Recently in Progressives Category

There's an old expression that talks about finding out how the sausage is made. The general idea is that people are usually fine with the outcome, but when they take a look at the process that goes into creating the outcome, they suddenly lose their appetite. Sausage seems to be number one on that lists of products that people don't want to watch being made. Government might soon replace sausage on that lists.A political history...

Today I attended the Occupy Houston event in Downtown Houston.(Update 10/7/11--Here is an update on day two of Occupy from the Houston Chronicle.) Here is why I got involved in this effort.Though Houston police estimated the crowd to have been about 200, I think the crowd was larger than that. It may have been closer to 500 at the beginning.In any case, the event had some energy and it felt like a good start.Houston police officers...

I've worked ever since I graduated college.I willingly pay all my taxes.I vote in every election.I write a political blog so I can be part of our democracy.I spend much of my free time reading and following baseball.Maybe I'm the conservative.Maybe my friends are the conservatives.Maybe the Occupy Wall Street folks are the conservatives.We just want a decent society where playing by the rules and working hard is rewarded.What we don't what is a nutball...

Aboce is the art for the Occupy Providence event that will be held later today.This art includes the great religious dissenter and the founder of Rhode Island---Roger Williams.I'm glad to say I'm a descendant of Roger Williams and that I lived in Rhode Island for 12 years.Here is the Occupy Providence page on Facebook. I'm also very glad for my 13 years so far in Houston.Here is the Occupy Houston page on Facebook.Here are details about the Occupy...

Some of you know my stats: single mom, three amazing boys young men. Heck, I have my own YouTube channel with nothing but videos of their particular accomplishments in the arts, etc. so I'm a rather proud mom.My feelings this week have really run the gamut. I'm always proud of them, happy with them, exhausted because of them (LOL), and scared shitless that something will happen to them. How very mom-like, right? I have reason to...

With drastic budget cutting and vindictive culture war legislation being considered now in our Texas legislature, everyday people are starting to push back.On Saturday, March 12, a Save Texas Schools rally and march will be held at the State Capitol in Austin. This event will begin at noon. There is hope that this will be a good-sized protest with people coming to Austin from all over the state.On Tuesday, March 15, there will be a Texans Day of Outrage protest at Houston...

(Above--The Donley County, Texas Courthouse received Texas Historical Commission funds for renovation. Governor Perry wants to end funding for the Commission. Photo by Billy Hathorn.)We all know that brutal cuts in the Texas state budget are on the way.Due to longstanding Republican mismanagement of state finances, we have a massive budget deficit in Texas.These cuts to health and education will cost lives and leave Texas children less able to compete with young people in other parts of the nation and from elsewhere in the...

Protests in Egypt are ongoing.It is always of value to get the liberal viewpoint on the great world issues.(Above--The Nation.)Below are some liberal sources to read about events in Egypt. The link is either to a specific article or to a package of writings about Egypt.  In any case, it would be of value to explore the sites linked to in this post.The American Prospect is monthly magazine of liberal opinion and policy. I have a...

In the immediate aftermath of the shootings in Tucson this past Saturday, before any evidence had been uncovered as to what made Jared Loughner do what he did, and when it was still unclear as to whether or not incendiary political rhetoric played any part, Republicans rushed to microphones everywhere to try and distance themselves from any culpability with the "both sides do it" defense. A few opinions of others on this false equivalent and...

My friend David Jennings, a top conservative blogger and reflexive mouthpiece for the so-called Tea Party here in Houston, wrote the following in his blog Big Jolly Politics a few days ago--"Remember folks: these vile, vulgar, angry bigots on the left HATE YOU because you try to live clean lives and do right by other people. No amount of coddling to their wishes will change that.The post was about a liberal blogger in town that Mr. Jennings...