Friday October 16th 2009
By Louise
Hour One: "Brunch With Bernie" Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spends the hour with Thom discussing the issues and answering listener questions www.sanders.senate.gov
Comments
#2
Football may not be "real life," but sometimes unwelcome reality does intrude into it. Take, for example, the desire of Rush Limbaugh to join into an ownership group that is proposing to purchase the currently awful St. Louis Rams organization. To counter skepticism as to his psychological fitness for the job, Limbaugh embarked on a “charm” offensive, telling a television interviewer that he was really just an “entertainer,” that he is “surprised” that people take him seriously, and “clarified” his comment on wishing the country to fail under Obama. He also claimed that he experienced a brief sensation of pride that the country had elected its first black president, but this quickly subsided in favor of his responsibility to “entertain” his audience, for ratings. Nice try, Rush.
While the idea that he might take a bath losing some of his soft-earned money has a certain heartwarming quality to it, it seems unlikely to occur for the moment, since a few NFL owners have already voiced their intention to vote “no” to an ownership group that includes Limbaugh (owners had rejected suitors like Larry Flint in the past) and doubtless Limbaugh would be a public relations headache for Roger Goodell; it is easy to imagine him inciting near mutinous behavior for racially-insensitive commentary concerning the black players on his team from his bully radio pulpit.
While I’m on the subject of football, I want to take the opportunity here to disparage Fox Sports radio commentator Lincoln Kennedy (yeah, that’s his real name) for unfairly disparaging my favorite football player last weekend, since he is too cowardly to have an e-mail address so people can respond to his whiny comments. Why does the league kiss Brett Favre’s fundament? Because, unlike you, he has been the NFL’s most consistently marketable commodity for nearly 20 years; he’s not a dull automaton on the field like Manning or Brady. He’s a “prima donna” because he can’t make-up his mind if he wants to come back? How many of you out there keep telling yourselves you want to quit your job, but just can’t bring yourselves to do it because you don’t know how to do anything else? Not a “team player” because he doesn’t show-up for training camp? For a guy who has started a record 274 straight games through pain and injuries, and still plays at a high level, why begrudge him a few more weeks to heal his aging body if it means it can help the team win? And anyone who watches Favre on the field knows he’s the ultimate team player; no one who takes as much pleasure in his teammates’ success can be called “selfish." It seems to be what motivates the anti-Favre element is pure envy; he's Brett, and their not.
Now, Favre, please don’t throw more than two picks against that Raven’s defense this Sunday.
#3
Mstaggerlee,
A lot of discussion has bubbled up over Medicare reimbursement rates since we discussed the subject on the blog yesterday. MN Sen. Amy Klobuchar talked about the issue on The Rachel Maddow Show last night and on The Morning Meeting this a.m. Here she also talked about Medicare for all:
#4
@Quark - Listened to 1st 3 min of segment linked above. So far, Amy seems to be making a whole lotta sense. Not sure if we really CAN get the whole nation's population of Medical Professionals off of their addiction to the "pay per service" model, which incentivises over-treatment, and on to the Mayo model, where GP's are essentially salaried, but it sure would be a wonderful goal.
Will listen to some more at the next break - right now, I'm back w/ Thom & Bernie. :)
#5
Mstaggerlee
You wrote the following to me yesterday in response to my (repeated) criticism of The Thom Hartmann Show’s scarcity of guests who are people of color.
“mstaggerlee October 15th, 2009, 11:03 am
@B Roll – Do you think that there are thousands of people of color out there who are clamoring for a segment on the Thom Hartmann show, and that he turns them away? Do you even think that there are thousands of people of color who have HEARD of the Thom Hartmann show??”
Let me distill the meaning of your questions along with what you wrote to me when I raised the issue a few weeks ago.
To put your comments in perspective, I want to point out that about two-thirds of Americans identify as white. So I one third identify themselves as non-white or people of color. With a population of over 300 million people, approximately 100 million Americans are people of color. Demographic trends tell us that the part of the American population classified as people of color is growing both in number and as a percentage of the American population and some time around the middle of this century; white people will no longer be the majority of the population of the United States.
