More Perfect

Brokeback Families...

2006-01-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

I've heard several comments by conservatives, seemingly unable to directly criticize the love story that exists in the movie Brokeback Mountain, railing about the injustice of how these two men treat their undeserving wives. The pain caused to Michelle William's character (Alma) is unmistakable, and many conservatives point the finger at Heath Ledger's character (Ennis), and by inference, indict the entire gay community for the harm they've caused to the broken families they leave behind.

This, as I read between the lines, is another attempt to demonize the gay community, to blame them for the problems that exist when their relationships fall apart. The criticism isn't without some merit, and therefore, can't easily be dismissed. The irony, however, is that equal criticism should be aimed directly at the conservative community which has worked to demonize and dehumanize gay individuals, making it difficult for them to understand their own sexuality, and ignorantly promoting the idea that if you just act straight, you will be straight.

I have been an aggressive straight ally to the gay community. I have worked hard to change the hearts and minds of those who would deny gay men and women an equal place in this world. I have seen up close, within my own family and among my friends the pain that closeted gay men and women face, the journeys they must take to build new lives, and I've taken up their cause as one of my own.

So, it is with some irony that I am now facing the dissolution of my own marriage, after 13 years, because my wife is now out of the closet as a gay woman. And while the situation presented in the film Brokeback Mountain isn't entirely analogous to my own, I am more keenly aware of the pain experienced by those left behind. It is hell, not only in the ending, but also upon reflection of all of the effort and life spent in an attempt to fix the problems that exist in mixed-orientation marriages. The guilt and anguish I've experienced over the years, the energy I've expended, and the awkward position I was placed in, not aware that the "thing" that was at the core of our difficulties wasn't something I could fix or control, has been overwhelming, devastating.

In recent weeks, as I've shared the news of my divorce with many of my friends, there are those conservatives who can't contain themselves in expressing the injustice that my wife has committed, and implying that, here again, we have evidence of the evil ways of homosexuality; that if only my wife had chosen to remain in the closet, or had just chosen to be straight, none of this pain would have transpired.

To this I can only say bullshit; your sympathies to me ring hollow, and your analysis of the realities of our lives is entirely without merit; don't you dare attempt to prop up your own ideologies on the back of my pain and experience. I blame you, those who oppose gay rights, those who demonize homosexuals, those who fight against the so-called "gay agenda" for the pain and difficulty being faced by me and my family. By working to force and maintain homosexuality as a fringe and closeted issue, you've directly impacted the lives of those of us who marry and fall in love with gay individuals. My anger towards you remains, and though I'll continue to work with you, to be your friend, I will not accept your bigoted positions on these issues. Want to know the source of much of my pain? Look in the mirror.

But, my anger doesn't end there. The gay community does bear some level of responsibility for these issues.

We straight spouses are not merely the forgotten tragedies of the new-found freedoms of freshly out gay men or women. We are human beings, with lives and dreams and hopes of our own. We are broken and devastated by the issues that we face, and while you get to move into your new life, experiencing your new freedom, and exploring a new world complete with a myriad of support groups and specialized networks designed to make your transition easier, there is very little support left for us.

My wife and I recently bumped into a good friend of mine who is gay, and I quickly explained what was occurring in our lives. As we parted, he turned to her and said "congratulations" and then to me said "sorry." And that summed much of this up for me. She wears a badge of honor for facing her issues and coming out to the world. And I'm left to pick up the pieces of the life we were trying to build together.

So, in an effort to channel my pain and anger in a positive direction, I'd like to challenge the gay community to begin to openly and constructively discuss this issue. I've visited several gay-support web sites, and on none of them did I find resources aimed at supporting the left-behind straight spouses. I visited Pflag, the organization specifically for friends and families of gay individuals, and only found scant references in support of the issues faced by the straight spouse. There's an organization called the Straight Spouse Network, but on a quick examination of their site, it seems a bit anemic, under funded, and lacking in resources.

