Author Archives: Karl

Why You MUST Get Involved

Posted on by

A person who I know, who shall remain nameless, told me not to blame her for the current mess in Washington – she didn’t vote – and has no plans to either. Why vote and get involved when it’s always the lesser of the two evils? I asked if she thought we’d be in Iraq if Gore was President. The answer from others around us was a solid no. I said that whenever we choose not to vote – we make an implicit vote for the most powerful, intrenched candidate. Things became kinda heated. And it was agreed to simply not talk about politics. Very disappointing.

Over heard in this Metafilter thread and very applicable:

Democracy does not ‘take root’ (or ‘flourish’ or ‘grow’ for that matter).

…Democracy is viable only so long as the general public demands it.

As soon as the public ceases to be active/activist, democracy is destroyed by the power-seekers. These power-seekers will manipulate the laws, the media, and the political process to work in their favour. The end result is inevitable: democracy is destroyed in practice, if not in name.

If you desire a democratic government, you must participate in a meaningful, deliberate, and active manner.

The only way to get the government to take notice is to vote. Besides, the difference between the lessor of two evils can be a great one. It’s the difference that counts. Whatever your preference… get involved.

It Starts With A Link

Posted on by

This aging Gen-Xer is getting involved beyond my vote. Click and contribute folks. The GOP war chest is huge and in order to get out the message – it sadly costs money. Let the money come from you.

I’d like to ask other webloggers to get involved. Click here to get an account so that you can host the button to help. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s the very least we can do besides our punditry. I hate the influence money has on politics – actually I hate the influence advertising has on the public – it costs major money and that buys influence. Let’s take that back. One site at a time. One audience at at a time. One community at a time. One American at a time.

Thanks to Oliver Willis for the help.

The Real World Runs Away

Posted on by

MTV’s selection of Philadelphia was accompanied by unbridled civic rejoicing when it was announced on Feb. 26. City leaders believed The Real World, with its huge audience of 12- to 34-year-olds, would boost the city’s cool factor and help it retain recent college graduates.

But within four days, Bunim/Murray had incurred the wrath of the city’s unions by hiring a nonunion company to renovate the former Seamen’s Church Institute in Old City, where Real World’s cast was to live.

The series had sidestepped organized labor in 13 previous cities, including union strongholds New York, Chicago, and Boston, without incident.

“Every other production company comes in, sits down and bargains,” said Tony Frasco, vice president of Teamsters Local 107, whose members drive vehicles and unload trucks. “The unions are not out to gouge anybody, but this is a union town.”

…Informed of Bunim/Murray’s pullout, Jeff Zeh, president of the Southeast Pennsylvania chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., which represents nonunion contractors, said, “What else is new in Philadelphia?

“You saw the list of the cities where they’ve produced their projects, and Philadelphia is the only one where they had a problem,” he said. “It is really is a sad commentary.”

“We ask for fair wages and benefits, and [then they] make a fuss and take their ball and go home – what kind of real world do they represent?” said Gillespie, of the Building Trades Council. “We’ll be called the Neanderthals and the pug uglies because of what we’re trying to do.”

Read the rest at Philly.com. More in The Daily News.