I’ve criticized Thom for an almost complete absence of people of color as guests on his show. A few weeks ago you wrote that you didn’t that as a problem. In other words, you don’t think that the views, experiences and feelings of around 100 million are essential to the progressive dialog. (even though they are among the most consistently progressive voters)
Yesterday, you asked me two questions (perhaps rhetorically).
You asked me if I thought there were thousands of people of color clamoring for a segment on The Thom Hartmann Show. Here’s my answer. I don’t know and I don’t care, but I can tell you that there are many people of color who have plenty to say that Thom and his audience can benefit from hearing.
Van Jones is one example. He’s intelligent, articulate, creative and funny. He’s been involved in many different social and political activities. Losing him as a member of the Obama Administration is a loss for progressives, this country and the world.
Glen Ford of Black Agenda Report has been an activist and commentator for decades. He isn’t limited to commenting on black issues. He does a weekly commentary that airs on one of the best programs on my local Pacifica Station. He’s an occasional guest on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman and appears on panels on GRITtv with Laura Flanders. Thom speaks highly of both Amy and Laura and even had Laura fill in for him.
Ford made an appearance of sorts on Thom’s show. It was early in the presidential primary campaign. A white male caller tried to tell Thom about Ford and his critique that Barack Obama wasn’t as progressive as many people thought he was. Ford knew Obama for many years in Chicago. Thom got upset and dumped the call saying that anyone can do a political hit job. Thom probably doesn’t remember the call, but he’s been coming around to Ford's point of view.
Dolores Huerta is the sole living cofounder of the United Farm Workers Union that she founded along with Cesar Chavez and Philip Vera Cruz (a Philippino-American). Thom sometimes tells a story about Cesar Chavez to support his (Thom’s) position on immigration. I’ve asked Thom several times (on this blog) to have Huerta on as a guest to discuss the story and her position on immigration. Her position is very different from Thom’s; I’ve heard her discuss the issue and she points to the passage of the Immigration Act of 1985 which gave amnesty to around 3.5 million “illegal” immigrants as something she’s very proud of. So I’ve asked Thom to have Huerta on as a guest, but he never has.
Now think about it, Thom spent two days hanging out with a bunch of right wing nativist racists at an anti-immigration conference; these are some really vile people. But he can’t spare one segment for an American hero with a history of over 50 years of progressive activism. But don’t worry; Huerta is close to 8o years old. Her life hasn’t always been easy and she suffered a brutal beating by police that required emergency surgery to remove her spleen, so you never know when her health might take a turn for the worse. So if Thom is still on the air when Huerta passes, don’t be surprised if he solemnly gives her a tip of the hat and praises her for her decades of activism. But while she’s alive, he doesn’t seem to have much interest in this wise Latina.
You also asked if I “think that there are thousands of people of color who have HEARD of the Thom Hartmann show??” Do find it so hard to believe that there are? I think your question is more a display of annoyance than of clear thinking. Do the math. I’ve heard claims that Thom’s audience is between 3-4 million people. Let’s use the low 3 million figure. If only 0.5% of his audience was people of color that would be 15,000 people. Looking at it another way, since one-third (100 million) Americans are people of color, 15,000 people would only be 0.015% of them. Is that an improbable amount, or maybe you think they have absolutely no interests in politics.
But even if there were no people of color in Thom’s audience, I believe that Thom and his white listeners would benefit tremendously by having the opportunity hear about the experiences and thinking of people of color. They’re one-third of our population.
People of color have different experiences from whites in our society. Because of that they see our society very differently. Don’t you think it’s important for progressive whites to be aware of the thoughts of the one-third of our country that isn’t white (and we have to remember that there are a variety of trends of thinking in these 100 million people).
