures are not spontaneously given by the public, but must be actively solicited. In the initiative states, a cottage industry of signature solicitors has sprung up. In California, it typically costs $1 million to obtain the requisite number of signers.
Does he not understand support for a bill in the legislature does not spontaneously arise? Lawmakers expend huge amounts of time and energy actively soliciting the support of their colleagues. He dismisses the labor by which I&R signatures are gathered and ridicules those doing the work as a “cottage industry”. He misleads readers by irresponsibly using the figure of $1 million with no context. If signature gathering is a cottage industry, what sort of “industry” is lobbying the legislature to get an issue on the ballot? Satter does not say where the money comes from to pay for signature gathering, just that it is spent. But these are not tax dollars, they are privately raised funds. If private money should not be used to influence the legislative process, I’ll have to point again to lobbyists. Satter doesn’t provide the total spent on lobbying the Connecticut legislature when it is in session. Something tells me it’s more than $1 million.
But Robert Satter’s worst insult to the intelligence and character of voters is saved for later.
And how is the campaign over initiative proposals waged? It is waged by slogans, bumper stickers, 10-second sound bites and by TV ads as if selling toothpaste. The vote is yes or no, up or down.
There is not the deliberation and accommodation of the legislative process in which bills are carefully scrutinized by committees of cognizance, subjected to a public hearing, debated in both chambers and ultimately signed by the governor. In that process, all sides of the issue are explored, its relationship to other matters of public policy considered, negotiations between opposing sides conducted, and compromises and changes of wording made.
In lawmaking by plebiscite, people rarely read the exact language of the propositions. They vote their general impression of the issue.
Do only I&R campaigns use slogans and sound bites? Does Satter really believe every bill passed is carefully read, deliberated and analyzed before being voted on? Is Satter actually arguing amendments hung on bills at the last second are completely understood and their ramifications tested and deemed acceptable? Is he seriously arguing citizens are incapable evaluating the impact their proposed I&R will have? It is true citizens don’t debate the possible impact of the law for a couple of weeks before passing it and hoping for the best as the legislature does. Citizens are forced to live with the actual results of those laws. Tens of thousands of hours of debate and analysis then take place in legislative chambers known as kitchen tables, water coolers, carpools and the like. By the time an I&R is proposed, the issue is well known. Usually because citizens have already asked the legislature to fix the problem and they have refused. In such cases, I&R is often the citizens last resort.
But Robert Satter thinks that’s a bad thing. The people of Connecticut, or anywhere else, shouldn’t be able to insist their lawmakers really represent them. Citizens are ignorant peasants without the requisite intelligence, interest, time or ability to understand the workings of government. That lofty pursuit is best left to better men. Satter’s premise is flawed. His conclusions are wrong. His arrogant contempt for citizens he seems to believe should be ruled over as opposed to represented is offensive. I&R is precisely what Connecticut and every other state without it needs, including my state of Tennessee. Without it, we are at the mercy of elitists like Robert Satter. While he may consider that a good thing, I find the prospect terrifying.
One thing I love about my job is that I get to travel. Over the last couple of months I’ve been in Plains States and Mountain States. One of the prettiest and friendliest places I’ve visited is Denver, CO. Not only are the people great but the Downtown 16th Street Walking Mall and LoDo are fantastic, the capitol is beautiful and the mountains are, of course, exquisite!
Even Denver International Airport (DIA) is cool with its stylized snowcapped mountain peaks and all. One of the best features of DIA, however, is free WiFi at the airport! So far, DIA is the largest airport I’ve found providing that service and all one need do is watch a commercial or two and endure a permanent banner ad. I’ll gladly pony up that price for the ability to work and surf while waiting on my flight. Plus, after the ordeal of TSA screening, it seems somehow proper I should get a reward for being a good boy. But am I really all that good? Opinions seem to vary.
You see, earlier this week, on my way to Montana (also an incredibly beautiful state), I had occasion to again pass through DIA and, as I was packing my laptop, spent some time on the web. While checking email and catching up on some reading, I decided to see what the folks at The Next Right were talking about and that’s when it happened. Evidently I’m not the good boy I thought. Seems I’ve been associating with undesirables, malcontents and rabble-rousers - you know - bloggers! And when I entered http://thenextright.com in the address bar, I got the following message:
Notification
Bad Reputation
Your request to URL “http://thenextright.com/” has been blocked by TrustedSource. The Web reputation score of this URL is 127, which is not allowed by your administrator at this time.
generated 25/Jun/2008:21:17:01 -0600
The Next Right is banned in Denver? Who knew??? I’ll bet Media Matters in Colorado is turning handsprings! I know Ruffini, Dayton and Henke can get a bit testy at times. I know TNR diarists, including myself, surrender to the temptation to engage in a bit of snark on occasion. But “Bad Reputation”? In the first place, TNR hasn’t been around long enough yet to acquire a reputation bad enough to warrant being banned by any source, “Trusted” or otherwise! In the second place, just exactly who is “TrustedSource” and what is their reputation? Who exactly is it that trusts them to tell me who I should trust? Banning TNR isn’t inspiring a lot of trust and confidence in me. Is there a place I can go to ban them?
But the ban set me to wondering. Why was TNR banned. Am I missing something? I thought I was on the inside track with these guys. I joined TNR early and post often. Have I not met Jon Henke personally? Did I not grieve at the treatment Soren received from the powers that be? Do I not abase myself before Ruffini in all things techie? Have I been excluded from a special page at TNR that that all the really cool bloggers get access to? Perhaps they’re selling calendars featuring pictures of the TNR trio brandishing their keyboards in a menacing fashion above the caption “Armed and Dangerous”! Airports do seem to be more security conscious these days! Maybe the guys aren’t wearing shirts in their calendar pics, although Soren as “Mr. June” in a pic like that might actually be enough to warrant a ban (no disrespect intended to the tastes of any current or future Mrs. Soren) .
Of one thing, however, I am absolutely certain. The actual content of the site had nothing, whatsoever, to do with the ban. This is America and no one would think to ban TNR, or any other site, for being a place where folks exercise their 1st Amendment right to free speech. There’s no way being a tolerant repository of a wide variety of ideas, thought and strategy would get a site banned. It’s comforting to know some things are still legal and acceptable, even on the Internet. But that still sheds no light on the reason for the ban.
And what’s with the score of 127? Didn’t government schools teach us high scores were a good thing? For most of us TNR diarists, 127 will likely be the best score we ever get on any test and should be something to be proud of. I’m thinking of having a t-shirt made up saying, “Jon, Patrick, Soren and I scored 127 at DIA!” or maybe “I went to Denver and all I got was banned and this lousy t-shirt!”
In any event, both a few neighbors back home and the parents of a couple of ladies I wooed in my misspent youth have been vindicated. They noted, correctly it would seem, I would likely not amount to much as a direct result of hanging around with the wrong crowd. “A pity!” they told me, “So much potential being wasted!” Who knew that after 35 years spent trying to prove them wrong, I’d be tripped up by hanging around with respectable Washington insiders. I suppose I should have known. I wonder if I’ll get time off for good blogging behavior?
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