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SSA Blog #57 By Michelle
Drew March 27 2006
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About our Sponsors...
I
come to the SSA column more often than anyone, and for many
reasons. The most obvious is that I write the column. Anoother reason
that I visit frequently is to view and try out our sponsors. The
program we use for ads is Google. While I am not a fan of advertising
per se, I have come to realize that I simply could not afford to
spponsor this website myself. Given that it was ncessary to use
advertising, I am relying on Google to have good ads to my readers. So
of course I click often and visit the sponsors. What I have found, much
to my own surprise, that there are services and products that I have
found and used here on the SSA site. I do keep an eye out, but if there
are ads that you find disturbing, please let me know. At the moment,
only ads for tobacco products are blocked, and I am not seeing a
problem there.
SO....Given
all that, do click on a sponsor ad. Internet services, and marketing on
the internet is the newest success and the way of the future.
Some great information and products are out there for YOU...
Another Editorial by Michelle Drew
Gene
barber is the publisher of Peaceful Mariners, a group of retired WWII
Naval Officers who are committed to a peaceful philosopy and approach
to government and politics. I have great respect for Geme amd find his
newsletter,and genuinely think that he and so many in the group are
wise and experienced. We regularly exchange emails about each other's
newsletters.
First,
here is he expert from a recent of Gene's Peaceful Mariner's group
newsletter..
Hi Gene and all Peaceful Mariners:
In response to:
** CINDY FOR PRESIDENT?
I've said
it several times -- do I mean it? Do you have a better candidate? Think
about it -- what does she have that politicans are lacking? Please
answer in two thousand words or less. When are you bringing her to your
town?
I know how much you appreciate a good discussion, so here is my
response to your comment about Cindy for President. This short blog
piece will be on our web site tomorrow....
Cindy Sheehan is a hero. Her outspoken activism against the War in Iraq
has become a symbol of the war, and its toll on the survivors. She
speaks eloquently about the agony of losing her son and her eventual
alienation from the current President Bush's administration. It is
impossible not to have empathy for her.
What do we, as Americans really need in a president? President
Bush's approval rating is at an all time low for him. In so many ways,
the American people are thinking about the kind of president that we don't
want. But as responsible citizens, we need to take another look at the
kind of president we do want and need for America to remain
strong.
Here are some of my personal thoughts on the matter...
The President of the United States is elected by the people, for the
people. The people that he represents all over the globe are a myriad
if ages, races and cultures. On a geologic time line, our world today
is a cross section of many different societies in the process of their
individual evolutions, and all of the individual variations within
each. It is the job to represent us all.
That is a compelling thought by itself . The job of the president of
the United States represents us ALL, not just the "winning political
party". It is daunting task but a worthy goal. No one can represent
everyone, but one can try to represent as many people as possible. That
is really why we elect them.
The most reasonable approach, in my opinion, is to proceed in a spirit
of cooperation and compromise. In other words, Presidents ought not
make decisions about funding services like education and infrastructure
maintenance based on whether or not a majority of his/her constituency
supported him politically. The call to represent all calls for
diplomacy, creativity, inventiveness and a vision of healthy country.
Envisioning these qualities in presidents bring to mind certain assets
and abilities. A couple of those abilities, indeed a couple of
goals, is to help keep America strong and to make Americans feel that
they are having good lives. Presidents need to know and
experience such a broad and delicate agenda.
They need advisors to trust, to help bring the various concerns of a
president into focus. Presidents need to act for the good of the
people, by considering the needs of a broader range of Americans, and
giving each of them the most fair amount as they can. They are expected
to act with integrity and wisdom. To weigh what is right versus what
you want to reward your supporters with.
So who can each of us envision meets those qualities of fairness. We
have a cast of potential candidates emerging. This is the time to pause
and do the research. In our cyber-world of information, there are
countless web sites for candidates and parties. They are not just sites
that ask you to donate to their causes, they are full of information
about legislation and records that can give some foundation for
evaluating each candidates potential.
When it comes time for the campaign promises as the election rolls
near, measure the candidates actual past against what they are
promising in their election campaigns. Expect that the candidate will
have about the same record in the future as they have in the past. In
other words, candidates who are in touch with people, sponsored
legislation, and acted with fairness in the past, have a better chance
of acting that same way in the future. Not that people can't change
some bad habits, because their are millions of examples. for whatever
your results, it is our patriotic responsibility to do the research, be
aware of the world beyond your front door, and work toward compromising
and sharing.
Don't look for someone who is the most like you, vote for the person
who has the qualities you most respect and want as a leader. It is our
job, as citizens, as patriotic Americans, to be aware of what is
happening politically in the country and in the world. Now with the
Internet, the information on what is happening politically,
financially, socially and globally aware, and to support candidates who
are fair.
best,
Michelle
