Health Care Reform “Hypocracy” is Kid’s Stuff Compared to…

The Never-Ending War in Iraq

Let us not forget that today is the 7th Anniversary of the ill-conceived and incompetently executed war in Iraq. Oh, I forgot:

I am truly disturbed by the current debate going on in our country with regard to health care reform. If one were to believe the critics, then civilization as we know it is coming to an end (just as it did with the creation of Medicare and Social Security) if the current law passes. The nay-sayers go on-and-on about how we are on the slippery slope to socialism or “we are too complex a society,” or “we can’t afford it” and MY FAVORITE, “the government cannot ‘mandate’ health care coverage.”  Well, I have a couple of quick thoughts about this whole debate:

1) For the last 7 years the government has “mandated” that you and I pay for a war that has accomplished virtually NOTHING. The wars have been a hideous tragedy. It’s the classic example of “guns or butter.” You may have your mandate that you hate (health care) and so do I. I wonder which one would benefit my fellow Americans more?

2) Combined, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost over $1.2 Trillion dollars. Where, may I ask was all the concern about “cost” when the last administration manufactured the lies that sent us to war? Funny how we can come up with that money. Let’s just say that there are some venal and cynical “interests” that have become very wealthy from our never-ending presence in Iraq.

3) I can’t even begin to express my disappointment with us, the American people who, instead of embracing the values of unity and compassion for our fellow citizens, would rather make up a million reasons to avoid reforming health care. I believe this whole debate has less to do with frustration over “the process” (during which both parties have been shamelessly political) than it does with scaremongering and plain old selfishness.

An Italian relative of mine who is an insurance broker recently said something to me that really hit home with regard to this whole debate. “Do you know why you’re having such a problem with health care reform? You can’t admit to yourselves that you don’t want to pay for ‘those people,’ those people being the poor, the disabled, minorities, foreigners. You think you’re not paying for ‘those people’ because you never see the hospital bill. You think there’s some magical pool of money out there for those who can’t afford insurance. You think there is going to be a government takeover like us socialists in Europe. The fact is, most nationalized health care systems in the world are not socialized or government run. The worst thing is that you think reform is going to cost you more money when, in fact, in the near future, health care is going to cost you more money whether you like it or not. Companies will be unable or unwilling to help pay for your insurance.”

Even a foreigner can see how ridiculous we have become.

The Promise of Spring

Let me just say that tomorrow is the first day of Spring in the year 2010. All cultures celebrate the coming of Spring with celebrations of renewal and regeneration. It’s sad that at a time when we should be anxious with the promise of positive changes in our country, that we are locked in an “ideological civil war” over health care.

My most sincere hope is that America can find a way through what has become the most divisive and destructive time I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime.

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Waterfront Construction is Leaving Kenmore – Now What?

WHO WILL CONTROL LAKEPOINTE?

There has been a long-standing and important discussion about developing the waterfront area here in Kenmore known as Lakepointe. Since 1989 there has been a proposed development of the 45 acres on Lake Washington where the Sammamish River enters the lake. It is one of those wonderfully ambitious, visionary and seemingly impossible projects that has yet to materialise.

The fact is, Kenmore’s waterfront is a a real eyesore that looks more like an industrial wasteland than a part of our city.  One of my readers recently commented:

“We have one Petunia in an onion PATCH. That would be LakePointe. If this is not developed and handled properly it will be all onions!!!!The City needs to get involved and not let greed and grandois ambition cloud their goal. The community needs to get involved and not assume someone else is watching out for their interests, no one is. We have health, environmental, clean water issues, ground water issues, storm water issues, hazardous waste issues, toxic issues, and more all on the one piece of property, LakePointe(45 acre Peninsula). We have the potential to pull Kenmore out of the designation labeled the armpit of Lake Washington,to Kenmore’s only opportunity for an economic, vibrant,environmentally friendly, community, the Last Pearl to be found, on Lake Washington, if we choose, this vision can only happen as a community effort.”

This is not an uncommon opinion expressed to me by my friends and neighbors here in “our fair city.” It’s one of those “if only” conversations about how incredible Kenmore could be if there was the vision and money to transform our truly spectacular position on Lake Washington from a gritty, off-limits wasteland to a vibrant waterfront community.

Waterfront Construction Gives Notice

Waterfront Construction is leaving in June 2010- What's going to happen now?

In a recent article in the Kenmore/Bothell Reporter by Tom Corrigan, it was reported that Kenmore’s Waterfront Construction (WC) will be leaving it’s location at the mouth of the Sammamish. WC has been the subject of a number of accusations regarding environmental violations. Several local watchdog groups have been accusing Waterfront of various questionable practices but Waterfront has indicated that this is not reason for their departure.

