MSNBC's 'Gut Check America'

I was browsing www.reddit.com this morning and found a story linking to MSNBC's "Gut Check America" section. Here MSNBC wants you, yea you, to have a say in the debate. They want to hear what issues really, "gnaws at you," how it affects you, and even what you would do to address it. I'll be copying their questions and my answers at the end of this paragraph. They are very broad and not organized because I did this quick, but I was thinking a coordinated netroots campaign with sync'd issues might be a tool the liberal bloggers should look at. Think of the responses they would get if The Daily Kos or MyDD or both organized on this. Who knows if the news execs will even be loyal to the gut check suggestions but can you image if they are? Ok, so here's my submission. I hope it formats decently.

MSNBC-What issue facing our country today is most important to you or has the greatest impact on you, your family and neighbors? (3000 chars)

ME-There are of course the platform issues of the election; Iraq, Healthcare, Global Warming, Energy Dependence, and Education. But I personally feel that to truly deal with these problems and future issues we need to address the bigger problems of our political system and the media. I would probably run through the streets with joy if MSNBC, especially Olberman, would make media reform and reform of our political system a number one priority. We need a push for a near complete revamping of our political system. Our Single Member District/Winner Take All electoral sham process needs to be addressed first, in order to make the government again an effective arm of the people. I don't claim to have the best reform plan, but a healthy debate led in the mainstream media could polish one out. How about elections are paid holidays, giving re-integrated felons the right to vote, proportional representation, National Initiative for Democracy, verifiable paper ballots, publicly financed elections, reestablish The Fairness Doctrine. How about the mainstream media stops entertaining and opinionating and instead educates and regulates the debate. How about going after the Military Industrial Complex, why do we spend as much as all the other nations of the world combined on defense? Increase powers of the Freedom of Information Act? Basically MSNBC, I think Keith Olberman does the best job out of anybody on TV in talking about the real issues and challenging the system. I think that should be the mantra of MSNBC. Please lead a Neo-Muckraker Revolution we direly need one.

MSNBC-How does it affect you, your friends or loved ones? We're looking for specific stories and examples we can report on, not just your opinions on the topic you've chosen:

Me-I'm 21 years old and live in Lincoln, NE. I stopped going to school at UNL for Political Science because of the money. I don't have health insurance. Wages can hardly keep up with inflation of food, housing, and energy expenses. I'm targeted by unfair lenders. I have been harassed by most likely the FBI and DHS for my political activism. I went to a High School where the ratio of Hispanic students increased by the day, and I am still pro-Hispanic. In my lifetime in the Midwest it has always been drought conditions. I can go on and on and on too. And what is sad is this could be a statement from anyone from my age group.

MSNBC-What do you think should be done to "fix" this problem?

ME-It is time to take the gloves off if we really want to not only fix our current problems, but set forth a system of government that can better deal with issues as they arise for future generations. Our democracy needs to be renewed as our Founding Fathers said it would be from time to time. A massive first step towards fixing these problems would be if the Mainstream Media (MSNBC) were to wake up, maybe do a quick refresher on the history of the role of news media prior to say 1980, and digg in, take a stand. Nothing should be a nonstarter and everything should be on the table.

YDA Omaha Conference-Bill Richardson

On March 18, I was at the Young Democrats of America Spring Conference in Omaha, NE. Immediately upon arriving, I sensed the electrifying feeling in the air of hope and optimism present in this group of future leaders. Many were quick to point out that in 2006 state Democrats were competitive across the board, a far cry from the state party of six years ago. The energized young people spoke about the need for big ideas and plans to tackle many of the problems facing the state and nation. Many said that issues such as global warming, health care reform, budget deficits, Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid reform, energy, and election and lobbying reform have been discussed as long as they can remember without any real progress. Many commented that the state and federal government always opted for a short term/temporary fix or band aid, never addressing the heart of the problems. They feel we are running out of time to properly tackle these issues, but confident in their party's ability to address the issues and they hope it will translate to a big win in 2008.

The keynote address was given by Presidential candidate and current Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson. He is considered by many to be the most qualified candidate for President in either party. He served 14 years in Congress, was Secretary of Energy, US Ambassador to the UN, serving his second term as Governor of New Mexico, and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. He has negotiated with dictators in Iraq, North Korea, Cuba, Kenya, Niger, Zaire and recently negotiated a ceasefire in Darfur. He brought to the stage an air of excitement and optimism while addressing many of the issues the young Democrats were talking about earlier. He realizes the need for big ideas and even bigger solutions when it comes to dealing with the problems we face. He spoke of the need for, “Apollo program like efforts,” to truly deal with these problems. He said that solving these issues would not be easy and would require individual action and sacrifice. Quoting JFK he sees a need to return to the attitude of, “Ask not what my country can do for me, but what you can do for your country.” That was about the limit of the lofty rhetoric in the entire speech though, because unlike most candidates out there he lays out detailed solutions including specifics.

