Technology: Too far?

I was rather shocked by reading a BBC news article today entitled, “Machines to ‘match man by 2029.” I was thinking along the lines of AI or iRobot, but this goes far beyond. Some of the world’s leading scientists are predicting a coming together of humans and nanotechnology in the next 20 years or so to the point that this artificially intelligent nanobots will be introduced to our body in order to cure sicknesses and more.

“Humans and machines would eventually merge, by means of devices embedded in people’s bodies to keep them healthy and improve their intelligence, predicted Mr Kurzweil,” the knowledgeable engineer in the study. “”We’ll have intelligent nanobots go into our brains through the capillaries and interact directly with our biological neurons,” he told BBC News.”

Now, I’m all about the advancement of science to better humanity – but when do we hit that line we shouldn’t cross?

This is not a new argument. A Times article from 2003, for instance, revealed, “In ”Engines of Creation” (1986), Dr. Drexler proposed his idea of ”molecular assemblers,” nanobots that would be able to build almost anything, including copies of themselves. Swarms of nanobots may one day be able to perform tasks like breaking down pollutants into harmless molecules or repairing damage in individual cells, perhaps even reversing the effects of aging.”

I’m all for breaking down pollutants, but just how can a robot reverse wrinkle lines and cellulite deposits? I remain skeptical, especially at the thought of putting a nanometer sized bot into my capillaries to enter my brain. The idea of “swarms” of these man-made intellectuals also brings to mine that Will Smith classic (note: sarcasm) and the demise humanity would have suffered but for Smith at the hands of replicating, angry robots.

It will be interesting to follow this story as it develops over the next two decades, give or take. My question to scientists and the population as a whole is, who is going to volunteer to have the first bot implanted in their brain, not knowing what kind of results will happen? It ain’t gonna be me!

Hillary Holds On…Losing Women Daily

The Obama campaign has been on a solid run for a nomination ever since Super Tuesday hit last week, causing Clinton to rethink her tactics for the remainder of the primaries. With a solid sweep last night in Maryland, Virginia and D.C., Barack and his team are gearing up for Ohio and Texas, the make-it or break-it states for Hillary right now. Once confident in her female supporters carrying her through, Obama is stealing this section of voters from under Clinton’s feet. The reason? Judging from exit polls, many women see Hillary’s marriage as an indicator of the candidate’s lack of self-respect and means to gain power – not to necessarily change the nation for the better.

On Bill Mauer’s talk show this past week, the liberal political comedian went out to talk to voters after they casted their ballots. One of the women he interviewed had bad news for Hillary: She didn’t vote for her because Clinton stuck by her husband when he was publicly unfaithful to her. Instead of seeing Hillary as one half of an American power couple with a claim on the White House, many constituents view this history as a drawback to Clinton’s entire platform and campaign; she obviously stayed with him not out of love, but out of commitment and a desire to continue on her own road to the White House.

As the potential first woman to become an American president, such a back-story is not what many American women want representing them in the highest office in the nation.

Of course it’s exciting for the females in the country to so much as have a viable woman in the running for the position, but what would electing a woman who has been publicly cheated on and humiliated say about America as a whole, let alone the so-called ‘fairer sex’ she is part of?

Although the whole race v. gender debate is a topic I rarely if ever consider when looking at the top Democratic candidates, now that Clinton’s history is becoming a problem for her side, I see more potential for a Black president before a woman walking up those pearl white steps. This, however, is not based on either race or gender, but based on the two candidates the Dems have to choose from.

Now that Obama is really gaining momentum, Clinton’s tactics have taken a turn for the dirty. Just recently Clinton ads have been popping up on television sets all over Wisconsin with a negative message against Obama. The mudslinging the Republicans were playing just a couple of months ago has been picked up by Hillary now that she’s feeling threatened. As an American who privileges clean politics in which candidates present their stances on the issues and allow the people of the nation to decide who is best suited to govern, these ads put one more nail in the Clinton coffin as far as I’m concerned. Stick to your politics, Hillary! Obama is and is proving himself to have a much better character in the process. With the lack thereof that has been in the White House for the past 8 years (and, hey, probably much longer than that), the Illinois Senator is a breath of fresh air in a climate that stinks of corruption and lies.

Skewing Ourselves Sick

There are two phenomenas happening in the United States currently, both as dangerous as the other while opposing each other on the proverbial spectrum of weight. The obese are getting bigger and the waifs are getting smaller. What is going on in our media and consumer culture to promote such mirrored results?