Part of politics is the art of making coalitions. There are over 300 million people in this country. Two-thirds are white, the majority of whom lean conservative. One-third are people of color, the large majority of whom lean progressive. Who should progressive whites seek to form coalitions with? If it makes sense for white progressives to work with progressives of color, doesn’t it make sense to know what they’re thinking? Why would they want to work with white progressives if white progressive don’t care what they think? This shouldn’t be hard to figure out.
Are you, like Thom, an advocate of single-payer health insurance? H.R. 676 the United States National Health Insurance Act, is a bill to bring single-payer to the United States. John Conyers has been fighting for that for years. Who would you ally with, John Conyers or Max Baucus?
Are you opposed, as Thom Hartmann is, to Obama’s policies in Afghanistan? Barbara Lee has introduced a bill to prohibit funding to send more troops to Afghanistan. She also was the only member of either house to vote against giving Bush extraordinary powers after the 9/11 attacks. Who do you want to ally with, Barbara Lee or Joe Lieberman?
I fear that this lack of interest in and refusal to reach out to the non-white 100 million residents of our country may cause the loss of our country to the forces of the extreme right. I know that one of the factors that allowed the Proposition 8 to pass in California, denying same sex couples the right to marry, was the margin it won by in black and Latino communities. Even taking into account that homophobia and religion are strong in these communities, the support for Prop 8 in these communities could have been mitigated had the opponents of Prop 8 taken their case to these communities. They didn’t, but supporters of Prop 8 devoted a lot of energy and resources toward black and Latino voters and that’s where they found their winning margin.
These are some of the reasons that I feel the lack of people of color on the show is an issue worth raising over and over until Thom understands or I’m just not around any more. I find it disheartening that my calls for a more inclusive guest list has received almost zero support from people I know to be decent and progressive. It discouraging that Thom Hartmann and his listeners would think that progressive radio should be a “whites only” club.
If I was writing this to Thom, I’d put it very simply. Thom, the lack of ethnic diversity in the guests you invite to be on your program is un-American. The fact that your audience doesn’t understand the value of inclusiveness lays to a large degree at your feet. They look to you for understanding and as an example.
I hope this makes sense to someone.
#6
B Roll,
Did you call the show today? (I keep listening for friends on the blog and I sometimes think I hear them. Don't answer, though, if it makes you uncomfortable.) BTW, I thought I heard DDay the other day.
Or maybe it's just a ringing in my ears...LOL
#7
B Roll,
Speaking of ethnic diversity, at the risk of repeating a past post, I just wanted to share a link with you. I don't know if you like world music (for lack of a better description.) KFAI is a true community-supported radio station here in MN. It carries some interesting international music programs (as well as another favorite --- "Crap from the Past.") Podcasts from recent shows are available, too.
#8
Quark,
No, I didn't call the show. I've only called a few times; once or twice just to give the producer some information and once or twice I ended up holding but never got on.
The one time I did get on my call ended with Thom agreeing to disagree, but the he started his next by saying that he'd received an email that convinced him that my point was right. To be fair, after looking up the number, redialing over and over until I got through and then waiting for my turn, I forgot the key word that had spurred me to make call. The person that emailed Thom had the exact words that Thom had used and when he saw what he said he agreed it was inappropriate.
I think that if I called I would identify myself as B Roll.
By the way, I have two voices. Sometimes it's slightly congested. Maybe I have some kind of allergy. When it's not congested its deep, smooth and sexy (so I'm told).
#9
@B Roll - I agree with most of what you've stated, but I think that you're missing my point entirely. The Progressive Radio listener base is VERY, VERY small, and (like any media audience), they (we) self-select. I live in a little, tiny media market - maybe you've heard of it - the New York City area? New York does, in fact, have an Air America affiliate, but they DON'T CARRY Stephanie, Thom or Randi. If I want to listen to these shows, Internet radio is my ONLY option (I listen to KPHX, btw). If I wanna hear Rush, Hannity, et al, choices abound, of course.
