We never had a chance. The corporatists, the racists, all of them had
tremendous power in the government and they fought every reform tooth and nail.
The few reforms that came to fruition, were only for white people. And if you
think about it, they were short lived. Some of the wonderful things lasted only
for about four years. Some of the changes actually appeared to last because of
the growing wartime economy. The unions fought for the workers who belonged to
them, not for all workers. Remember the conflict between the unions for the
skilled workers and those for the unskilled workers? And when I think about how
FDR ignored those Jewish refugees for political reasons and later set up
concentration camps for Japanese Americans, it makes my blood boil. I hate
Donald Trump, but so far, what has he done that equals the infamy of
imprisoning Japanese Americans?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 1:21 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Wet and Wonderful
Good observations, Miriam. Makes me homesick for those "good old days".
Actually, I feel that we stood at a crossroad during Roosevelt's long
administration. We had an opportunity to build on the good, and discard much
of the bad. But we were "one upped" by a growing corporate Oligarchy. While
the Working Class was busy building a strong "middle class" and an
international power, the Ruling Class was busy figuring how to take over.
Carl Jarvis
On 9/10/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm back with Eleanor Roosevelt again, now in Volume 3, having taken a
rest from the incredibly detailed and long book on Obama. Anyway,
it's, I think,
1938 and if you look at the basic issues, it could be 2017. Some
things have changed like the public consensus on LGBT rights, racism,
birth control, abortion, and the increase in the number of people of color
who live here.
But nothing has changed, attitudes on race, on poverty, on American
exceptionalism, on immigration, on the equality or lack thereof, of women.
The King and Queen of England were visiting the Roosevelts and they
all made a visit to Hyde Park. Eleanor brought along her staff from The White
House.
It was Eleanor who had hired an entirely African American staff for
the White House. The butler at Hyde Park chose to take his vacation
during the royal visit because he disapproved of Negroes serving the royal
family.
During this period of time, several ships filled with Jewish refugees
cruised from port to port, including along our shores, with no
entrance anywhere. Everyone knew what was happening to Jews in Germany
but no one would allow them in. FDR wouldn't fight for them for fear
of displeasing his political opponents which would then endanger the
passage of legislation which he favored. There were powerful political
leaders who considered the Roosevelts to be Communists. Bernard Baruch
was attempting to find a haven for Jewish refugees. He didn't think
that Palestine was a good alternative because he felt that if Jewish
refugees were placed there, a Jewish ghetto would result. He favored
The Democratic States of Africa, adjacent areas in several African
countries which he considered to be unpopulated, with a large swathe in the
Congo. But the leader in the Congo didn't agree.
American Jews were not especially anxious to have all those refugees
come to the US because they felt this would increase anti-Semitism here.
Interesting, all these white people trying to decide which area of the
world, inhabited by non white people, would be appropriate for dumping
large numbers of Jewish refugees. The big difference, though, between
then and now is that back then, no one was aware that their industry
and way of live would destroy our environment and back then, no one
had yet invented useable nuclear weapons which could completely
destroy life on earth. And back then, FDR was attempting to regulate
Capitalism in order to save it. We hadn't yet attained a complete corporate
takeover.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2017 12:45 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Wet and Wonderful
When a society places profit before people, there are no "safe havens"
to run to. Everything is done for profit under Capitalism, and if it
brings a small profit, the challenge is to refine it until it brings a
bigger profit. A good example are the airplane seats. Once almost
comfortable, the seats have been redesigned and the space around them
reconfigured until only children sized people can find them
acceptable. The last Spring Training baseball game we attended, had
newly designed seating that enabled me to get very well acquainted
with the person on either side of me, as well as the hair on the head
in my lap and the knees in my back. And for the privilege of using such
newly designed comforts, I get to pay extra.
But anyway, we read about how dangerous the world was a few centuries
back, with Highwaymen and thieves at every bend in the road, and we
overlook the fact that our world is even more dangerous. Toxic fumes
belching, even on a good day, from the stacks of the big refineries,
toxic water in our lakes, streams and even in our faucets. Even
backyard gardens can be bearers of toxic vegetables from the chemicals
left in the soil by toxic fallout. When I begin thinking that it
would be highly dangerous living in a building such as Miriam
described, I look about me and realize we are no better off, in so far as
safety is concerned.
After such a long period without rain, our beautiful forest was ready
to explode at the touch of a match or lightning strike. This morning
our generator fired up as it is set to do, and then shut down after
about three minutes. We are now running it on "Run" as opposed to
"Auto". Sunday is not the day to try locating a repair person. We
are out of the congestion of the big city, but if an emergency arises
we are a long way from help. If a big snow blows in, the county's few
plows take care of the paved roads before turning to the gravel county
lanes. Trees can suddenly crash down in a wind storm, blocking any
hope of escape. No, in each case we must weigh the pros and cons and
decide which risks we can accept, or which ones we can afford.