In an article in the New York Times today, “The Vanishing Point” reveals the newest fashion trend to be the super-skinny male. It seems that since various campaigns have been launched as of late against the detrimental effects of the female fashion industry and their promotion of eating disorders and the like, the male side of fashion has come to the forefront to take its place. “Where the masculine ideal of as recently as 2000 was a buff 6-footer with six-pack abs, the man of the moment is an urchin, a wraith or an underfed runt,” writes Guy Trebay.

This comes at a time when female models are being checked at shows worldwide for possible nutritional deficiencies, like in Spain a year or so ago when models had to be chosen with a health body mass index, or in Italy when physicians were available at casting calls. Within the last couple of years there has been an outcry from the female majority that the models we were bombarded with on a daily basis were not a reflection of the population and being presented as such was forcing young girls and women to develop diseases like anorexia or bulimia, or simply into deleterious body images of themselves.

Not too long ago, two models in South America died from eating disorders that manifested themselves because of these women’s careers. A closer look into the fashion industry reveals other harmful means to keep weight down and off, including Vicodin and Clenbuterol (both appetite suppressors), as well as chain-smoking habits (with the nicotine providing appetite suppressants).

Although plus size models can be found more often now than ever before, the images perpetuated by television, movies and magazines are still almost solely the tiny, skinny, emaciated models that achieve their body shape almost solely through unhealthy means. And now it appears that male models have taken up similar methods to appear the same.

Now I, for one, never really understood the fashion industry. The short clips of runway shows I’ve caught while skimming channels on a boring Wednesday night have revealed to me outrageous garments nobody would dare wear in public, let alone a raucous costume party. Who’s buying these clothes anyway? Certainly not the American majority who, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are taller and very much so heavier than 40 years ago. The clothing fashionistas are proclaiming to be the current “rave” will not fit most of us; if they do, they most likely will not look all that flattering. Hasn’t the time come to present clothing people will actually buy and wear? People who are not the small minority of rich and famous?

I find this all interesting on a sociological level, especially after catching an episode of Queer Eye’s Carson Kressley’s new show, “How to Look Good Naked.” Kressley takes women who have very poor body images and helps them realize their assets. One means of doing this is by taking semi-nude photos of the women and displaying them on a billboard for the public to see and rate. Kressley then asks men and women on the street to tell him what they think of the naked women before them. In the episode I saw where I woman with a beautiful hour-glass figure as displayed, almost every bystander remarked on her figure, most men saying they preferred a little meat on their women. If this is so, why are America’s models stick-thin? If the male/female fantasy is not to go to bed with skin and bones, why are we portraying that as the image to aspire to?

I think it’s time for our media to depict men and women in a realistic way. Maybe then the self-esteem problems and eating disorders of the newest generation can be averted.

Obama Takes the Cake

Clinton may have won more delegates, but who won more states on Super Tuesday? Barack Obama, booyah! And, actually, it turns out the first figures of the day might have miscalculated Clinton’s delegates entirely. Politico.com announced that 908 had been pinned down for Obama, 884 for Clinton.

I’ve officially become a full-fledged Obama supporter as of late for a variety of reasons. One of the most important of those reasons is the power I see in this candidate to truly unite this country. He is the only one campaigning not only to his own party, but to Independents, Greens and Republicans. He is attempting to move this country away from bipartisan politics which, let’s face it, are pitting American against American in a struggle that benefits no one. He is speaking to the nation about becoming the change we have wanted for years, and acting upon that desire. He has inspired a whole new generation of voters to come out to the polls, and reignited the fire in older generations, previously apathetic about the state of the country. He’s got the face. He’s got the voice. He’s got the drive. He’s got the passion.

With Obama, YES. WE. CAN.

Sure, many claim his lack of experience poses a detriment to his campaign, but I see it as a valuable asset. Obama has not been bogged down in all of the crap of Washington politics that Clinton and McCain have been part of for so long. He represents a fresh perspective on how this nation ought to be run and, judging by the last 8 years, a new view is desperately needed at this point in time.

Perhaps it’s naive or idealistic of me, but I just do not see an argument against Obama based on his race, background or religion. Just the same as Clinton’s gender, these aspects do not make the slightest difference in my mind in how I should go about voting. I commend those of my fellow Americans who, like me, went into the voting booths color and gender blind, making our decisions based on stance, issue and policy. When it comes down to the President of the United States, who cares what he/she looks like as long as the right decisions are being made for all constituents? It boggles my mind that some people take these superficial traits so seriously.

