Good news for municipal wifi

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm an avid SlashDot reader. A post from today:

"The effort to ban municipal networks in Texas has failed. Texas House Bill 789 originally had provisions to ban muni wireless networks. The Senate passed a significantly rewritten version, without a ban. A conference committee failed to reach agreement, so the bill died when the Texas legislature adjourned this weekend."

The capacity for towns and cities to offer free or cheap wireless internet access is a part of that public ownership concept that I posted about a week ago. And it's a very, very important part of it.

*gets out crystal ball*

I forsee the next great WPA-style public works project being an informational one, where net access becomes an essential utility, like telephone service and plumbing. I believe it will be especially important for our rural communities to survive as desirable places to live.

*puts away crystal ball*

Not to mention that an all-business internet access model doesn't do much to keep the internet the great, open ideaspace that it is. We need that now more than ever!

Read more about the Texas Bill at savemuniwireless.org.

2006 Sneak Peek: Barbara Ann Radnofsky for US Senate

Earlier in the month many of us Lubbock Democrats had the opportunity to meet three of our states most promising candidates: Chris Bell, Barbara Ann Radnofsky, and the indomitable David Van Os. I've already talked up Bell, so now it's Barbara's turn.

The first thing you should know about her is that she has an excellent blog that she updates -- herself -- from the field (Blackberrys are indeed the politician's tool of choice). And I'm not just saying this because she did a good job of plugging Lubbock in her blog; this child of NASA scientists really is on top of the modern political zeitgeist.

You should also know that she's one hell of a speaker. (She has this in common with Bell and Van Os.) For example, her talking points on abortion are fantastic. Her goal: zero abortions, without taking away a woman's right to choose. How do we do this? Through education, healthcare, pre- and post- natal care, childrens' programs -- all the high-prioritiy issues that progressives share. It's brilliant how it all flows together. I am reminded that, as Democrats, we are not a divided party, but a party of strongly connected, socially responsible interests.

It's worth it to check out her website: www.radnofsky.com

2006 Sneak Peek: Chris Bell for TX Governor

The former Houston Congressman now famous for filing the first ethics complaint against Tom DeLay is running for Governor of Texas.

I believe that the Lubbock chapter of DFA can feel good backing this candidate. His campaign message is "the new mainstream," an eloquent refocusing of political priorities to where they belong and where progressives can win: education (fixing our education crisis as well as making higher education accessable to all), healthcare for all, honoring our soldiers, and supporting our rural communities. As a bonus, he's very electable, bringing his skills as a former TV anchor, lawyer, and congressman into play.

He will be speaking on 6/18 at DemocracyFest in Austin, so catch him there if you can.

His website is off to a good start: www.chrisbell.com

Why, I do believe we can win this one!

Dubya's RNC Gala Address

It is full of so much flak, so many outright lies, so many misleading memes that I didn't know immediately where to focus. After some thought, I have decided to bring to your attention one slightly subtle Republican ideological trend that disturbs me and, I believe, deserves the focus of our well-framed rebuttals wherever possible. (Bush quotes are in boldface.)

"And we believe in ownership. We want more people owning something in America. We want more entrepreneurs owning their own business."

Ownership, in Bush's language, means only individual and corporate ownership. This administration is not for public ownership, ownership by The People, ownership in the commons. Bush's ownership means "I got it, you don't." Folks, this is the dark side of capitalism, the side that must be mitigated by social programs, progressive taxation, and the wise use of resources held in common for the public good. Bush's ownership means it's everyone for themselves, and the big dogs always win.

And the lure of individual ownership for all americans (in any category of property you care to name) is dangerous because it's impossible to attain and to sustain. Not everyone can or should be a landowner. Not everyone can or should own a car, a house, a business, stocks, or whatever. It's unsustainable in the modern world, unsustainable with so many of us walking the Earth. This kind of ownership maybe makes sense if you're John Locke in a New World colony, staring down the open frontiers of manifest destiny. But it's outdated and dangerous now.

Moving on.

"See, I don't subscribe to the notion that only certain people are a part of the investor class. I believe every American should be a part of the investor class. I believe every American should be encouraged to own assets, so they can pass it on to whomever they choose -- assets that the federal government can never take away."

If everyone is a part of the investor class, then everyone is at increased risk of losing everything. Investing, which means speculation on market forces, is something you use disposable income to do, not your life savings (and this includes Social Security -- hands off, George!). Millions of Americans don't really have disposable income, and millions still wouldn't even if all government taxes, fees, etc went away. These people would have to gamble with their life savings, their food, clothing, and shelter, just to secure the benefits that they currently have. And it's a reality that not every investment is a winning investment; sometimes you lose.

So, the all-investor world would necessarily be the all-debt world. In the all-debt world, the government -- which answers to The People -- won't take your assets away and use them for the public good, your creditors will. And they will use them for whatever unaccountable-to-The-People uses they want.

"Our party is the party of growth, and we're showing the country we're also the party of spending restraint. That's why I submitted the first budget to actually cut non-security, discretionary spending since Ronald Reagan was in office. Congress is on track to hold non-discretionary -- non-security, discretionary spending below last year's levels. And that's an important message to send. And the message is this: We're going to spend your money wisely, or we're not going to spend it at all. (Applause.)"

The Republicans are showing us that they are the party of pulling the rug out from under our best social programs, of stealing the investement in the commons that our taxpayers have made and sending it out as refund checks to the rich. They have shown us that they are the party of getting us into wars we have no business being in, at great expense and at great benefit to major international corporations. I don't consider the last 4 years of government spending to be a wise use of The People's money. To me it looks more like an attack on all the government programs that make America a county to be proud of.

Their lines: the ownership society, the investor society, the wise government spending society. What crap.

We've got to take these concepts on, becuase they sound good on the surface, but what they actually mean would tear the fabric of our great society apart.

You can read the full text of Bush's address at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050517-9.html

Getting into community service

Tomorrow is the national DFA Day of Action for community service, and our local chapter is doing its part. We will be at the South Plains Food Bank Farm at 76th and Ave B from 9am-3pm weeding, cleaning, and working with other volunteer groups to get the facility ready for their "Friends and Family Day" on the 21st. The farm is a great resource for the community, providing truckloads of organic, chemical-free vegetables directly to the food bank. I am proud to help out their organization this weekend.

Community service is one of the pillars of advanced citizenship, which is what we're all about. Everyone in DFA understands that government works better with an active, involved populace; the same is true for every other aspect of life that impacts THE COMMONS, another idea we DFAers love. Community service is a natural fit for our group.

So, let's take that to heart and make community service events part of our regular group activities. I plan to include space on our agenda each month to discuss community service opportunities available to us as individuals and as a group.

"Become the change you seek."

More Pictures from April 14

Hey DFA!

I put our photos from our April 14 meeting with Randy Neugebauer's staff all on one page. I can't reiterate enough what a great experience it was for all of us that went. We probably didn't change any minds in the office, but we delivered our stories, stuck to message, and overall had a very civil face-to-face meeting. Keep your ears open for our future meetings of this type with our other elected representatives.

Thanks to Synthesis for posting some of the pics here on the blog with description!