Thom's own listener base is even smaller. I'm willing to bet you that Thom (or Thom's people) HAS asked Van Jones to appear on the show, and that Van (or Van's people) said "Tom WHO??" and chose to appear in other venues that would reach a wider audience - less friendly, perhaps, but certainly larger. Only those working behind the scenes at the showcan know the extent to which they reach out to minorities. You seem to choose to believe that they don't, based on who appears.
To answer some of your specific questions:
Do I care what people of color think? Yes, I do! (Do they care what _I_ think? - I doubt it. BTW, I only PASS for white - I'm Jewish, y'see, thus excluded from the country club, just like Van Jones.)
Do I support Single-Payer? Yes. Conyers over Baucus any day, my friend.
Do I oppose Obama's Afghanistan policies? This is a fairly difficult question. I'd like to see where we go from here. The "war" is changing emphasis - what I think we're trying to do over there now is engage the population, win hearts and minds, and undermine the influence of Al Queda and the Taliban. I DO support this change in tactics. How much American blood and treasure do I think this policy is worth? Well - that's the meat of the issue, isn't it. I suspect your answer is Zero. I'm not certain what my answer is. I am a bereaved parent myself, so I know EXACTLY the kind of pain service families suffer when a son or daughter is lost, and I certainly don't wish that pain on anyone else - in the US OR in Afghanistan. Are you certain that fewer Afghani children will die over the next few years if we pull out than if we stay? I'm not.
#10
@B Roll - Whoops - forgot to include this -
SCREW Joe LIE-berman!!!!!
#11
Quark,
I listened closely to both of Sen Amy Klobuchar's appearances on MSNBC in the last 24 hrs. She only briefly mentioned reimbursement rates and indicated that they could be adjusted easily. Her two main messages were A: Everyone should emulate how we deliver health care in Minnesota, (Mayo Model), because of the savings, (30 billion over 5 yrs. after correcting reimbursement rates according to her), and B: Medicare should not be expanded because it needs saving first. While she acknowledged that the "middlemen" use up dollars that should be used for treatment, she doesn't go further than suggest more choices; i.e. through presumably, private insurance.
Senator Klobuchar has been allowed to be a little bit for a public option without really explaining the parameters of her support. She clearly is no champion of single payer. She has found a way to be seen as a player and promote her state while remaining out of the fray at the same time. It is a neat trick politically, and a safe one too. The only problem for me is that it is a tepid response to history in a time of great moment. After all, this great health care reform debate is about how this country should deal with the structure of a wholesale delivery system for health care. Sen. Klobuchar is talking more about retail delivery modifications. If you don't want to answer a question... change the question.
Sen. Klobuchar was an early supporter of then Barack Obama the candidate. He may have borrowed the phrase: "the fierce urgency of now" but Amy somehow knew that her cautious style was reflected in him, (Obama), regardless of slogans. Those more impatient for change, like myself, can only wait and hope for greater urgency in the future. Meanwhile we must remember how much worse things could be under their respective counterparts. Under Mark Kennedy and John Mc Cain, instead of debating whether or not to keep private health insurance companies, Social Security or Medicare's existence would likely be threatened.
#12
Quark
Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
I love a variety of kinds of music and resent the fact that I have to spend so much time on politics which I hate. As a matter of fact, a few months ago I had it up to here with your fave talker and thought about changing morning listening to my local Pacifica station's music programming, which falls into that world music category.
World music like other genres has things that I like and things that I don't. Due to the need to keep with the social and political chaos of our times, I haven't heard enough world music or any kind of music in a long time.
My secret dream would be to be the lead singer for a band that covers the music of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan. How I would love to perform "Desolation Row" at Carnegie Hall.
#13
B Roll,
I tried to call the show yesterday to talk about the Medicare reimbursement issue. I, too, got tired of holding and decided to put a small post on the blog, instead.
(I hardly ever call, either, tho I frequently used to call The Stephanie Miller Show. Now I'm busy during that time. In fact, the only talk show to which I listen anymore is Thom's show --- I used to listen to Miller, Rhodes, Hartmann, Malloy, etc. I forced myself to go "cold turkey" to get my time back.)