That being said, I would like to speak on behalf of Women for Obama who have been taking some flack as of late from female supporters of Hillary Clinton, claiming that we are basically traitors to our gender for not backing a candidate so long in the making. Instead of emphasizing once more how superficial a reason it would be to vote for Clinton just because she’s the first woman ever to appear in a presidential ballot, I will espouse the actual reasons I, for one, did not fill in her circle at the bottom of my ballot yesterday. Clinton has been wishy-washy on a number of issues, most visibly the question of staying or pulling out of Iraq. Similar to John Kerry four years ago, I worry that Clinton is giving lip-service to America, promising changes that she will never make good on if she is elected.

Should I even mention McCain and the plethora of reasons that electing him as our next president would be akin to suicide? What can you say about a candidate who focuses almost solely on the invisible threat of Islamic fundamentalism, leaving the most important issue of today – our economy – on the back burner? I respect his military background and his experience as a POW to be sure, but that does not qualify him to run our country. McCain is a smug little man with a vitriolic temper and lax policy ideas that just spell danger ahead. It’s almost certain he will become the GOP nominee come November, but no matter which Dem is running against him, anyone is better than the self-proclaimed war hero.

Civil Rights Celebration

Today commemorates the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the inspiring, peaceful man whose life was committed to social and civil change. It’s a day most schools and offices take off to celebrate, even though most do not think of the opportunity to stay home to be in remembrance of a great leader – the day could be in commemoration of just about anything as long as we can stay home. But King was a unique, strong and courageous individual whom we all can learn from in our own times of civil unrest. The idea of nonviolent revolution is essential to change on all fronts.

But who taught King how to be nonviolent and successful? Who was behind King and the protests? King wasn’t alone. Indeed, he had much help and many supporters. If he didn’t, no change would have occurred. Black Americans would still be disenfranchised and segregated. On this day I believe it to be important to not only acknowledge King, but at least one other man whom King depended: Bayard Rustin.

Rustin can be thought of as King’s right-hand man. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington as well as the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott. He debated Malcolm X about nonviolence, learning such a technique from followers of Gandhi. He turned around and taught King everything he knew. He is, and should be, considered an architect of the civil rights movement. Have you heard of him? Me neither. If he was so important to King’s movement, there must be a reason for his historical invisibility, right? There was.

Bayard Rustin was gay.

Rustin was seen as being unashamed of his sexuality, even in the incredibly homophobic climate of 1940s America. According to 365gay.com, “[Rustin's] comfort with his gayness ended in 1953 in Padadena, Calif., when he was caught by the police in the backseat of a car with two other men.” After his conviction for the crime of “sexual perversion,” Rustin was forced to tone himself down in the public realm. His charge became a tool King’s opponents, like Senator Strom Thurmond, would use against both King and Rustin, linking the civil rights movement with sexual and moral deviation.

Unfortunately, this 1953 incident would not fizzle out quietly, but would haunt King’s campaign until the end. “Though they were later reconciled, Rustin’s strongest falling out with King…came when Sen. Adam Clayton Powell threatened that he would accuse King and Rustin of having a sexual affair,” according to 365gay.com. Such a lofty allegation not only proves how virile the label of homosexual was 50 some-odd years ago, but it also attests to just how close Rustin and King were; the two were no doubt linked for their mutual campaign against segregation, and were probably seen together often in public. I, for one, cannot understand how Rustin has been kept a secret from the American public for so long.

Even after rights were secured for the Black population, Rustin continued his activism, serving such groups as the Soviet Jews and Israel, refugees and, to be sure, the gay and lesbian rights movement until his death in 1987. In one famous quote as reported by 365gay.com, Rustin said, “Indeed, if you want to know whether today people believe in democracy, if you want to know whether they are true democrats, if you want to know whether they are human rights activists, the question to ask is, ‘What about gay people?’ Because that is now the litmus paper by which this democracy is to be judged.” Powerful words for the gay community, no doubt.

Is this true? Has the black movement become today’s gay movement? In many ways, this is definitely true. We don’t have the right to marry or adopt in the majority of America. We are the victims of hate crimes and discrimination. But we’ve never been denied the right to vote. We’ve never been enslaved. We we’ve never been segregated from heterosexuals. The similarities are there, but it is by no means a complete parallel. Nevertheless, the LGBT community can be seen as the modern Black community politically – we are an underrepresented minority group whom the presidential candidates either attempt to ignore, attempt to legislate against, or attempt to help. I wonder what Rustin would say now, 21 years after passing, if he saw the state of both blacks and gays in the United States today…

Great men and women have too often been erased from the history books for being minorities or deviants in some way or another. It is about time we rewrite history to include them. That is why today, January 21, 2008, I commend Bayard Rustin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s friend and adviser, for his selfless, important role in the black civil rights movement. May he never be forgotten again.