Isn't it time we clever folks designed a better System for All the
People, instead of simply pampering the wealthy?
Carl Jarvis
On 9/10/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Reading this interchange between Carl and Bonnie is like looking
through a window into a totally different world. Well, maybe there
are some folks way out east on Long Island who deal with similar issues.
And of course, I do remember having to replace a roof in one of my
houses a long time ago. And at one point, maybe 13 or 14 years ago, I
think we bought a half cord of wood for the fireplace, but it was for
the luxury of having a wood fire in the evenings. And I don't
remember the cost, maybe $100? Maybe only $50.
But it lasted all winter. Here in the suburbs, people pay lots and
lots of money each month for a protected lifestyle within the system.
After Fred died and I was not accountable to anyone for how much
money I spent, and a hurricane had me without electric power for a
week, I bought a generator for the house. It was the kind that goes
on automatically when there's an electrical outage because I knew I
wouldn't be wandering outside in a high wind or a snow storm to pull
a cord in order to turn the thing on. It covered a good many things
in the house, but not the whole house and back then, maybe 1988, it
cost $10,000. And I paid an annual fee of $200 for maintenance. Now
I'm in an apartment building where everything depends on electricity
except for the hot water and there's no generator. Nothing works when
the power goes out. That's why Hurricane Sandy was such a nightmare for me.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl ;
Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2017 10:29 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Wet and Wonderful
Good Sunday morning, Bonnie.
I'm sure that in your work you've also seen the "quick fix" roof patches.
The Blue Tarp business must be booming. And of course, if you can't
afford to have the roofer out, you can count on the price of a simple
Blue Tarp rising quickly. I was shocked the last time we bought
several. We use the tarps to cover our supply of cord wood.
But first, back to that once inexpensive roof repair. A number of
years ago, Cathy and I were preparing to head to Arizona for a couple
of weeks.
This was the first of March, and a wild wind came up the valley and
tore about one third of our roof off. We were fortunate to find a
roofer who could squeeze us into his schedule, and for $2,200 he
replaced the damaged shingles. Our insurance deductible is $2,000.
We paid the entire bill. Later, an entire roof had to be put in
place. The builder had screwed up the original roof to the point
that it had to be taken off completely(including the part we'd had
replaced only five years
earlier) to the tune of $10,500. The insurance people told me that
they did not cover replacement due to original improper construction.
Frankly, if it were not a requirement in order to take a building
loan, I'd save the money in an account, and pay any damage to the
house...what am I saying? We already have to do that!
At least we've had better cooperation when it came to vehicle damage
and windshield replacements. But we'll take our chances on such
things as earthquake insurance, etc. because they all are nothing
more than money makers for the insurance companies. Folks who
believe they are paying for that sort of coverage ought to take a
look at the small print, especially any payment ceiling that protects
the insurance companies.
Back to that cord wood. When we first had our house build, in 1994,
I could clamber up the hill and drag out downed trees, and buck them
up for firewood. For many years we kept the propane cost down to a
minimum in this way. But, while aging is good for fire wood, it is
not so good on old bones. I finally had to hang up my four foot drag
saw and buy cord wood.
We get a "real good deal" from a fellow out beyond Port Angeles.
$500 for three cords of dry wood, delivered but not stacked. When he
quoted the price the first time, I had to sit down and put my head
between my legs.
The biggest problem is that my memory is still too clear. I recall
when I was 19 and 20, working for a fellow who removed trees around
Seattle. We hit a bonanza when my boss contracted with several folks
in the Seattle Highlands, North of the city. We worked clearing
Alder and fire damaged Fir trees on several huge estates, for two years.
After a days hard labor, my buddy and I cut up the scrap Alder and
sold it for firewood. $19 per cord, and for $2 more we would stack
it. Since the boss was paying us
$1 per hour, we made far more by selling the cord wood. I actually
felt as if we were cheating folks when we told them how much we
charged. But we never had a single complaint. I remember during the
Second World War, a propaganda film that showed a German fellow
headed to the bakery to buy a loaf of bread. He was pushing a
wheelbarrow full of Marks, to cover the price. I am keeping my
wheelbarrow at the ready.
Carl Jarvis
On 9/10/17, Bonnie L. Sherrell <blslarner@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've been glorying in it, too, Carl. Except I have to get the
roofers here soon.... Finally looks as if I'll have the money, but
the weather is finally!
changing!
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even
the very wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
We gave the Goblin King control of our nation!