I'll listen for a congested or low, sexy voice just in case you ever do decide to call and get through.
#14
DDay,
For many reasons, I had hopes for a more progressive senator in Amy Klobuchar. I think she may be a bit more progressive than Al Franken, but I have felt let down, That said, I agree with you --- Amy is a thousand times better than the alternative. I contact her office often and keep hoping I can push her more to the left...
#15
Quark,
Ringing in your ears? Maybe I should adopt the handle: tinnitus? I kinda like it. i reminds me of the nom de plumes our fore fathers often used. You know...Cincinatus or Publicus....why not tinitus? Did you know that tinitus can be a common symptom of nitrous oxide, (laughing gas), abuse? LOL
FYI...Re: calling in on the radio....
I have been heard several times on our local Air America shows in Mpls. and a few times nationally on Ed Shultz's show in the past. I have never spoken on Thom's show or even tried to. I hope this news helps everyone sigh in relief. Reading my polemics is a public option which I'm supportive of. BUT! hearing my decidedly unsexy voice would be an imposition on good manners and comity. :-)
#16
B Roll,
Do you play in a band? I've dated several musicians and one nationally known singer even wrote a song to me. I don't know much of Bob Marley's music, but do like Dylan, among others (including Tom Waites, Leon Redbone, etc., particularly for their humor, tho low voices ARE sexy...)
#17
DDay,
I guess this means that your name isn't "Don" (the name the caller I heard gave himself.) LOL
#18
Quark,
Re: Amy more progressive than Al? You are sniffing the nitrous aren't you? I guarantee that Franken will amass one of the most progressive voting records in the Senate over time. Amy is a different kettle of fish.
#19
Quark,
I had an uncle and a cousin named Don. My real name is Leon Redbone.
B Roll, your voice always sound deeper within your own cranium. but i find your writing kinda sexy. :-)
#20
I do remember that, back in his AAR days, Al Franken had good things to say about Amy Klobuchar - that may have been more about the opposition candidate, though.
Re - Music ... One of the main reasons I started listening to AAR was that I saw one of Franken's shows on TV (for a while, parts of his AAR show were carried at 11 PM on some cable channel or other - IFC maybe??), and noted that he played mostly Grateful Dead as his beds. I'm a big fan of the GD, Dylan, Allmans, and any band that likes to hit the stage without a setlist and JAM! Live, improvisational music is where it's at for me - These days I'm listening to bands like Umphrey's McGee, moe., Gov't Mule and Michael Franti & Spearhead. When I'm not listening to progressive political radio, I'm on Sirius's Jam On or their GD channel. :)
#21
mstaggerlee,
I believe Al's show was shown on the Sundance Channel. Since we are name dropping a little today...I used to live in Marin county during the late seventies and had numerous encounters with various member of the Dead including Jerry who was a great guy. Sometimes when he played local clubs he would come off the stage and drink beers with the audience between sets. Other times i would run into Bob Weir and Phil Lesh at private parties up in the "hills". You had to attend a live concert of the Dead to really appreciate them fully. Al Franken is a good friend of Phil and Bob. They were on his show one time also.
#22
DDay,
If I have misunderstood Al, I would be thrilled. I am going on what I've heard from him, both when he used to speak at Wellstone rallies and fundraisers, what his positions were in the U.S. Senate debates (especially at the DFL Progressive weekend event before the primary), and his own declaration that he was a supporter of the DLC. (And I also listened to him from the very first minute Air America was on the air.) Also, Al's humor feels misogynistic at times (whether he intends that or not.)
#23
DDay
I don't find my voice very extraordinary, but have received comments about it for years and years. Even when I've heard recordings of my voice it just sounds like a nice kind of deep voice, so I don't get it. But it apparently has some kind of affect on some women. I don't get it. But sometimes I do enjoy hearing myself sing. I've even had several women I dated put their friends on the phone to hear my voice. But I really don't get it. Really, I don't. It isn't even super deep. I'm no Barry White. This isn't the proper forum for me to tell you what several women have told me about the affect my voice had on them.