Why Forfeit When You Can Fight?

We are all blatantly aware of the Writers Strike by now, what with shows either in reruns, off the air, or being written by late-night talk show hosts themselves; not to mention the new rush of “reality shows” to fill time-slot gaps in the TV line-up. It seems to me as if the screenwriters of America have succeeded in accomplishing a feat that my generation has never seen or participated in: a revolution in order to let the people be heard. Sure, one might argue that this group does not represent the blue-collared workers of America; those of us who are not making anywhere close to the millions these writers rake in year after year. But, they are teaching us something nonetheless: when you have a goal and organize around said shared goal, changes can happen.

If you haven’t guessed already, I am really talking politics here. I am sick and tired of the apathy this country is breeding among its citizens. Our government relishes in our lack of caring, taking advantage of us because we are too silent, lazy and fearful to take back the rights promised us by our Constitution. I think the screenwriters are proving an important point in the months they have already taken out of their lives to protest for what is due to them. Their actions (or inactions) should be taken to heart by the slews of other groups not being given enough pay, enough vacation, enough mother and father leave for pregnancy, enough benefits; those squeaking by on a paltry minimum wage, on welfare; those working under the auspices of harassment and hate crimes…why not organize? Why not take a stand and demand that our rights must be acknowledged? There is no better time than now!

First off, the United States of America was founded on the ideals of a democracy, by the people for the people. It seems to me that this nation is far removed from those hopes set down by our Founding Fathers. The people have not had control in a very long time and it is beyond the appropriate hour to take it back. Heck, you can see the presidential candidates (at least the Democrats) speaking to that affect, especially Obama and Clinton. Even Edwards – though he is basically out of the race at this point – addressed this in an advertisement aired before the Iowa caucuses; “The moral test of our generation is whether we’re going to allow this broken system to go on without a fight or take on corporate greed and stand up for the middle class and American jobs before it’s too late,” he says. “Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that’s a fight I was born for.” All three Dems want to bring the government back to those it is meant to serve: US.

The turn-out at the voting booths where primaries and caucuses have happened so far is definitely heartening, most news channels reporting that they have not seen so many voters come out for years. I am not counting my own state of Connecticut here considering that last week a poll showed that almost half the state would not be voting in the primary on February 5. Shame on you, CT! But, even while voting is an inalienable right that every eligible American can and should take advantage of, sometimes it takes a little more to gain the visibility needed to make positive changes.

What the Writers Strike has proven to me is that a small group of like-minded individuals can make things happen, and fast. If more industries do the same, depriving the nation of a needed product or service for a month or so, heads will turn and voices will be heard. Why don’t we take to the streets with picket signs more often is my question?

Well, to play devil’s advocate, most of us cannot afford to make that sacrifice in the hopes that more money will be coming at us in the long run. No, since most Americans are struggling to make ends meet and pay the bills, very few have the luxury of taking time off to be political. It’s a heinous Catch-22 situation if you ask me.

When we look back on the economy as it has been in the recent past one factor becomes clear: Democratic administrations tend to keep us in the black as opposed to the Republicans. In an article from The New York Times in 2007, Matt Bai wrote, “From Franklin Roosevelt to Bill Clinton, Democrats have succeeded in helping the most vulnerable American families when they’ve built the broadest possible economic constituency for their reforms. Most Americans describe themselves as middle class, and with good reason; their daily economic decisions may not be life-or-death, but they’re not easy, either.” I don’t know about you, but looking back at such history makes my fight to get a Dem into office all the more important.

Speaking of which, despite the fact that I came out as a Clinton supporter last week, I have to backstep a bit to sit on the fence once more. I am so very torn. I will hear inspirational words from Clinton, only to be one-upped by an even more hopeful Obama message the next day. Truth be told, I’d love either of them to be my president. I think both want the best for this nation and will do their very best to reverse the path Bush has taken us down for the past 7 years or so. But, when it comes to the primaries, I’m still lost. The Obama/Clinton debate continues…

Hill Kills in the North

I think my vote for the primary has just been cemented. Watching Hillary Clinton’s victory speech after securing the New Hampshire primary gave me chills of inspiration. I really believe Clinton has the experience, the passion and the ability to make great changes in this country – and the fact that she’s a woman is just another feather in her proverbial cap.

