The Illusion of Democracy

Below is what Peter Baker of the Washington Post wrote on Friday,
February 25 - under the headline, “In Russian Media, Free Speech for a Select
Few” - with some additions of mine placed in brackets [ ]:

"What is this lack of freedom all about?" one Russian reporter challenged Bush during his joint news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. "Our regional and national media often criticize government institutions [yep, just like ours does]."
Bush seemed surprised. "Obviously, if you're a member of the Russian press, you feel like the press is free," he replied. "You feel that way? That's good." Bush added, "That is a pretty interesting observation for those of us who don't live in Russia to listen to [ it’s a pretty interesting observation to Americans too, when OUR press “feels that way”]."
The exchange illustrated more about the state of freedom in Russia [& the USA] than met the eye. While Putin [Bush] travels around with a contingent of reporters just as Bush [Putin] does, the Kremlin [White House] press pool is a handpicked group of reporters, most of whom work for the state [ the corporations] and the rest selected for their fidelity to the Kremlin's [White House’s] rules of the game. Helpful questions are often planted [No shit!? Just like here!!]. Unwelcome questions are not allowed [No shit!? Just like here!!]. And anyone who gets out of line can get out of the pool [No shit!? Just like here!!].
The Kremlin [White House] press pool is like so many institutions in Russia [the USA] that have the trappings of a [so-called] Western-style pluralistic society but operate under a different set of understandings, part of what analyst Lilia Shevtsova [& UkuLilia ShevtsoMan] of the Carnegie Moscow Center [of the Carnegie Mellon Patch] calls "the illusion of democracy" [ Pay no attention to the Neo-cons behind the curtain].Television channels air newscasts with fancy graphics but follow scripts approved by the Kremlin [their corporate masters and the political hacks they own]. Elections are held [here & there], but candidates out of favor with the Kremlin [the ruling class] are often knocked off the ballot [see Howard Dean – done-in by R’s AND D’s working together]. Courts conduct trials [here & there], but the state [& the powerful] almost never loses. Parliament [Congress] meets but only to rubber-stamp Kremlin [White House/Money-friendly] legislation.

* * *
Well, I rest my case. The Washington Post is supposed to be such a “lefty” paper, but this “news” report is a self-incriminating joke. You may disagree with some of my comments above, but most of you will recognize enough truth there to indict Peter Baker and the Washington Post as fawning pawns of the system. * * * Uke Man

Fight Bush!! Join the Ukulele National Guard!! 

"Ukuleles for Sanity" Get Involved !

So you're a ukulele player. Left-leaning. Frustrated and angry about the state of the world. But you think to yourself: What can I do? I'm just a weirdo ukulele player!
* * * *
Weirdo ukulele player, Ukuleles For Sanity has a special message for you: Sometimes, it is the fearless defiance of the smallest, most vulnerable and least threatening among us that makes the stronger statement. Sometimes the smallest voice can be a mighty force!
* * * * *
Ukuleles For Sanity is a loose affiliation of left-leaning professional musicians and music enthusiasts who have found their artistic voices in the diminutive, underachieving simplicity of the four-stringed ukulele, and are using that voice, with all of its quirky and unique charm, to deliver a powerful political message of empowerment in these dangerous, oppressive times.
* * * *
Armed only with a love of democracy, a constitutional indignation...and perhaps the most portable protest instrument in the history of music, Ukuleles For Sanity is looking to form "Ukulele National Guards" around the country to participate in street marches and similar events to sing and strum against the war-mongering, democracy-hating, gay-bashing, environment-debasing, morally corrupt Bush Administration and its constituency of billionaire neo-feudalists.
* * * *
Ukuleles For Sanity marched in New York City with 500,000 of our closest friends during the Republican National Convention. Our ironic humor, our disarming, inexplicable confidence, and our sing-along-ability lifted the spirits of those marching around us in the sweltering heat.Two days earlier, Ukuleles For Sanity presented a fundraising concert for United for Peace and Justice at The Fez Under Time Café in New York. Hosted by the uke-playing indie actress, Illeana Douglas, and featuring 16 different ukulele acts, Dubya’s Ukulele Farewell Party packed the house and raised $1,070 for UFP&J.
* * * *
The media was wacky for us, too. We were written up in the Washington Post, interviewed by BBC Radio, and invited to perform on MSNBC TV. We also became minor legends among the bloggers and web reporters covering the protests.We think our approach worked. The disarming quirkiness of our ukuleles drew the media to our underlying protest message, disarmed the angry opposition, and lifted the spirits of our fellow protesters. Now we want to take it to the next level.We want to see our concept spread across the country to other protest venues. Not to create an organization called Ukuleles For Sanity, but to create a movement—a quirky philosophical approach to dissent that ultimately serves to augment and facilitate the more serious work of other activist organizations.
* * * *
To weirdo ukulele players, we say: take up our banner. Go to http://ukesanity.org (link on this site). Download our posters and flyers. Pick up your ukulele. Put on a Uke Sanity tee shirt. And take to the streets. It doesn’t matter if you’re a single Ukulele National Guard of one or many. Whenever you march, do so with a ukulele in hand and consider yourself a sanctioned Ukuleles For Sanity representative. Take the Ukuleles For Sanity message with you whenever you perform on stage at your regular gigs. But be sure to let us know when you do, so that we can promote you and your music on our website.
* * * *
And to those activist organizations that wish to create their own Ukuleles for Sanity group within their organization but don’t actually know any ukulele players, we say: 5 minutes. That’s how long it takes to learn a basic three-chord protest song on a ukulele. It doesn’t even matter how well you play it. It’s a ukulele. Expectations will be low. Novelty interest will be high. We think having your strings in tune helps, but it’s your call.The point is, no matter who you are, at any time, you are always only five minutes away from being a sanctioned Ukuleles For Sanity representative.
* * * *
Check out the website at http://ukesanity.org or write to tom@ukesanity.org.