I call for the gay community, now that it has some power, now that it is well established, now that it is mature enough for self-examination, to begin to recognize, to reach out to, and support in real and meaningful ways the lives of those who've given so much, who've suffered alone, and who are left holding the bill for the new-found lives of gay men and women.

Maybe it's time for the gay pride foundations of the world to throw a party for the straight spouses. I want to celebrate your lives, but I want to celebrate my own as well.

Finally, a personal note.

Mary, I love you. I've always loved you, and I've worked hard to support your life, to support your dreams, to build a life that was fulfilling for both of us and for our boys. I am proud of you for the progress you've made and for the steps you are now taking. But it hurts like hell, and I fear being left behind, I fear that my work to support you will be forgotten in the zeal of your new life.

As you move into the world as a gay woman, as you wear the badge of honor and praise that many will bestow upon you, I only ask that you remember and recognize and explicitly acknowledge that you didn't walk this path alone, that in real and important ways, I was there to facilitate much of this journey with and for you.

Religion and Meaning

2005-10-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

As science continues to erode the viable realm of religion, apologists for religion seem to cling to the life-vest of "meaning" as the last stand for the value of religion.

In other words, religionists claim that science is unable to answer the "why's" of an issue (which, I think is a tenuous claim, but which I'll put on hold for now), and that these questions are best left in the hands of religion.

OK. If this is the case, then let's discuss it directly. This posting is meant to solicit responses and ideas.

Can anyone give me some examples of "why" answers that religion does well? If this is the realm in which religion excels, then let's have a listing of those answers it provides.

Anyone?

On Determinism...

2005-10-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

The majority of humans will get caught into basic routines of social expectations; the brave may escape the monotony of scripted existence, the worship of the status quo.

A President In Denial

2005-08-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

In his weekly radio address, President Bush, today, stated the following:

"Like our own nation's founders over two centuries ago, the Iraqis are grappling with difficult issues, such as the role of the federal government," he said. "What is important is that Iraqis are now addressing these issues through debate and discussion -- not at the barrel of a gun."

What?

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

I guess the last 2.5 years of bloody conflict throughout Iraq, the ongoing insurgency, and the almost 150,000 American troops on the ground, most of whom carry guns, don't count as "at the barrel of a gun."

This President is ridiculous, and those who support him are in just as much denial as he is.

The Magdalene Laundries; A Study in Authoritarian Idealist Regimes

2005-08-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

So, I'm late in viewing the movie The Magdalene Sisters. I had a sense of the topic of the film, and I think I just wondered why on earth we needed more films to tell us that authoritarian idealist regimes do bad things?

After viewing the film, I read a review written by Steven D. Greydanus for the web site Decent Films.

Though Mr. Greydanus, an apparent apologist for the Catholic Church, admits to some wrongdoing on the part of the Church and some nuns who were involved in the Magdalene Laundries, he saves his real shot for film director Peter Mullan.

Mullan claims that his film isn't meant to be anti-Catholic, but is meant to expose the victimization of young women by a certain phenomenon in the Church. Nevertheless, he freely acknowledges his animosity toward his Catholic upbringing, and admits that he brought his prejudices and sympathies to this project.

Perhaps he didn't consciously set out to make an anti-Catholic film. D. W. Griffith didn't set out to make a racist film, but it doesn't make Birth of a Nation any less racist.

Whatever value the film might have had as an exposé of social sin is undermined, not enhanced, by its prejudicial stereotyping of every individual nun and priest. Instead of being a morally serious film about a corrupt institution in a flawed society, The Magdalene Sisters becomes mere agitprop about how evil and terrible Irish Catholic nuns, priests, and parents are.

To repeat a theme, human history has taught us that authoritarian idealistic regimes do bad things to people. These regimes are perpetuated by seemingly nice, normal people, who just happen to be participants in the abuse of their fellow humans.

Are there nice priests and nuns in the Catholic Church? I've no doubt that there are. But, in the end, fundamentally, they are working to further the cause of and giving their life's energy to support an authoritarian idealist regime. As such, they are contributing to the devaluation of human rights and individual dignity.