What’s not to like? Sure, she can be somewhat cold at times, but do you consider Bush to be warm? Not me. I consider Bush to be a smug little rat who spouts lies. In comparison, Clinton is my personal Virgin Mary (and I ain’t no Christian). I think New Hampshire’s experience has changed her for the better though. She seems much warmer and more likable to me, and even though she beat Obama by a mere 3%, everything she accomplished in that northern state was enough to get me to jump off my fence onto her side. I am very excited moving forward to put some real energy into her campaign.

Honestly, no matter who you support, this election is of utmost importance to this country’s future. All I ask is that you do not succumb to the apathy that has permeated this nation for so long. It’s time for every single citizen to participate in this supposedly democratic government. If you haven’t registered to vote yet, DO. Yes, even if you’re a Republican. Voting is our privilege as Americans.

And I also feel like Clinton is the voice of the people. Specifically in her speech last night, she really drove the point home that this country is all of ours, not just the wealthy individuals who are currently wielding all the power. She wants to put that power back into the hands of US, the PEOPLE. Sounds good to me, don’t you think so too?

A lot has been written in regards to Clinton’s somewhat teary admission of her need to change this country for the better, many critics talking about her acting like a “woman” and not portraying a strong president. However, many citizens in New Hampshire and elsewhere are taking Clinton’s heartfelt speech as a glimpse into who Clinton truly is as opposed to the stoic politician she has portrayed up until now. She is speaking more as a strong female candidate than a woman in man’s clothing now, and I think that is going to sway a lot of voters to her side. Of course it has the potential to dissuade others, but I think the former will outvote the latter.

For me personally, New Hampshire has shown me a woman I can relate to; a woman I could see myself in 40 years down the road. I saw someone I could stand behind and someone who could lead this country better than anyone else on the ballot.

Unlike other candidates like McCain who are constantly flanked by spouses and siblings during almost every speech, Clinton chose to go it alone yesterday. Some might think nothing of it at all. I felt like it was very appropriate as the Senator spoke about politics not being a game, which is what having a family behind you every step of the way is, in my opinion. She thanked Bill and Chelsea for their support, but they were not on the podium with her because, when it comes down to it, we are not voting for the Clinton family, but for Hillary Clinton herself. All of the rest is just a distraction which Clinton removed for us all last night. Standing alone, she appeared stronger than she has to date.

No doubt the next few states with primaries and caucuses coming up will be very telling for the future of the candidates, but I think New Hampshire was a terrific and much needed jump-start for the Clinton campaign. She’s on the up-and-up and it’s time for supporters to jump on board her presidential campaign.

Radical Rant Regarding the Runners

I am sorry but did you watch the debates this past Saturday night? I sat in front of my television from start to finish and the most blatant observation I had was the vast discrepancy between the Republican style of debate and that of the Democrats. All I have to question the Repubs is this: Are we 5 years old? I have never seen more mudslinging, name-calling and general distaste among party candidates in, well, never! I am actually quite surprised that John McCain seems to be doing fairly well in the polls at the moment considering his smug demeanor and biting tongue on Saturday. Are Americans not seeing what I’m seeing?

Meanwhile, the Dems were extremely polite in comparison, but for a quip from Edwards in regard to Clinton’s attire, and Obama weighing in on the New York Senator’s like-ability. For the most part, they did not attempt to interrupt one another, nor speak for each other in terms of policies, history and current stances. It was easy to see that the top 3 Democratic nominees were all basically on the same boat with what they hope to see happen in America come next January.

I would really love it for a Republican to answer me this: How can you possibly want to vote for any of the possible candidates in your party for the next election? Honestly, they are all despicable in one way or another and I see putting the country into any of their hands as akin to suicide. Regardless of whether the past 8 years of Republican reign in that big house of white has irked you as much as myself and fellow liberals, don’t you think it is time for a change? Don’t you want more money to be put into our failing economy instead of being sent overseas to fund a morally bankrupt war? Don’t you want better, easier and more affordable access to health care? Don’t you want a President that you are proud of? Don’t you want to be able to go abroad and proclaim you are an American instead of hiding behind a false Canadian identity (hey it happens more often than you think!)?

I know I do.

I want all of those things.

At this point I don’t even think it’s about political parties because, to be honest, Republicans and Democrats have been crossing political lines with their stances on the issues for some time now. No, it comes down to the state of the nation and who will be the best person to change that state because, let’s face it, it needs some changes. Badly. And, when all is said and done, I find it implausible and, frankly, impossible for any of the current Republican nominees to do so. For me the options have truly narrowed down to two: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

As of this afternoon it looks like Obama is on his way to securing the New Hampshire primary for himself, although nothing is for sure until the polls close. Despite Clinton’s emotion and sincerity at a NH coffee shop yesterday, it seems as though the first female presidential candidate has a lot more work ahead of her to beat the well-spoken, handsome campaign for hope that is Obama.

