csethna.com

Tea Baggers, an affront to grassroots activism

The tea-bagger movement was started by corporate conservatives seeking to further aggregate their profits. By telling impressionable Americans who would rather let others think for them that the Obama administration is seeking to kill the American dream by fighting for (gasp) equality, conservatives have created an army of pseudo-activists. These people think that by being obnoxious, under informed, brainwashed, and otherwise stupid, they are protesting the government for some sort of redress of grievances. However, these complaints have yet to actually manifest themselves in any form of coherent utterance. If these tea baggers get their way, any sort of forward progress that we could make as a nation will be halted and America will continue to socially devolve further into backward, apathetic, and ignorant ways. Good job guys, keep up the good work!

Go College Dems @ OSU!

Our Political Director, Jacob Foskuhl was quoted in this Uweekly article.

“I’m glad Republicans are acting up so we don’t get complacent,” said sophomore Jacob Foskuhl, the political director for the College Democrats. “They’ve said a lot of hateful stuff against Obama, and that has fueled hate for the system in general.” Foskuhl characterized the current Republican movement as “almost like the hippie movement against the government, but on the right side.”

I’d like to make a few editorial comments about this article, and about Republican tactics that I’ve recently observed. First of all, Meagan Cyrus, the Chairman of Republicans at Ohio State stated in the article that the group does not endorse the “anti-Obama” posters that have appeared around campus. Maybe the College Republicans haven’t themselves put up the ads, but they are directly responsible for the partisan gridlock which has crippled any sort of real reforms which would help the American people. A recent New York Times editorial chastised the GOP for being the “Party of Nope”. When faced with the opportunity to help you, me, and the Americans who aren’t rich and white the Republican Party has taken an attitude very similar to that illustrated in this cartoon:

The republicans have no real agenda, they only stand to staunchly oppose change.

Cyrus also stated that she has met with some “former Obama advocates shifted their support since last spring.” And one anonymous student is quoted as saying how she was once “very optimistic” and “impressed with voter turnout among younger people” and has become upset that health care reform has not yet come to fruition and is irritated with partisan politics.

The way that this article is written, it makes it sound as if this student is displaying an increasing level of support for the Republican party. This student is obviously a progressive person, otherwise she wouldn’t place such a high value on the reformation of the health care system. The partisan politics we are witnessing are certainly the result of a polarized Congress, but the absolute gridlock is a direct result of the minority party’s opposition to helping people.

The Republican party is “gaining momentum” right now solely as a result of lies and smear tactics. I don’t like to play the finger-pointing game, but every day I see that this is more and more true. I distinctly remember at last fall’s involvement fair, the College Republicans were obnoxiously touting “join the party that still loves America.” Surely you cannot reasonably argue that those who oppose your addiction to wealth, oil, and evangelical christianity don’t love our nation just as much? In fact, I’d argue that those who don’t agree with the Republican Party’s politics are more American because the Democratic Party and many other minority parties believe in the American people, all of them, not just those who are successful capitalists.

In addition to the intolerance that stems from such statements, the National Republican Party has been distributing fraudulent census documents with highly politically charged questions. I have attached a PDF copy of this form, which was mailed to Amanda Hoyt, the Chief of Staff of the Democratic Caucus at the Ohio Senate. (fake census form) Such tactics are intended to confuse people and disrupt a critical, non-partisan effort like the United Stated Census. Such blatant disregard for the principles of democracy which we treasure as Americans is an affront to the fundamental tenets of our nation.

Andrew Zucker, quoted in the Uweekly article as saying “I think [the administration] has done a poor job explaining to the American people what they’re doing,” should also know that the White House maintains a very active YouTube channel through which they regularly disseminate information about the Obama Administration’s work directly to the American people.

We must realize that change doesn’t happen overnight. The hateful lies and propaganda coming from conservatives does nothing but break down our unity as Americans. Now, more than ever we must realize that if we expect to move forward as a nation we must do it together.

Limits on Corporate Campaign Contributions?

Aren’t necessary because corporations have just as much right to free speech as individuals, right? After all, save a few hundred billion dollars, multi-national corporations and your average American really aren’t all that different anyhow.