Mr. Greydanus thinks that we should temper our criticism of nuns and priests who imprisoned a slave population of women, punishing them for minor sexual conduct, at times for years, for the mere possibility that some of them may have been conflicted about their role, or may have had other complex motivations for doing what they did.

This is silly. It is hypocritical to simultaneously decry the bad that is done by authoritarian idealist regimes, and then to also demand fair treatment of them. Authoritarian Idealist Regimes (Cathoicism, Mormonism, Communism, etc) afford no fundamental rights to individuals, provide no checks and balances for fair treatment, give too much authority to their leaders, and give too little assistance to adherents. "Just following orders" went out the window centuries ago as a moral justification for bad acts.

Even if you were a nice nun who worked in a Magdalene Laundry, you were still participating in the unjust imprisonment and forced slavery of young, innocent women. It doesn't matter if you consoled a few of the girls along the way; in the end, you were still committing an abhorrent crime against human dignity, and committing a terrible injustice to these very girls.

Shame on you, and shame on any who seek to apologize for organizations that, by their very nature, will continue to commit grievous sins against humanity.

A Restrospective on an Experience

2005-08-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

"Let us lay aside both the guns and the roses of idealism."

I travelled to Venice and Prague this Summer. Both destinations were important to me for different reasons.

While in Prague, I had an experience while touring the Prague Castle and simultaneously listening to my iPod. I've created this short video in an attempt to capture the experience and the thoughts and feelings I had while walking through this city.

Quicktime: Lo-Res (6 mb) | Med-Res (20 mb) | Get Quicktime

[note: these files may take a few moments to load]

Note To Self...if ever "on-the-lam"

2005-08-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

If I'm ever a fugitive from justice, and if I ever use the alias of being an Amway Salesman, I better be ready to play the part. To wit...

In the recent bold escape from prison and life-on-the-lam orchestrated by married couple Jennifer Forsyth Hyatte and George Hyatte, their eventual capture was due a tip given by a cab driver in Columbus, Ohio, who, when asked what tipped him off, stated the following:

Wagers, 33, said he didn't realize he had picked up the fugitives until he was alerted to TV reports later that evening.

He said his suspicions weren't aroused by anything the couple said, except that they didn't try to aggressively recruit him after telling him they were Amway salespeople.

"You know, Amway people are all about Amway, and when they didn't -- when they didn't try any conversation further about it, that's when I pretty much thought, well, they're not with Amway," Wagers said. -- Source: CNN

In my list of "Job's I'd hate to have" I'll now add "Public Relations Executive" for Amway. :-)

Manufacturing Votes in King County?

2004-12-24T01:56:00.000-08:00

As Republicans are trying any and every argument that they can create to help salve their pain of losing the race for Governor, they seem to keep landing on the idea that the big, bad and corrupt King County Elections Division just kept "finding votes," padding the totals, until finally, they had enough to "coronate" Christine Gregoire as Governor.

Listening to this screed all day made me wonder. Did King County add more votes to their final tally than did other counties? If I just accept the wailing from Republicans, I'd be left with the impression that King County must have, by magnitudes, found more votes than any other county.

Well...I decided to run the numbers. And guess what? King County wasn't the lead vote finder. Nor were they second. Or third. Or even fourth, fifth or sixth. Nope. The top six counties to add votes to their final tallies were counties that Dino Rossi won.

King County tied for 7th place in percentage of total votes added to their final tally. Here are the top 10 Counties, listed in order of percentage of votes added to the final tally compared to the original count in each of these counties:

	County	First Count	Third Count	Difference	% Difference
1	Adams	5,055	5,091	36	0.71%
2	Walla Walla	22,563	22,676	113	0.50%
3	Pierce	309,630	310,591	961	0.31%
4	Kittitas	15,922	15,969	47	0.30%
5	Skagit	51,590	51,733	143	0.28%
6	Grant	25,719	25,787	68	0.26%
7	King	874,928	876,452	1,524	0.17%
8	Asotin	8,622	8,637	15	0.17%
9	Franklin	15,812	15,838	26	0.16%
10	Pend Oreille	6,104	6,114	10	0.16%

If the Republicans have evidence of fraud, then let them make their case. But, if they don't, then this not-so-veiled charge of fraud should cease.