What do you think is more important? Experience or Change? Can you have both, or does one preclude the other? All I know is that change is what is needed and all of the Dems seem to acknowledge and want this as well. No matter which gets the official nomination, I think a Democrat is our best bet for a positive future – at least for the next four years.

Eyes on the Dems

It’s official: Barack Obama has won the Iowa Caucuses for the Democrats. Good for Obama! I’m excited for him, and yet, I am still undecided about my own vote when the primaries hit Connecticut in February. This being the case, I have gone through the most important issues in my mind as they are viewed by the top 3 leading candidates for the left: Edwards, Obama and Clinton. So, here we go…

Top 3 Democratic Candidates on the Issues

HEALTH CARE

John Edwards

• Make insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs
• Require businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance
• Create regional Health Care Markets purchasing pools to give every American the bargaining power to purchase an affordable, high-quality health plan, increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance
• Once these steps have been taken, require all American residents to get insurance
• Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price
• Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices
• Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers

Barack Obama

• Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All
• National Health Insurance Exchange
• Employer Contribution
• Mandatory Coverage of Children
• Expansion Of Medicaid and SCHIP
• Flexibility for State Plans
• Lower Costs by Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System
• Lowering Costs by Increasing Competition in the Insurance and Drug Markets
• Advance the Biomedical Research Field
• Fight AIDS Worldwide
• Support Americans with Disabilities
• Improve Mental Health Care
• Protect Our Children from Lead Poisoning
• Reduce Risks of Mercury Pollution
• Support Americans with Autism

Hillary Clinton

• Offer and Ensure Quality Coverage Choices for All
• The Same Choice of Health Plan Options that Members of Congress Receive
• Lower Premiums and Increase Security
• End to Unfair Health Insurance Discrimination
• Promote Shared Responsibility between Insurance and Drug Companies, Individuals, Providers, Employers, and the Government
• Tax Relief to Ensure Affordability
• Limit Premium Payments to a Percentage of Income
• Create a New Small Business Tax Credit
• Strengthen Medicaid and CHIP
• Launch a Retiree Health Legacy Initiative

HIV/AIDS

John Edwards

· Guaranteeing health insurance for every American – including HIV/AIDS patients — the care they need when they need it and expanding Medicaid to cover HIV-positive individuals before they reach later stages of disabilities and AIDS

· Fighting the disease in the African American and Latino communities, where the harm is now greatest

· Calling for universal access to HIV/AIDS medicine across the world, investing $50 billion over five years to meet that goal

· Changing the policies that protect big drug companies, at the expense of people dying of HIV/AIDS in developing countries

Barack Obama

• More money – an additional $1 billion a year to the fight here and abroad
• Need for Realism
• Abstinence & Fidelity as Ideal, but Not Reality
• Removing the Stigma of HIV/AIDS Testing
• Reauthorizing Bush Effort in 2008
• Reassess What’s Worked and What Hasn’t

Hillary Clinton

• Double Research Funding & Support Evidence-Based Prevention Programs
• Providing $50 billion or more over 5 years to combat HIV/AIDS globally by 2013
• Developing and Implementing a Comprehensive National AIDS Strategy
• Guaranteeing Health Insurance for Individuals Living with HIV/AIDS
• Doubling the U.S. Contribution Towards Researching a Vaccine for HIV/AIDS and Increasing Commitments to Research
• Ensuring Access to Care for All Americans Living with HIV
• Increasing Funding for Evidence-Based HIV/AIDS Prevention
• Improving Opportunities for Substance Abuse Treatment
• Providing Housing Opportunities and Supportive Services for People with AIDS
• Increasing Funding for the Ryan White CARE Act
• Halting and Reversing the Burden of AIDS Among African-Americans and Latinos
• Ensuring Universal Access to Treatment and Care
• Committing to Access to Medications for All
• Expanding Prevention Efforts and Targeted Outreach
• Championing Universal Basic Education as a “Social Vaccine” to Combat HIV/AIDS
• Increasing Flexibility and Improving Accountability in Use of HIV/AIDS Funds
• Addressing the Disproportionate Impact of HIV Among Women
• Helping Children Gain Access to Treatment and Care

IRAQ

John Edwards

• Stop the Escalation and Immediately Start the Drawdown
• Require Troops to be Ready
• Clarify the Lack of Legal Foundation for the War
• Withdraw Combat Troops within Nine to Ten Months
• Take Additional Steps to Stabilize Iraq

