Why I’ll vote Democratic in November despite everything
Even as we pout (correctly and honorably) over the weakness of the congressional Democratic leadership, it’s good to remind ourselves once in a while why, at the end of the day, most of us (correctly and honorably) will still vote Democratic: and we will do so even if the nominee ends up being someone we’re not in love with.
(NY Times) Rule to Expand Mountaintop Coal Mining
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 — The Bush administration is set to issue a regulation on Friday that would enshrine the coal mining practice of mountaintop removal. The technique involves blasting off the tops of mountains and dumping the rubble into valleys and streams.
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Environmental activists say the rule change will lead to accelerated pillage of vast tracts and the obliteration of hundreds of miles of streams in central Appalachia.
“This is a parting gift to the coal industry from this administration,” said Joe Lovett, executive director of the Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment in Lewisburg, W.Va. “What is at stake is the future of Appalachia. This is an attempt to make legal what has long been illegal.”
It really does make a huge difference which party holds the White House.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
“It really does make a huge difference which party holds the White House.”
This is exactly what I was telling my Naderite friends and family members in 2000, using in particular the example of regulatory agencies, and they blew me off. As infuriating as the Dems can be, they at least do actually believe that government can and should work to protect the public interest.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I know that I, myself, will vote Democratic in November 2008, and in other elections.
And I can’t forgive Nader and his supporters for their attitude in 2000.
However I don’t know if I have anything to say now to convince someone else who has had it with the Democrats to vote for them.
August 23rd, 2007 at 7:05 pm
MTR goes back to the late 70’s & became more common in the 90’s. True, it has accelerated, and 43 made things even worse, but there were a few Dems between Ford & 43.
August 24th, 2007 at 12:33 am
I will vote for the Democrats in 2008, though if the candidate is Hillary Clinton, I will have to hold my nose. The Republicans are totally corrupt. They have spent the last 12 years trying to destroy any regulatory function that government has. Under Bush, they have their poster boy. The result has been thousands of deaths: Katrina, mining, food poisoning, increased rates of asthma, and of course, 9/11. Why do I say 9/11? First of all, the Bush Leaguers didnt want to upset the airline industry by instituting more stringent security measures. Then, there are the chronic illnesses of the 9/11 rescuers, due to lies about the air quality. Giuliani didnt want people to stay away from the Big Apple. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Greed is NOT good. Laissez Faire Capitalism is a danger to all living things. The Market will NOT regulate itself. Greed drives the “any means to an end” philosophy. When that takes over, corners are cut, lies become commonplace, corrupt practices reign supreme and deaths result. Corporations are going full throttle for profits and fat CEO paychecks. They could not possibly care less if kids are poisoned, your granny dies from the side-effects of Vioxx, or the environment is reduced to rubble and sewer sludge. Thanks to the Republican Party, this is what we have today. No, I wouldnt vote for one of those Repugnant Hairballs for dog catcher. I hope they get a super-sized butt-whoopin’ come November, 2008.