King County was not manufacturing votes. The votes that the Republicans are clamoring about were legitimately cast, legal votes. To argue that King County should not have counted them is odd in a democratic election where legal votes are ALL that matters.

Is that what we've come to? In an effort to win at any cost, the Republicans are going to argue that King County shouldn't have counted legal votes?

Shameful.

5 People I'd like to Meet...

2004-12-15T03:32:00.000-08:00

Leonardo da Vinci
da Vinci transcended the normal constraints of the human experience. The ability to talk art, politics, science, religion, sexuality...and all the while, doing it with style. If I could give him a gift, it would be an Apple iPod. Quote: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Herodotus
He was asking all the right questions at a time when most others were looking in entirely different directions regarding life, humanity and nature. The ability to ask the right questions is what makes for interesting conversation, and I think he'd provide that in buckets. Quote: "Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances."

Steve Jobs
This man has so affected my life and shares such a compatible vision of technology and how we interact with it. Mostly, I'd spend much of my time trying to convince him to bring back the Apple Newton. Quote: "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?"

Sade Adu
I can't explain it. But, I'd want her band to be involved as well. I envision a weekend in Monte Carlo, or in Spain. Good food, great music, passion, tears, and heartbreak. Oh, and we'd have to ride horses as well. Quote: "I know the end before the story's been told, it's not that complicated, but you're gonna need a bullet proof soul."

Somerset Maugham
Of Human Bondage is my favorite book. I so identify with Phillip Carey, the lead character, that I think I would likely connect with Somerset Maugham as well. There is a kinship there that I'd like to explore and better understand. And then, I'd like to explore the ideas of human bondage that he wrote about. Quote: "It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it; but the young know they are wretched, for they are full of the truthless ideals which have been instilled into them, and each time they come in contact with the real they are bruised and wounded."

Other candidates: Carl Sagan, Aristotle, Joseph Smith, Frida Kahlo, Anne Rice, Joseph Campbell, D. Michael Quinn, Kurt Cobain, Jeff Buckley, Karl Popper, Low

Eulogy

2004-11-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

While I don't want to romanticize the action, nor does the author, I've never read a better eulogy than this.

Ground Zero

Achingly Beautiful...

2004-11-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

Do you know Low? I do.

Low: Long Division: Shame
MP3 | Amazon

My Articles of Faith

2004-11-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Life's Purpose:

The primary purpose of my life is the pursuit of Joy.

Secondary to that is the pursuit of truth, by which I have faith that I'll be better able to control the environment of my life, affording me greater opportunity to achieve my primary purpose.

My faith:

I have great faith in humanity. In sum, I see the world as a positive place, and am happy that I am a part of it. I believe that humanity is a positive force in this world.

It is my belief that all great human achievements are rooted entirely in the greatness of humankind. I do not look to sources external to humanity to explain or understand its value.

I have faith that humankind will continue to gain increased knowledge relative to the nature of our existence, the nature of nature, and the means by which we will gain increased power over nature to improve our lives. Science is generally the object of this faith.

I have faith in my ability to shape the contours of my life, as well as to contribute to the makeup of the communities of which I am a part.

I have faith in the ability of pluralistic democracies to provide the greatest foundation for the pursuit of joy. My faith is that through continued work and human capital, we can build a more perfect union. To this end, I am faithfully involved in the political process.

I have faith in the equality of humanity, that all should be equal and that all deserve rights which are endowed upon them naturally. All should have equal opportunity to create the shape and contour of their lives.

I don't believe that the ends or goals of humanity are guaranteed; I believe in the real possibility of failure. I believe that we are in a race against time to avoid failure, and this motivates my faith.