Barack Obama

• Bringing Our Troops Home in 16 months
• Press Iraq’s Leaders to Reconcile
• Regional Diplomacy
• Humanitarian Initiative

Hillary Clinton

• Starting Phased Redeployment
• Securing Stability in Iraq While Bringing Troops Home
• Intensive Diplomatic Initiative: Non-interference, Mediation, Reconstruction Funding

IRAN

 

John Edwards

• Uniting the International Community
• Directly Engaging Iran
• Marginalizing Extremists
• Leverage through Increased Pressure
• Encouragement through Incentives
• Direct Negotiations with China and Russia

Barack Obama

• Tough, direct presidential diplomacy without preconditions
• Incentives for abandoning nuclear programs
• Economic pressure and political isolation

Hillary Clinton

• Diplomacy
• Economic Pressure
• Sanction

MILITARY

 

John Edwards

·        Build the military we need to meet the mission we have defined

·        Double the budget for recruiting and raise the standards for the recruiting pool

·        Invest in maintenance of our equipment for the safety of our troops

·        Create a Marshall Corps of up to 10,000 professionals

·        Provide both our soldiers and civilians with improved language skills and cultural understanding for their work overseas

·        Implement new training for future military leadership and create a new undersecretary of defense

·        Modernize our forces and greening the military

Barack Obama

• Rebuild Trust
• Expand the Military
• New Capabilities
• Strengthen Guard and Reserve

Hillary Clinton

• Heroes at Home Act
• Extend Family and Medical Leave Act to families of wounded warriors
• GI Bill of Rights
• Affordable and Quality Health Care for All Veterans
• Ensured Benefits
• Additional Opportunities to Serve
• Reduce Homelessness among Veterans
• Career Transition Assistance Program
• Expand Veteran Homeownership
• Increase Military by 80,000

POVERTY

 

John Edwards

• End Poverty by 2036
• Reform the Poverty Measure
• Make Work Pay
• Create One Million Stepping Stone Jobs:
• Create Opportunity in Rural America
• Strengthen Labor Laws
• Enforce Workplace Protections
• Create a Million New Housing Vouchers
• Revitalize Devastated Neighborhoods
• Fight Abusive Lenders and Help Working Families Save
• Strengthening Our Schools
• Support Responsible Families
• Enrolling Every Child in School
• Edwards Will Lead the World toward a Primary Education for Every Child
• Investing in Preventative Medicine
• Rescind the Global Gag Rule
• Creating Economic and Political Opportunity
• Creating a Cabinet-Level Post on Global Poverty

Barack Obama

• Expand Access to Jobs
• Make Work Pay for All Americans
• Strengthen Families
• Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing
• Tackle Concentrated Poverty

Hillary Clinton

• Partner with faith based community in empowerment zones
• $5000 at birth to pay for future college
• Time-out for mortgage companies on march toward foreclosure
• Equal access to capital and jobs
• Don’t criminalize the homeless
• Microcredit
• Link payments to good parenting behavior
• Establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund
• Tax credits to promote home ownership in distressed areas
• Fully fund AmeriCorps

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

 

John Edwards

• Capping greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2010 with a cap-and-trade system, and reducing it by 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050
• Leading the world to a new climate treaty that commits other countries—including developing nations—to reduce their pollution
• Creating a New Energy Economy Fund by auctioning off $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and repealing subsidies for big oil companies
• Meeting the demand for more electricity through efficiency for the next decade, instead of producing more electricity

Barack Obama

• Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Invest in a Clean Energy Future
• Support Next Generation Biofuels
• Set America on Path to Oil Independence
• Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
• Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change

Hillary Clinton

• Cap and Trade System for Carbon Emissions
• Stronger Energy and Auto Efficiency Standards
• Increase in Green Research Funding
• $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund, paid for in part by oil companies, to fund investments in alternative energy
• Reduction of Reliance on Foreign Oil
• Increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030, but would help automakers retool their production facilities through $20 billion in “Green Vehicle Bonds”
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050
• Retrofitting and modernization of 20 million low-income homes and take concrete steps to reduce electricity consumption, including enacting strict appliance efficiency standards and phasing out incandescent light bulbs
• “Connie Mae” program to make it easier for low and middle-income Americans to buy green homes and invest in green home improvements
• Creation of a “National Energy Council” within the White House to ensure implementation of the plan across the Executive Branch
• A requirement that all federal buildings designed after January 20, 2009 will be zero emissions buildings