Is This the Beginning of Something New?

Since this news broke, a number of people have asked me what might happen with the property. Could this be the beginning of a transformation at Lakepointe? I’ve heard rumours that the City wants to purchase the property in order to create a park. I really have no idea what’s going to happen, but I think all of us here in Kenmore need to focus our attention on this development.

I would encourage you to contact the Mayor and City Council to see what they think about this situation. Don’t let this opportunity pass us by. Just click on this link for a directory:

http://www.cityofkenmore.com/Page.aspx?cid=1698

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Bastyr University Day at the Washington State Capitol

State Legislators Honor Bastyr University

Recognizing Bastyr University’s accomplishments in the areas of education, research and clinical service, Washington state legislators presented resolutions on February 24, 2010, honoring Bastyr in the chambers of the state Senate and House of Representatives in Olympia.

Sponsored by state Sen. Paull Shin (D), and Rep. Roger Goodman (D), the resolutions acknowledged Bastyr’s commitment to a sustainable health care model, the University’s role in minimizing its environmental impact through green building practices, and its instrumental role in increasing research activity in the natural health sciences. The resolutions were presented as part of the first annual “Bastyr University Day” at the state capitol.

Kenmore Mayor, Dave Baker and Bastyr President Daniel K. Church PhD

Joining Bastyr University President Daniel K. Church, PhD, at the event were University founders, members of the board of trustees, faculty, staff and student representatives. City of Kenmore Mayor David Baker also attended in support and recognition of the University and its achievements. The following legislators spoke on behalf of Bastyr University: Rep. Ruth Kagi (D), Rep. Bill Hinkle (D), Rep. Jan Angel (R), Sen. Karen Keiser (D), Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R), and Sen. Dan Sweker (R).

“We are honored that the Washington State Legislature recognizes Bastyr University’s dedication to enhancing the health and well-being of the human community, and we are grateful to Sen. Shin and Rep. Goodman for their leadership in sponsoring the important resolutions that were read at ‘Bastyr University Day.’ We are especially grateful to Mayor David Baker and other representatives from the City of Kenmore who attended in support and recognition of the University’s achievements,” said Daniel K. Church, PhD. “The day’s events further inspire our mission as we continue to educate future health care leaders. We look forward to making ‘Bastyr University Day,’ an annual tradition celebrating the University’s contributions locally and globally.”

Located in Kenmore, Wash., Bastyr University is a nonprofit, accredited institution internationally recognized as a pioneer in natural health arts and sciences education. Founded in 1978 as the John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine, the University integrates the pursuit of scientific knowledge with the wisdom of ancient healing methods from around the world. Today, Bastyr University is the largest university of its kind in the United States, combining a multidisciplinary curriculum with leading-edge research and clinical training. The University offers 14 accredited degree and certificate programs in the fields of naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, herbal sciences, health psychology, exercise science, and whole food nutrition.

This article was submitted to me by Jordan Lindstrom of Bastyr University. I’d like to thank him and all the highly talented and dedicated people at Bastyr University as well as those Washington State Legislators who support our local institutions and communities.

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I’m Not the Only One Bummed About the Rain!

After Some Unseasonably Beautiful Weather the Rain Is Back

Someone isn't happy!

I was at a grocery store yesterday and as I was heading back to my car I saw this poor creature hanging his head in disgust. He was clearly bummed-out about the rain….just look at him!

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKIN AT? YOU GOT A PROBLEM WIT DAT?

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An Antidote to Stupidity – Naomi Klein and Barbara Ehrenreich

Quit Listening to Stupid People

My wife and I were in Italy when Sarah Palin was chosen as John McCain’s running mate in the 2008 elections. My relatives turned to us and asked, Chi e’? Who is that? Of course we had no idea then and, frankly, after over a year of undeserved attention and overexposure, I’m still not sure who she is. Even tonight, as she addressed the “Tea Bagger Convention” all she can seem to parrot are worn-out clichés and political half-truths. I am sure of one thing: She’s not the fastest bullet in the chamber. In fact, what so disturbs me about Mrs. Palin is that anyone takes her seriously as a politician, leader or thoughtful person.

In the brilliant book “Outliers,” by Malcolm Gladwell, the author identifies what he calls the 10,000 hour rule. Studies suggest that the key to success in any field has nothing to do with talent. It’s simply practice, 10,000 hours of it — 20 hours a week for 10 years. And you know something, it’s clear listening to Mrs. Palin that she has spent very little time cultivating her intellect (or much else it seems).