My communities:

Individuals preside over communities, which are created to serve the needs of individuals. Though symbiotic, we must never elevate "community" to the ontological status of "individual;" they are fundamentally different things.

My first and most important communal tie is to my wife, Mary, and to my two children, Cien and Aris.

I am a member of the entire human family, whom I consider to be brothers and sisters.

Additional communities of which I am a part: family, friends, neighborhood, City, County, State, and Country.

I identify with the struggles of specific communities, such as the gay-lesbian community. I identify with the struggle for equality waged by women. I identify with the struggle for equality waged by the minority communities.

I don't consider myself detached from the struggles faced by these communities, as I feel that fundamentally, the struggle for equality is a struggle faced by all of us. That my current demographic is at the top of the hill does not mean that it will always be so, and to that end, I work hard to ensure equality for all.

2 Words for 2008

2004-11-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Need motivation to keep working towards the 2008 election? Here are two words that should do it:

Jeb Bush

To America

2004-11-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

I am your son. I have been raised to value and cherish your ideals. I have been raised to fight whenever those ideals are challenged. And this morning, I must draw a line in the sand and give a warning to any who would seek to deny those ideals to me, my family, or my friends.

My brother is gay. He is an American. I will fight to make sure that he is recognized as a full citizen of this country. Any "ideal" that seeks to marginalize his full and unapologetic participation in this country will be met with as much resistance as I can marshal. This is not negotiable.

We will not find common ground so long as your goal is to deny him. If your vision of America does not include my brother, you have set yourself up as an enemy to the ideals of America that I cherish; ideals I learned at your breast.

Looking forward

2004-11-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Four years ago tomorrow, the morning after Al Gore lost, I had a knot in my stomach. Certainly, I was upset by the scenarios surrounding the election. But, to leave my anger there would have been defeatist and would have left me feeling powerless to affect change. I made a commitment, that morning, to engage myself in the political process.

What I forced myself to recognize was not so much that others had "stolen" that election from us, but that WE had failed to adequately sell our vision for America. We had to do better, and therefore, I had to do better.

I went online, found where my democratic legislative district met, and attended the next meeting. The first few were extremely frustrating. The party organization is chaotic. I attended state party meetings. I met whomever I could meet, spoke to any and all who I thought could teach and guide me, and continued to progress in my knowledge of party, state, and federal politics.

Today marks the end of the 3rd official campaign that I've worked on in the past 4 years. I worked for early gubernatorial candidate Phil Talmadge as his Communications Director. Then, in December of 2003, I learned that Mark Sidran was running for Attorney General and felt this was a good fit for him and for the State. I asked to manage his campaign and was given the job.

Mark's campaign was a fierce, long battle. From my position there, I was able to see into the inner-workings of nearly every major political race in our State. I got to know the players, I saw the candidates in all their strength and weakness. I was able to witness the push and pull of the most powerful special interests in our State.

Mark's narrow loss in the September primary was difficult. We had worked hard to narrow the huge gap between Mark and his opponent, Deborah Senn. In the end, however, and for reasons that in many ways were out of our control, we weren't able to close the last 1.3% gap, and Mark lost. It was a bitter defeat.

Following that loss, I was immediately offered the job of managing a city-wide initiative to recall the building of a monorail. This campaign, with only 5 weeks to plan and execute prior to today, was a whirlwind campaign and an uphill battle.

This has been the most difficult and most thrilling period of my life. Personally, I've had many blessings and challenges that have kept me on an emotional roller coaster. Professionally, I've gained valuable experience and moved dramatically forward in my effort to engage myself in the process of building a more perfect union.

So, four years later, where are we now? In many ways, we've barely moved. Our country is still essentially split in much the same way as it was during the 2000 election. As I write this, I don't yet know who has won the presidency; but, either way, the work is only, as always, just beginning.

It is time to commit again, for the next four years. Will you join me?

Aural Fixation

2004-10-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough of the brit group Zero 7. And, this song describes my mood tonight...

Zero 7: Simple Things: Spinning
iTunes

Too Busy Gathering Material...