EDUCATION

 

John Edwards

• Preparing Every Child to Succeed
• An Excellent Teacher in Every Classroom
• Make Every School an Outstanding School

Barack Obama

• Zero to Five Plan
• Expand Early Head Start and Head Start
• Affordable, High-Quality Child Care
• Reform No Child Left Behind
• Make Math and Science Education a National Priority
• Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities
• Expand Summer Learning Opportunities
• Support College Outreach Programs
• Support English Language Learners
• Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America’s Teachers
• Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit
• Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid

Hillary Clinton

• Get more teachers into hard-to-serve areas
• Establish right to education from pre-school thru college
• Hold kids to high standards, starting at home
• Address teacher shortage with salary increases
• More after-school; smaller classes
• Metal detectors
• Arts education
• Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs
• Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction
• Supports structured inner-city schools, with uniforms
• Incentive pay for school wide performance
• Transfer tax cuts from rich & corporations to student aid
• Reforms: teacher corps; more federal funding; modernize
• Opposes merit pay for individual teachers
• Scholarships for teachers who go to urban schools
• Increase resources to meet increased standards
• Total change in No Child Left Behind
• Supports public school choice; but not private nor parochial
• More teachers, smaller classes, no vouchers
• Charter schools

LGBT

 

John Edwards

• Equal Rights for Same-Sex Couples
• Workplace Discrimination
• Military Service
• Adoption
• Hate Crimes
• HIV and AIDS

Barack Obama

• Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell
• Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
• Fight Workplace Discrimination and Promote Rights
• Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples
• Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
• Fight AIDS Worldwide

Hillary Clinton

• Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell
• Against Federal Marriage Amendment
• Supports Civil Unions
• Full Equality of Benefits

WOMEN

John Edwards

• Helping Women Balance Work and Family
• Securing Women’s Retirement
• Ending Poverty within a Generation
• Raising the Minimum Wage
• Protecting Women’s Right to Choose
• Fighting Workplace Discrimination
• Ending Violence Against Women
• Guaranteeing Health Care for Every Woman in America
• Strengthening America’s Research Agenda

Barack Obama

• Combat Employment Discrimination
• Pro-Choice

Hillary Clinton

• Pro-Choice
• And, well, she’s a woman!

Well, I don’t know if this has made things easier or more difficult. Personally, this blog has made me realize just how similar all of the front-running candidates are in their vision for the presidency. To be sure, no matter who becomes the Democratic running mate, each of the three would do an admirable job – especially compared to the man they would be replacing. The next month will be key, at least for Connecticut voters like myself, in determining the perfect candidate to support in the primary race. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for what happens next!

Oh and if you are at least 18 years of age and haven’t done so yet – REGISTER TO VOTE!

2008: To the Women

Happy New Year and my apologies to those of you who still check out my blog for updates. Since being hired at the Fairfield Citizen-News (www.fairfieldcitizen-news.com) in November, I have had less and less time to write outside of reporting.

Politics, Gender, the Environment, and Sexuality aside, I am also a very creative person who enjoys photography, found art, collaging, decoupage, and poetry. One of my favorite pieces that I have written is my very own Vagina Monologue. Have you heard of such a thing? If not, The Vagina Monologues were first coined and birthed by the fierce Eve Ensler as a way to empower women to think of their womanhood in a new way; she encourages us all to take hold of our sexuality, introduce ourselves, and celebrate ourselves. I fully recommend checking out her book or the DVD of the same name showing Ensler performing the monologues herself (you can also look for it on a theatre stage near you around February 14 – a.k.a. V Day).

I hereby dedicate this post and the year 2008 to Women of the World, all of whom deserve health, happiness, self-confidence, self-love, and self-acceptance this year. We are all the same and there is not one of us who should be entitled to more than anyone else, wealth and power aside. Maybe this year will be the year that people will start looking around and seeing themselves in every person’s gaze they meet. Each of us has base needs that need to be met; nobody outside this Earth would differentiate between any of the human race if we were still hunting and gathering, speaking in grunts and living on instinct.

In so many ways I feel as though the less evolved days were better. For one we hadn’t come up with the technology necessary to destroy the planet just yet. We also had not come up with the idea of a potential higher power and the threat to humanity that is religion (let’s face it people, how many wars and deaths have occurred based on religious discrepancies?).

But, even though I wasn’t there, I’d bet women were not treated perfectly in those days. We as a sex have come a very long way in terms of our rights, of the big changes having happened so very recently in history. We are LIVING history, as America’s first woman is running for President. It’s an exciting time.

Here’s to US.