So, as an antidote to stupidity, I invite you to watch the  clips below that feature two of the smartest kids in the class, Naomi Klein and Barbara Ehernreich. Both of these brilliant thinkers are not only accomplished authors and lecturers but women who have addressed some of the most important and provocative issues of our time. Ah, it’s nice to listen to smart people:

Naomi Klein – The Shock Doctrine

Barbara Ehrenreich – Bright Sided

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The Omnivore’s Dilemma – What We Eat Matters…A Lot

You Will Never Experience Food the Same Way Again

Most Americans have no idea how food is produced in the U.S.. Would it surprise you to know that almost everything on the American menu today is based on corn and petroleum? Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, examines the various food chains that bring food to the American dinner table. What he reveals is both interesting and downright disturbing. A warning: If you read this book, you will never look at what you eat the same way.

Here’s a short video clip of Pollan discussing some of the ideas behind “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”:

Lest you think this book is all about “going vegetarian” and swearing off the modern world, I assure you that the point of the book is nothing of the sort. In fact, Pollan acknowledges that we are, indeed, omnivores which makes our food choices that much more important. It’s how our food is “manufactured” and manipulated by food scientists, large agribusiness and genetic engineering that so disturb him. We have become so far removed from our food sources that we no longer know how it is produced or how far it travelled to arrive on the dinner table.

I hope you can make some time to sit down and read this important book. It will enlighten you and it may even change your relationship to the food you eat.

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A Stunning Discovery – Our 1st Home Is “For Sale” and We Want To Cry!

Seeing Our First Home “For Sale” Is a Real Wake Up Call!

Our 1st Home circa 1990 in Shoreline, WA

My wife and I have a confession to make: We bought our first home because there was a raspberry patch in the back yard. Yup. That’s what sold us on the place! We were looking for a house with room for a garden and when we ate some of those sweet, ripe berries we were hooked. When we think back on it, we realize that we should have spent more time looking at the house itself because….well, we have 16 years of “home project” stories to share with you if you ever want to hear them.

It’s a classic story. We had been looking at homes in 1989 which was a tough time for a young couple to be buying their first house. Prices were rising, interest rates weren’t all that great (our first mortgage was at 10.25%) and a huge number of homes were being purchased by Californians who saw good values in Puget Sound. We had looked at a huge number of homes with our VERY PATIENT real estate agent and were losing patience as we kept getting beaten out of sales left and right. Luckily,  our agent found a home that wasn’t yet listed and a contractor who was anxious to make a deal. Well, we ended up writing our offer on the hood of a car in the parking lot of the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle on a warm July evening. We were excited and really, really scared!

We lived in our little house (barely 800 square feet) for 16 years. There was hardly one square inch of the place that we didn’t alter, remodel, tweak or paint. When it came to the yard Virginia was the “Flower Lady” and I was the “Vegetable Guy.” Necessity forced me to learn all about the challenges of owing an old home. Sometimes this was not very fun but today, as a real estate agent, the experiences of fixing that little house have made me a better advocate for my clients. I still can’t fix a leaking faucet!

The truth is, WE REALLY LOVED OUR HOUSE. Several of our cats were born, grew-up and died at that house. We entertained and frolicked there. It was a wonderful little universe that we made our own for many, many years. That’s why, when I drove through the old neighborhood on the way home from an appointment today, I was shocked to see a “For Sale” sign in front of our first house. A wave of intense emotion literally gripped me as I pulled into the driveway and saw the old house all “prettied-up” for potential buyers:

Manicured and "prettied-up" for sale!

When I drove up to the house, I discovered it was vacant. I have to tell you, I really struggled to get the key and go into our old house. I had not been in the home since we sold it and moved here to Kenmore in 2005 and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel walking into a place where my wife and I had lived for so long…………..

As it turned out, I was surprised to find that the home was almost the same as we left it 5 years ago.  I was also overcome with a sense that Virginia and I had been good stewards of this little house as had the last owner. We really exerted a lot of  hard work to make the house a better place when we lived there and as I write these words I’m proud that it’s going to be another lucky family’s home. It really is a cute little place.

When I got home today to share my experience and pictures with my wife she was very emotional. After all, we were in our 20’s when we bought the house and we became “real adults” living there with our crazy cats.  It was a time in our lives when we learned how to deal with many of the challenges life throws at us. Most importantly, we share some wonderful memories of good times and creating a life together in that little house. I hope the new owners find as much joy there as we did.

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RIP Howard Zinn – The People’s Historian

If You Haven’t Read Howard Zinn, You’re Not Educated

It has often been said that History is told by the powerful. Well, when it comes to American History, Howard Zinn challenged and defeated that notion in 1980 with his powerfully influential work, “A People’s History of the United States.”