2004-10-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to explain the lack of posting lately...

As a political consultant, this is my busy season, and I'm focusing all of my energy on the race I'm managing.

After losing a very close and politically interesting primary election by 1.35% (I managed Mark Sidran's bid for State Attorney General--results here), and then being immediately hired to manage a city-wide initiative with only 5 weeks to pull it all together, my mental energy has been tapped.

But, the good news is that I'm gathering lots of ideas for future postings! Check back soon...

What are you industrious about?

2004-09-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

Following a poor August, the Republican Convention in NYC, and some less-than-promising polling numbers this week, I've heard emerging despair from many of my democratic friends. It appears, however unthinkable, that George Bush has a real shot at retaining his presidency. It's now clear that John Kerry is actually going to have to run a campaign to defeat George Bush, who refuses to be shamed into just leaving office with his tail between his legs.

We've got anger in abundance. We've had protests. We've held marches, vigils, and sit-ins. We've worn clever t-shirts, affixed cute bumper stickers, and dutifully supported political documentaries. We've felt good about ourselves, and self-righteous in our indignation. And yet, George Bush remains a viable candidate in the upcoming election. How can this be, after all that we've done?

Here's an idea: perhaps what we have done, what we are doing, is ineffective? One of my favorite quotes comes from Thoreau: "it is not enough to be industrious, so are the ants; what are you industrious about?"

On the morning following the inauguration of George W. Bush into the office of presidency, I made a promise to myself that I would not just let my anger take over, but that I'd actually do something about it. I'd involve myself in the system, and learn how to affect change. I concluded one all-important lesson from the election of 2000: we had done a poor job organizing our support and communicating our message. In short, we got our ass kicked by a better team.

The Presidential election is still 2 months out; we may yet obtain victory. But, in the ensuing 2 months, let us re-evaluate our efforts. Are we just patting ourselves on the back, turning inward to our insular communities of self-support and singing to the choir? Or, are we broadening our message, and learning to communicate with Bush supporters and non-voters and giving them a reason to support John Kerry?

Even if we win, and especially if we lose, there is much work to be done. We need to rebuild the democratic party and message, and learn how to speak to those who see the world through different eyes. We need to focus our energies where they do the most to further our ideals.

It is not enough to be angry; we must be effective. It is not enough to be industrious, we must have purpose.

The Manchurian Village

2004-08-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the remake of the movie The Manchurian Candidate. In general, I don't believe in conspiracy theories. Most rely on a series of events and actions that fall outside of my experience with human nature.

Conspiracy theories have the effect (often unintended) of making us feel powerless to change the world. They seek to convince us that there are forces "out there" inherently stronger than us.

Noam Chomsky is one of the premier purveyors of conspiracy theories (see Manufacturing Consent ). I believe he correctly identifies some of the difficulties in the world (e.g. political and corporate Influences wield too much power over our lives). He asserts that this control is covert and coordinated; classic conspiracy. However, I believe his conclusions as to the causes of this are too simplistic, and overlook human nature.

We tend to look for and protect that which is like us. We tend to view our actions as "good" and the actions of others as "bad." While the "effects" of certain conspiracies are valid, I believe the causes to them are more organic than the coordinated efforts that various conspiracy theories posit.

Why is this important? Because it causes us to be distracted from the real sources of problems facing humanity. It causes us to look outward rather than inward, and it causes us to despair relative to our ability to change the world.

There was another movie released this Summer that more accurately addresses the nature of conspiracies: The Village. It starts with a traditional conspiracy of monsters and creatures; evil beings who are "out there" and who want to harm us. The movie progresses, however, to show us that the source of the evil was internal to the community, not external.

Be not distracted. We have the power to shape our lives, to change our communities, and to improve our world. Don't cede that power to those who would convince you otherwise, including yourself.

A Swift Kick to Free Speech

2004-08-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

President Bush is now requesting that all 527s cease their activity, rather than specifically requesting that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth cease their ads. This request misses the mark by a wide margin; he's now attacking a foundational principal rather than attacking specific instances of indecency.

