If the Homeland Security Act is not amended

From the New York Times today:

WASHINGTON — If the Homeland Security Act is not amended before passage, here is what will happen to you:

Every purchase you make with a credit card, every magazine subscription you buy and medical prescription you fill, every Web site you visit and e-mail you send or receive, every academic grade you receive, every bank deposit you make, every trip you book and every event you attend — all these transactions and communications will go into what the Defense Department describes as "a virtual, centralized grand database." Read the rest here.

Election Results

Election results are in and we lost. Except a few of the candidates and side measures, progressives, greens and democrats didn't fare very well at all.

Election results are in and we lost. Except a few of the candidates and side measures, progressives, greens and democrats didn't fare very well at all. This is surprising in light of the excellent organizing and activism in the country these days, with: over 100,000 people marching for peace in DC, Michael Moore's book on the best seller list for months and his new film breaking box-office records for documentaries, and the high level of polarization the Republicans, corporate crime and wide scale fundamentalism have caused, I had thought that more progressives would be voting. Buckley's campaign articulated the progressive cause beautifully, and I believe this motivated many people to the polls. He has certainly restored my hope in a populist Democratic party. The Greens successfully organized locally and nationally. The party is growing rapidly and provides a mechanism for progressives to challenge the two party lock on the electoral system further inspiring hope in a positive future.

In Jackson county, 72,566 people voted or 67.13%. Above the national average but that does mean some 50,000 registered voters did not vote.

As of June 2001 there were 36,661 Democrats, 44,567 Republicans and 24,196 Unaffiliateds in the county. An additional 3,213 are listed by the county as "Other" which would include Libertarian, Pacific Green and the so called "third parties".

Finally, the necessity of public financing of elections becomes obvious. In a media system where it is possible to monopolize the means of popular information, those with the largest budgets are able to set the terms of debate. If you can limit the terms of debate, you can control the outcome. Nationwide, nearly every winner in every race won the money race first.

P.S. Our next state election is January 28 as we get to vote on Measure 28, a state income tax increase. Voter registration deadline is January 7. I'll have my analysis sometime in January. In the meantime, I'm open to discussion. The full text is available at http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/jan282003/jan282003.htm

P.P.S. Thanks for your feedback on my election issue mailings. I appreciate your appreciation! I'm glad that I could help.