The smallest voice can be a mighty force. Ukuleles for Sanity!!!

UFP&J Report

Hey All,
It was a rewarding time in St. Louis at the United for Peace & Justice convention ( www.unitedforpeace.org/ ) !! Sorry I didn’t phone in a commentary – things were hectic. The youth brigade from Columbus, Ohio (one of whom traveled there and back with me) were VERY active, socially as well as politically. I spent most of my time at the display table proselytizing for NION ( http://www.notinourname.net/index.html ) and Ukuleles for Sanity (http://www.ukesanity.org/ ).
The youth made a lot of headway networking with their peers and I felt pretty good about the consciousness-raising I managed regarding Ukuleles for Sanity. Bill Robertson of Rock That Uke fame ( www.rockthatuke.com ) produced some great handouts, some of which I ought to post here along with some links (since I think I know how to do that now). Think I’ll do that (soon)!!
A highlight for me of the convention was hearing activists Angela Davis and Danny Glover speak at St. Louis University Sunday night. Strong, dedicated folks, those two. It’s going to take a lot of such folks to turn out the boy-president and his reactionary agenda.
Start playing the ukulele, damn it!! Yours - Ukulele Man

United for Peace & Justice - St. Louis 

Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis!!!

The Ukulele Man is going to St. Louis. I’ll be a delegate to the United for Peace and Justice convention representing Ukulele’s for Sanity (www.ukesanity.org) and my local NION group. The convention will be held Saturday through Monday, February 19-21. All you ukesters out there with a political bent check out the website, and the next time you protest, take your uke and some fellow ukesters with you. The website will direct you to where you can purchase wonderful 'Ukuleles for Sanity ' t-shirts, bags, mugs, etc. These items are all offered at cost to encourage the growth of this protest movement. Sing “Not in our name”accompanied by a ukulele. I’ve been promised the chance to sing a few songs for the delegates. I think I’ll do “Uncle Sam’s Lament” and “Dubya’s Ukulele Nightmare Café.” Peace and justice to the people! - Ukulele Man

Clothes Make the Man!! 

"Steve the Folkie Night" at Shi-Sha

Ukulele Man presents:
“Steve the Folkie Night” at Shi-Sha, March 12, 9:30 – 2:30

Pennsylvania’s own Steve Horn and Ohio’s own Ukulele Man & Pete, Fred Baily & Friends with Charlotte Curtis and Pam Raver, Don Nelson, and the inimitable Connie Harris will put on a night of acoustic music & tall tales.

See you there!!!

Shi-Sha is at 2367 N. High Street, Columbus - no cover

Letter to "The Columbus Dispatch"

To the Editor,
Headline: “Poor to lose medical aid / Taft administration hopes to save millions by ending program for neediest Ohioans.”
Compassionate conservatism, a Christian nation, an ownership society, a secure retirement, the hope of the world, the heart of it all, a shining city upon a hill.
Yeah, right.

Yours - Tom Harker

They Fight & Die to Protect Our Right to Vote - Right!!