In the end, I support the concept of 527s because to do otherwise would be to ignore the foundational principal of free speech. We are free to make a determination as to when speech crosses a line, and then condemn or cease to participate in specific instances of speech.

By choosing to not condemn the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's ads, and instead focusing on killing all 527 activity, Pres. Bush is asking for a cessation of all speech, rather than specifically condemning those instances of speech that cross a line of decency.

Seemingly unable to navigate the nuances of a difficult issue, the Bush administration would rather take blunt, bright line positions. This, however, is difficult to do in a free society; I expect the leader of the free world to be able to distinguish the difference.

Feeding the Beast

2004-08-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've long considered myself a capitalist. By which I've meant that I support our system of economic production and distribution which is privately owned and driven by free markets. The success of capitalism seems evident.

And yet, as I've gained more real-world experience living and making a living in a capitalist society, I've begun to moderate my view a bit.

When I was younger, I was a proponent of libertarian or "hands-off" views relative to markets. I was convinced that a free, unregulated market would regulate itself. My viewpoint has changed.

Though still a proponent of capitalism, I now believe that unregulated or even under-regulated capitalism will grow into a beast that we must feed, rather than a beast that feeds us.

A Swift Veer Off Message

2004-08-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

With the emergence of 527 groups, which were born out of the attempts to better regulate campaign contributions, I'm not sure we've really taken a step forward in making our elections more fair or voters better informed. These groups will likely become the bogeymen of political consultant's worst nightmares.

Often, a campaign's biggest problems are not its opposition, but overzealous and politically naive supporters. This was certainly true when I ran the two medical marijuana initiatives in the late 1990's in Washington State; single-issue activists on any given issue rarely understand the nuances of running a campaign.

That's why I'm relatively confident that the Bush campaign didn't coordinate the Swift boat Veteran's For Truth campaign that is taking shots at Kerry's military record. For the past week, this has been THE hot news story, and I think will ultimately prove to be a losing issue for the right and for Bush's reelection. The Bush team is riding it out now, getting any benefit they think they can get; but the moment that polling tells them that this issue is backfiring (and it will), they will take distinct steps to distance themselves from it. They will need to regain control of the "message" of the campaign.

And, that is the problem with 527s. Their advocacy will frequently not be tempered by big-picture judgement; they exist to forward a single-issue agenda, but don't have an overall view of the broad issues that need to be managed in a political campaign. And, with their ability to raise and spend unlimited funds, they can easily overshadow the "official" messaging of a given political campaign. As I say, it's going to be a nightmare for political consultants.

Now...regarding the actual content of the Swift boat Veteran's For Truth ads; I find this tactic distasteful and unjustifiable. The defense of this "inquiry" by some on the right is that John Kerry invited this scrutiny by making his military service central to his campaign. Sure; but that doesn't mean that any question or any inquiry is in good taste. The analogy that comes to mind would be like probing the sexual history of Laura Bush, and then claiming "well, Pres. Bush made this an open issue because he included her in his political campaign." This crosses the line of decency, and simply hiding behind the "527" is not good enough.

But, I am confident that independent voters will see this for what it is, and ultimately, this will become a net-positive for John Kerry.

Check Box Voting...Contextual Voting

2004-08-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

How should we decide where to spend our votes?

My work in political consulting has given me an inside view of electoral politics. On behalf of my current client, I've spent the year making pitches to various special-interest groups, often with radically differing views of what they want government to do. These groups tend to make long lists of specific requirements for candidates to meet in order to gain their support.

At a recent democratic legislative district meeting, a woman suggested a "no endorsement" for the district's very democratic incumbent State Representative. "He's never supported our platform 100%," she argued.

Elected politicians operate independently of the local organized party and platforms. Should this State Representative align his legislative positions on the platform of his legislative, county, or state party?

Party platforms, like the platforms of most special-interest groups, are created in a vacuum. They are elaborate sketchings of a ship that will never float. These groups spend hours drawing their plans with one key factor missing: opposition.