To lay out his ideas he took the audience through his first 6 days in office. His first day, he would initiate his plan to end the war in Iraq. He knows Congress could do this immediately if they followed his plan to de-authorize the war, or as he put it, “You guy's authorized, so you can just as easily de-authorize it.” He would orderly pull all of our troops out, and added a unique twist from what the other candidates offered, he would not leave residual forces behind. He would bring Iraq's three factions to the table to discuss dividing up the country into three autonomous zones. While equally assuring sharing in oil revenue, and an inclusive parliament and cabinet. He would bring in all of Iraq's neighbors to collectively plan to rebuild the country and push for an all Muslim Peacekeeping Force.

His second day, he would lay out and start his plan for energy independence. He views this as a matter of National Security since we import 65% of our oil. He has a very detailed, Apollo like program, for American energy independence in 10 years. It includes massive public and private investment in clean, renewable, and domestic sources of energy. In turn creating opportunities for economic boom and massive job growth.. Money would be invested into our schools and universities to help us regain our status in the world of technology. He includes a significant raise in mileage standards to 50 MPG in four years. He proposes the US sponsor a new Kyoto Treaty that would reduce CO2 emissions 30% by 2020 and 50% by 2050.

His third day, he would initiate his plan to revitalize our public education system and again become competitive in education. His first step would be a massive audit of the public school system to cut out waste. This money would be put to work on other aspects of his plan like guaranteeing every child preschool and full day kindergarten, give every child a healthy breakfast in the public schools. Raise teacher pay but hold teachers to a higher standard adding the ability to ensure teachers are engaged and invigorating their entire career. He would start a National School Scholarship so every American has the chance at higher education.

Day four, he would start his plan towards a National Health Care System. Consisting of a single-payer, non-profit organization that would offer “the Cadillac” of health care programs, the same what members of Congress receive. Known for his ability to accomplish goals without raising taxes, he is confident he could implement this without a tax hike. He points to the fact that we spend almost 30% of our nation's GDP on health care, yet everyday 4,000 more people lose their coverage. Whereas in France they spend 10% of their GDP on health care, yet still cover everyone. He would cut 31%, at least $3 trillion, from our current health care system that is geared towards administrative costs and put it into direct care. He would move the age for Medicare to 55 and start a Heroes Health Care Card that would let veterans and current members of the Armed Services receive treatment wherever no just in VA hospitals.

Day five, he would implement a plan for economic revitalization. He claims that the positive indicators and reports put forth by the Administration showing a healthy economy is only beneficial to Wall Street and the top 1% of the population. He feels that the middle class has been left behind in the past seven years.. He would advocate pro-growth, pro-business, and pro-expansion policy. Utilizing the ingenuity of America to again become the nation of science, research & development, and entrepreneurs.

Day 6, he would begin reaffirming America's values, such as respect for civil rights, action, and liberties. He wants to be an America advocating non-discrimination across the board. Around the world we are known for repression, torture, spying, eavesdropping, and executive orders abusing power. To counter this perception he would immediately shut down Guantanamo Bay, join the International Criminal Court, make the Geneva conventions law, restore Habeas Corpus, and reassert rule of law within the Executive Office. Basing his foreign policy based on mediation, diplomacy, and trade.

I was able to speak with Robert Hubler (D) who is running against incumbent Republican Steve King for Iowa's 5^th District. He said that the Republican's have led the country astray by focusing too much on extreme issues that do nothing but divide the people such as LGBT rights, abortion, and a wall on the Mexican border. While offering essentially silence on issues such as Global Warming, Health Care, and Energy Independence. He echoed the need for a new vision across the board to deal with these problems. He agrees with the direction of Gov. Richardson, and having known him for 36 years believes our country would be in good hands under Bill Richardson's direction.

Profit War

On March 10, 2007 during an investigation into war profiteering Congress banned the showing of the movie “Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers”, by acclaimed director Robert Greenwald. Mr. Greenwald was testifying before the House Committee Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations along with Jeremy Scahill the remarkable author of “Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army.”

Both of these men have spent the last few years of their lives trying to inform the American Public of a dangerous, costly, and the most significant revolution of modern warfare, a new tentacle of the nation's Military Industrial Complex, the use of private contractors in conducting every aspect of a war.

During Vice President Dick Cheney's reign as Secretary of Defense during the first Gulf War, one in ten people deployed in the theater of operations was a private contractor. After leaving the pentagon for Halliburton Dick Cheney, along with the help of his cohort Donald Rumsfeld, made it their mission to increase that ratio. During the Clinton years when Cheney was at the helm of Halliburton, the company saw an enormous rise in profits from the conflicts in the Balkans. They also saw unlimited earnings potential from any future conflicts the US would be involved in. In 1997 the two enlisted the help of neoconservative activist William Kristol, and proceeded to form the think tank, The Project for a New American Century. This think tank sought to push the idea of American supremacy through military strength. In 2000, it released a report called Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century. The report put forth a plan for a overhaul of the U.S. military machine, a process that would be a, “a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event—like a new Pearl Harbor.” When the Bush administration took office many of the PNAC members found themselves with high placements within the Department of Defense. And almost a year and a month after the report Rebuilding America's Defenses they found themselves waking up to a new Pearl Harbor that would give them the ability to enact their radical ideas for America's Military.