If you look at the history of "civilization," it's pretty clear that the purpose of government is to impose an order that provides wealth for the few at the expense of the many. The pyramidal shape of society, with the broad base producing the wealth for ever- smaller numbers above them is indisputable.
Ask any good Libertarian and he’ll tell you that just about the ONLY things taxes should be spent on are armed forces and the police; verification of the assertion that “the poor can’t sleep for worry over their next meal; the rich can’t sleep for worry that someone will steal something from them.”
In “civilizations” based on property rights, the major function of the army and the police is to maintain or intensify these divisions. Law and order maintain THE order, the distinctions among the classes of people.
The game of politics is little more than a means to maintaining order among the masses. Our “elected officials” do not serve “the people.” Their function is to make the people THINK they are being served while actually serving the ruling class.
Look at the history of both “major” parties. Both seem to have “constituencies” who “win” this one, “lose” that one; “the pendulum swings” etc., but almost none of the advances made for the mass of regular folks came about by voting for “elected representatives.” Almost all advances resulted from action, pressure, protests, and rebellion by the people or as a result of large, unavoidable situations like the Great Depression.
“Civilizations” use gods, propaganda, fantasy, lies, threats, and – when necessary – police and military action to maintain THE order. War is a part of this, and when considering war, many folks overlook that.
Generally, those who believe they are beneficiaries of the status quo swallow the entire nonsense of god, country, and apple pie. Those who know they are being screwed are, most often, overwhelmed by the perceived difficulty of doing anything about it – law, order, religion, propaganda, the police, and the military see to that.
But eventually all this falls apart. The myths/gods upon which the “civilization” is built and which support the pyramid break down and fail in their primary function of keeping the masses peacefully working away.
This has happened over and over again throughout history, and it’s instructive to consider that once these “great civilizations” have collapsed, NO ONE buys into their nonsensical notions of gods and social order. It’s just the hallucination in which we presently reside that we are led to see as right and true.
While I certainly recognize that the police and the military provide SOME benefit to humanity - in some situations - their major contribution is not to the people; it is to the maintenance of the current social order. How we judge war, the military, and the police, then – it seems to me – depends on how we judge the present system, its gods, propaganda, fantasy, lies, and threats.In all the failed “civilizations” of the past, even the police, military, priests, and gods eventually gave up and turned thumbs down on the charade.

You heard me!!  

Torture Smorture!!!!!!!!!

I heard tonight on the BBC that Donald “Rummy” Rumsfield offered twice to resign over the torture issue, but Dubya – both times – would not accept his resignation.
What do you make of that? Probably not what I do, but I’ll put it out there anyway!
In the past, politicians used to can their underlings whenever the shit hit the fan – not because they didn’t “love” or agree with their underlings, but to save their own asses from being chewed.
As it is presently, it isn’t often that the shit and the fan are allowed to get together, and the Rove-Bush Siamese Vampires know that and work to that end; they’ve got the anemic media working overtime to suck the blood out of any “impropriety.” The “people” don’t even have a clue; so no sweat! No ass-chewing as long as everything is ignored or denied; the worse the performance, the better the reviews; the better the reviews, the more "reality" conforms to the agenda. Was it Hitler or one of his pals who wrote about the efficacy of "The Big Lie"?

Now, Dubya IS big on “loyalty,” and that’s a bit of it, but the main thing is: If the regime admits Rummy screwed up, it means THEY screwed up; so Rummy couldn’t have screwed up (Tom Ridge - who if he screwed up, screwed up in minor ways - can go, but major morons must be protected – Why? - to protect Dubya! - Rummy stays with praise).
Succinctly: the reality of the situation is irrelevant. Dubya’s an MBA. MARKETING is everything. Night is day. The Pope’s Jewish. Bears don’t shit in the woods, and Dubya cares about dead soldiers, workers, old people, sick people, minorities, women, the poor, and school kids.
Yep! Sure!! Uh huh. Wink, smirk, stutter!!!

A Christian Country?

When someone says, “This is a Christian country,” what exactly do they mean? They never really explain.
Do they mean that in this country the majority of people claim to be Christians, and that means it’s a Christian country? Does it subtract from the count if a large number of these folks talk a good line but don’t really behave as Christians? Are any “Christian” denominations not considered real Christians by other denominations? If so, should their numbers be subtracted?
If the numbers are reduced to the point where Christians are slightly below fifty percent, does America cease to be a “Christian country”? More than fifty percent of the people in America are women. Does that make it a “Feminine Country”? Caucasians are presently the majority; is this a “white country”? Before long whites will be a minority; will that make it a “Country of Color”?
Maybe when someone says, “This is a Christian country,” they aren’t talking about numbers. Maybe they mean it was founded on Christian principles. But that doesn’t hold up; Jesus taught, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but our “founding fathers” owned slaves, and kept the vote for themselves while refusing it to men without property, to women, and to slaves.
Maybe when someone says, “This is a Christian country,” they aren’t talking about the nation’s foundations. Maybe they mean that since 1776 Christian principles have come to control governmental policy and societal behavior. Well, that doesn’t hold up too well either.
Women, men without property, and descendents of slaves still face
discrimination - very often from self-described Christians. In addition, although Jesus first appears in the New Testament and preaches a new way: forgiveness, turning the other cheek , and seeking one’s reward in heaven; today’s “Christian conservatives” cling to the Old Testament, advocating its “eye for an eye,” its hatred of gays, its bloodthirsty aggression, and – perhaps most illustrative – they vehemently support capitalism and the personal accumulation of wealth – concentrating on the rewards of this world – not those of the next.
Maybe when someone says, “This is a Christian country,” they are just talking to hear themselves speak. It wouldn’t be the first time. Jesus was used as an excuse for expansionist adventures during the Crusades. European explorers crucified Native Americans in the name of Jesus. British missionaries beat Africans to convert them. Victorians claimed that wealth and poverty resulted from God’s pleasure and wrath, respectively (not unlike Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell’s explanation of the attack on the twin towers).
I don’t think this is a Christian country. I think it’s a country where a vocal minority of fearful, hateful, rationalizers like to salve their consciences and silence their critics by claiming an association that is entirely fictitious.