#24
DDay,
Also, I've never been able to have a satisfactory conversation with Al, though I've spoken with him many times. (Maybe I just don't mesh with his pedantic style.)
#25
Dday - I saw 176 GD shows between 1973 and 1995. I THINK I "get" them. :D
#26
DDAY - Oh, and yeah, you're correct - it WAS Sundance.
#27
B Roll,
I wish we could hear your voice so we could judge (or swoon) for ourselves! LOL (I also wish I could word this so you would know my teasing is playful, not negative!)
#28
B Roll,
Hey dude I'm just messin with you. I do believe I can see your words blushing though. Shakespeare would say that thou dost protest too much! I'm just jealous of your pipes. You said, and I quote: "But it apparently has some kid of affect on some women. I don't get it." Firstly, don't you mean effect? If you describe the symptoms in great detail, I may be able to determine if it is an affect or an effect. More importantly, you said you don't get it? Get what? from the sounds of things it sounded like you might be getting IT... a lot!..(.if you played your cards well.) I think you are just being humble and discrete. You can tell us...we won't tell anyone. Let loose! .............Have a great weekend all! :-)
#29
cx: I meant to type kind of affect...not kid sorry
#30
@B Roll -
Expceted some kinda reply. Are we cool, or have you just given up on me?
#31
Quark,
Re: Ease of talking to Al.
I have had numerous occasions to interact with Al. The first several were awkward to say the least. Al is charming on stage but distant and aloof off on his own. Like a lot of celebrities he puts up a protective wall. Franni is the exact opposite; warm and approachable as is his daughter Tomasin. It was until Al saw me interacting with Franni and Tomasin that he seemed to accept me. We spent several hours together last summer at the Anoka County Game Fair. It must have been the 20th time we had met. It was the first time he relaxed a little more. I have been told that this a common trait of comics and humorists. Garrison is also painfully shy. When it comes to policy however, Al is in his element. He knows his shit and is pretty forthright in his sharing of his opinions. The point is that anyone who Franni would marry is got to be OK. Anyone who could raise such a beautiful and generous person as Tomasin has to be special. Al is just a bit of a schmuck , (personally), at times, but he is seriously progressive in his politics. He wants to be taken seriously and is over-compensating perhaps.
#32
mstaggerlee,
Man everyone seems a little touchy today. My comment about seeing the Dead live was a statement in general and not directed at you personally. Anyone that knows that they saw the Dead precisely 176 times I'll bow to. You are the true DeadHead here! I certainly never saw them that many times ...nor could I remember anyway given the nature of things I experienced at those concerts. I intended to acknowledge your exquisite taste and throw in my two bits for those less refined than you. I have a guess about you however.....mstaggerlee....I'll bet you are 54 years old...maybe 55. Am I close? :-)
#33
Quark
No, I'm not in a band. I was for a while after I left college, but I mainly played harmonica and sang background vocals.
I remember u recent posted something to me about people living in different worlds, but where the heck is Minnesota that you don't know Bob Marley? I'm sure you'd recognize some of his music.
I Shot the Sheffif
Stir It Up
One Love
Redemption Song
I think those are some of his songs that you'd be most likely to be familiar with.
Wikipedia says "Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music..." He died of some kind of cancer while in his mid-30s.
I love his phrasing and find his voice to be very evocative. I once listened to a radio program in which a number of older Rastafarians were interviewed. The things I remember from the conversation was 1) that it was hard to understand them thruogh their heavy accents (which may be why I only remember one thing which is 2) that reggae music use to be called "the sweet music".
#34
B Roll,
Hey don't blame Minnesota. Remember, Quark is a sub atomic particle. She probably isn't familiar with spleefs either. Her's is a small world after all. :-)
#35
mstaggerlee
Sorry about that. I do intend to reply. I normally operate in Tai Chi mode and seem to be particularly sluggish today. No problem at all, just a difference in perspectives.