These ideas transformed into what is now known as “The Rumsfeld Doctorine” . This “small footprint” approach relies on drawing heavily from the private sector, emphasizes covert actions, sophisticated weapons systems, and greater use of Special Forces and private contractors. Under this new doctrine the ratio of contractors to soldiers is estimated to be at about 1:1 before the latest troop surge. Of course it is impossible to know exactly how many contractors there are, or even what they are doing. A Government Accountability Office report states that the military has no effective system of oversight and officials could not determine the number of contractors deployed in the theater of operations. It is now estimated that almost 40 cents of every dollar appropriated to the war goes to private contractors. Companies like Halliburton, DynCorp, CACI, and Parson are reaping tremendous profits at the expense of America's soldiers and taxpayers. No bid contracts coupled with 'cost plus pricing', which is the company purchasing all materials and receiving a 1%-3% overage for profit, has led to triple digit percent increases in these companies bottom lines. The Iraqi Coalition Provisional Authority's inspector general brought to light the fact that almost $8.8 billions dollars in cash was flown into the country at the outset of the war, and almost all of it cannot be accounted for. Much of the money was to go to reconstruction efforts for infrastructure such as running water, electricity, sewage treatement, medical centers, and repairing the oil industry. Most of these key projects have not been completed and lay dilapidated and abandoned today. In addition to the failed reconstruction projects contractors have taken over the roles of supplying, feeding, and housing our forces. They have also been contracted to protect the Green Zone, the US Ambassador to Iraq, and even to conduct interrogations at Abu Ghraib and have been linked to the secret CIA renditions program. There are also massive 'black contracts' that little is known about because these contractors are now deeply involved in covert operations around the globe that members of Congress will never even know about. Perhaps even more astonishing than the level of privatization is the incredible lack of oversight and accountability over these contractors.

It is almost impossible to police these private contractors as there are so many layers of protection that have them operating in a complete legal gray zone. One of Paul Bremer's last acts as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority was to grant private contractors immunity from Iraqi law, issuing what is known as Order 17. In terms of domestic oversight private contractors are not subject to The Unifrom Code of Military Justice(UCMJ) which is the Armed Forces justice system. At the same time these companies are protected from public courts because one of Rumsfeld's last crimes was to classify all private contractors as part of the official US Military Force. Under Rumsfeld's guide the Department of Defense began including private contractors in the department's Total Force Estimates. However, it is important to note, that the number of private contractors is never included in talk about the war from the Administration or the mainstream media. If they were, the total force in Iraq would be closer to 275,000 after the surge. There have also been an estimated 917 contractors killed in Iraq and approximately 12,000 wounded. In fact the first three months of 2007 has been the deadliest months in Iraq for private contractors according to the Department of Labor. At least 146 contractors have been killed thus far, coming the closest it ever has to the number of America military deaths for the same period—244. What little Congress has done to look into private contractors hasn't been very effective. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) and Rep. David Price (D-NC) ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee set out this April to find out just how many private contractors were operating in Iraq, by requesting a report from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO replied that private contractors often move in and out of Iraq without notifying anyone and that there is no set plan for the Department of Defense to monitor private contractors at the time. Congress is limited in it's oversight capacity by the fact that a lot of contracts are classified or 'black contracts' because of operational sensitivity. After more than four years at war in Iraq and not even Congress or the DOD can give an exact number of contractors in Iraq or exactly how much money they've actually received. And the amount of fraud, waste, and crimes committed by the contractors is almost unimaginable based on what has already been documented without good oversight and lack of accountability.

It is time for the public to demand accountability from this radical new system of conducting war. It is our money as taxpayers that is being squandered. It is our brothers, sisters, moms, dads, friends, and neighbors in the Armed Services who pay the ultimate price which is far greater than any monetary damage. In 1961, outgoing President and former general Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of the “grave implications” of the rise of the “Military Industrial Complex”. He declared, “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with out peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.” It us up to us the citizens to be a vessel for the change we want to see.

Thoughts On Approaching The Big Issues We Face

A lot of the biggest problems looming on the near horizon require vast changes if we wish to deal with them. We've known about some of these problems for decades but have always taken the path of the quick and temporary fix, never addressing the root of problems. A lot of this stems from our systems inherent flaws, but a lot stems from politicians themselves afraid to even really touch an issue because it's just accepted as a nonstarter. We can't be afraid of change, because it's coming regardless, we should just be insuring that it is change for the better.

One of the key's to human progress throughout the ages has always been our ability to adapt, not to run from the challenge, but to tackle it head on until it's resolved. Progress in almost all areas of history occurred because small groups of people weren't afraid to challenge institutionalized beliefs even in the face of great odds. Albert Einstein said one of his greatest tools was his imagination, because radical ideas bring about radical change and a long time of thinking something right doesn't necessarily make it so.