Drafting a platform without an understanding of opposition is like designing a ship without considering the properties of water. If you never have to test your theories, then the specifics of your design are meaningless.

Elected officials operate in the real world of politics. They have to present legislation and ideas that can "float" in the face of radically opposite ideologies.

Many of us follow the pattern of special-interest groups; we create check boxes of our issues, and support politicians who align with them as closely as possible.

Is this the most productive way to spend our vote? To see the results of this thinking, we can hold up the candidacy of Ralph Nader in the 2000 election; many who voted for Nader did so out of a sense of duty to their own convictions. And yet, the direct result of their actions was to move the country further away from their ideals.

The ship of state is a large vessel, and turning that ship takes coordinated and patient effort. The Naderites expected the ship to make an immediate 90 degree turn to the left; in their zeal, they failed to realize that ships and politics don't work that way.

If the ship of state is pointed even 1 degree in the wrong direction, over a period of time, the results can be dramatic, taking us miles off course. Rather than seeking to radically alter the course of the ship, we should first work to ensure that it is pointed at least 1 degree in the right direction. Over time, that 1 degree will take us towards our desired destination. Steer the ship 1 degree in the wrong direction, and we will soon be miles away from our goal.

In place of check box voting, I use something I call contextual voting. I weigh the pulse of the country, the strength of the opposition, and then I look to see which of my ideals has opportunity to move forward at this time. I give my vote to candidates who can effectively keep the ship of state headed in the right direction, even if only in small degrees. My ideology has to be tempered by the context in which my vote is being cast; to ignore that context is to waste valuable time and effort.

I have strongly held beliefs and ideals. I wish that many things in our society operated differently. But, I also realize that steering the ship of state is a coordinated effort, with many hands at the wheel. This requires me to emphasize some of my ideals while being patient on others.

Contextual voting gives me hope by forcing me to take a long-term view; when I get caught in check box voting, I am left with despair because my specific platform hasn't gained attention or support.

Passionate Agnosticism

2004-08-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

When asked about my beliefs in God, I describe myself not only as an agnostic, but as a passionate agnostic. Many chuckle when I say this, thinking it an oxymoron. I of course, passionately disagree! ;-)

Claimed knowledge should be justified. If we don't have adequate data to justify a claimed belief, we harm ourselves and our community relative to understanding and furthering our knowledge on that given topic.

I guard my claims of justified knowledge. Relative to the God defined by the religion of my youth, or the God of the religions of my friends, I have found little to support claimed knowledge.

By capitulating on questions of knowledge, by claiming knowledge before we can justify such claims, we do injury to our ability to continue on in the search, unimpeded by falsehoods.

See? I'm justifiably passionate in my agnosticism. :-)

A place for musings...

2004-08-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

I hope you'll join me in building a More Perfect Union.

I've spent many years in online communities, trying to better understand life. In much of this online activity, I've been sharing my energy and ideas with individuals who see the world in radically different ways than I do; I get bored talking in circles where people all agree. But, recently, I've come to a clearer understanding of how I might best share my thoughts with others, and help to make the world a better place for all to live.

Many communities, and most religions, are focused on building THEIR ideal community, and either expect assimilation or extermination of ideas and individuals that differ from their view of the world. Usually, these communities seek to harness the power of the masses to serve the will and desires of the few.

The grand experiment of the United States and other democracies is to build communities that can be sustained with a plurality of beliefs and lifestyles. It has been a resounding success.

And yet, strong forces remain who would seek to destroy plurality. This is my little corner of the world to both promote plurality towards a more perfect and sustainable union, and to call out those forces who would seek to deny plurality and homogenize communities.

I've long ago learned that the discussion of these things can't easily be separated from the other elements of our lives, whether love, loss, art, career, family, friends...all of these are affected by and have intersection with the fundamental foundations of our communities, our beliefs, our hope and our fears. So, as a result, I'll talk some about these things as well.