I'm just dealing with the lighter communications first and want to give more serious consideration to my reply to you.
I was aware that you had lost a child. My previous impression was that your child died young (it's the teddy bear) But now your comment about understanding the pain or service families makes me wonder if you lost a child in military action. Either way, it's a painful loss.
I will write a more complete reply to your post, if not today then tomorrow.
#36
DDay
So true, but sometimes it seem she's up, other times down, but most of the time she's charm.
#37
2 for 1 -
DDay - Wasn't upset w/ you at all when I posted that - I guess I was bragging a little, actually. ;) My wife & I still get out to see live music about 2-3 times a month. Little in this world we like better. I'll be 56 on St. Stephen's Day. :)
B Roll - My son was 4 weeks shy of his 20th birthday when he passed away in an accident at a waterfall - he was in his sophomore year at Union College, not in the military. The dancing bear thing is yet another Grateful Dead reference - he saw over 100 of those shows with me!
I just wanted to be sure that I hadn't put myself on your "ignore" list. I'll be looking forward to your reply - Monday'll do fine, btw. :)
Have a great weekend, one & all.
#38
DDay
It's interesting that you thought both mstaggerlee and I were offended by comments you made. He says he wasn't and I know I wasn't.
I really am serious about not understanding what is it about my voice that gets to some women. Maybe it more than the voice. Maybe it has something to do with my sense of humor or some other quality I have.
I've noticed that a lot of women include sense of humor in qualities they look for in a man. And I recall hearing an evolutionary biologist say that laughing is a sign of feeling relaxed and safe. So maybe that has something to do with it.
I once had a conversation with a guy who was a leader of a group of atheists from a very religious country. During the conversation, he told me that there was something relaxing about me and although he was an atheist he thought I should consider opening a church were people could come and listen to me speak so they could feel relaxed. In my mind I could see them falling asleep listening to me.
Here's another thing that occurred to me. Not everyone tastes the same tastes or smells the same smell. It has something to do with certain genes being turned on or off.
I think that might account for why a lot of children don't like vegetables. It may be that they have a gene turned on that allows them to taste something in the vegetables that tastes bad.
This is just speculation, but from an evolutionary perspective, it might be because for the majority of the history of our species children nursed until they were 4 years old or so. This provided a form of birth control because women who are nursing don't ovulate or some other mysterious thing. So a woman was able to devote four years to nurturing her child.
If children didn't like the taste of vegetables, the most plentiful and consistent source of nutrition in their environment they would continue to want the best source of nutrition available and that comes in a very attractive container. This would be a form of birth control and would allow the mother to space out her children.
Wow, what a detour!!! Returning to the main road, I can conceive of there being a difference in how different people hear, with some able to hear some sounds that others can't. So there might be something in my voice that I can't hear but that some women can or there might be something in my voice that women can't hear, that would really be annoying if they did.
Additionally, men and women might be programmed by nature to respond to different pitches in voices and respond accordingly.
I really find topics like this far more interesting than politics.
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From Cracking the Code:
"No one communicates more thoughtfully or effectively on the radio airwaves than Thom Hartmann. He gets inside the arguments and helps people to think them through—to understand how to respond when they’re talking about public issues with coworkers, neighbors, and friends. This book explores some of the key perspectives behind his approach, teaching us not just how to find the facts, but to talk about what they mean in a way that people will hear."
This is what I wrote to the White House, we sure do hope this is not going to be a insurance industry give away and also hope our taxes do not go to subsidizing this failed system more. I guess the ruling class will be ok when it is all said and done. What happened to pushing for single payer universal health care gone with the wind I would guess. I hope power and the money that buys power are worth it. To bad our taxes do not go to providing real human services for our nations citizens instead we subsidize monolithic corporate crime.
The white house has already cut deals in private with the health insurance lobby. I am very doubtful about any real change in the direction of health care, war/occupation and wall street to k street, the same old is at play and it is very sad.
I wish we had more ethical people like Bernie, our nation and our world would be a better place.