Required Reading for All Americans!

Howard Zinn, a professor of History at Boston University, generated a great deal of controversy among scholars and critics with “A People’s History” because he wrote about the American story from the perspective of slaves, the poor and working people. For those of you who haven’t yet read this book, I highly recommend you do. It very well may give you a different perspective of “populism” and class struggle in the U.S..

For those of you unfamiliar with Howard Zinn and want a quick insight into his thinking, take a look at this interview with him in 2008. Howard Zinn: one of the good guys!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wajahat-ali/the-late-great-howard-zin_b_439481.html

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The Kenmore Crows Are Back!

Dr. John Marzluff Knows Our Crows

Dr. John Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife Science

During the winter months, the residents of Kenmore are “blessed” with the presence of thousands of crows. Kenmore has a number of natural habitats that the crows love. Sometimes the sky is literally filled with these wonderfully animated (and noisy) pranksters. I’ve written about the crows in previous posts and a couple of days ago a reader asked the following question:

“Tonight we were walking down by Cascadia Community College on the trail. Thousands and Thousands of crows filled the sky until it was dark. We saw their flight lines. At one point, it was a little frightening for our daughter, however, we were so mesmerized, she too was in awe. Every morning we see them fly South, every evening they fly North. I think their roosting spot are the wetlands and trees in front of the college.

I’ve always liked crows for their personality, however, I’ve never seen numbers like these in the last twenty years I’ve lived in Bothell. I’m hoping they don’t feast too much on the baby robins in the Spring. I would love a blog from professor John Marzluff to tell us why the numbers have gone up so much.”

Well, this really piqued my curiosity, so I wrote Professor Marzluff,  who lives in the area and who is a world renowned crow guru, to see if I could sit down with him and “talk crow!” We will  be meeting at the UW in the near future and he graciously sent me some responses to questions he’s received recently from a Bothell High School student. She was wondering why there are so many crows in the area:

1. What are some possible causes of this increase in crows populations?

2.  How would this might effect the community like in Bothell?

3.    Due to this change, what else if affected and how?

The crows  fertilize the grounds below their roost.  This has been shown to be significant in Japan, for example.  So, in the place they are now roosting they are adding fertilizer (crow feces) to the restoration planting site FOR FREE–this is what we call an ecosystem service.  It should make the plant grow taller, quicker and beautify the Bothell surroundings.

I’m really excited at the prospect of sitting down with Professor Marzluff. If any of you have burning questions about crows or other bird species and their relationship to our local environment, please let me know and I’ll ask him.

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Ignoring the Dream of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Ugly Truth About Us in 2010

My birthday falls on April 3rd. I had just turned 9 years old when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN on April 4th, 1968. I can still remember, even as a boy, the powerful feeling that washed over me. I remember thinking,”There’s something terribly wrong with us, with our country, with the war and with the hatred.” At that time my family and I were living in north central Texas. We lived close to Sheppard Air Force Base, the Vietnam war was turning savage and racial tensions were flaring all over the country. There was a lot that was “raging” at that time. And let me be blunt, there were a lot of hard-core racists in the town where I lived. Even though Texas isn’t considered the “deep south” there was, at that time, plenty of bigotry to go around. It was open and it was nasty. I’ve always felt uncomfortable thinking about those days.

40 Years Later

As I’ve grown into an adult, I have developed my own opinion (right or wrong) about the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. and the meaning of who we are as a people. Indeed, 40 years have brought many changes to “race” in America. I think it’s fair to say (and I’ve listened to a lot of friends, scholars, leaders, journalists and activists of all stripes) that some things have gotten better since those dark days in the 60’s.  It’s also obvious that there are still huge inequalities with regard to education, incarceration and a myriad of other problems. For a number of years I was beginning to believe that, as I heard on a radio conversation today, America was on the brink of becoming “post-racial.” Clearly, the demographics show that we are quickly becoming “multi-ethnic.” I believe this couldn’t happen fast enough. To me it makes sense. In an imperfect world, America seemed to be on the right track.

Birthers, Teabaggers and Beck

But then, President Obama was elected last year and something truly evil reared its ugly head. It started with the “birthers” who claim that Mr. Obama wasn’t born in America. Then it was outrage and fear that his middle name is “Muslim.” Then, the “tea baggers” (who claim to be a “take your country back” movement) began to have rallies that were far more than anti-tax/anti-political barbecues. No, many of  these vocal groups have mixed their populism with their racism. It’s as if being anti-tax means you have a hall pass to be a racist jerk. And then, of course, there is Glenn Beck (the very definition of cry-baby-whitie) who felt justified in labelling the President “a racist.”

Lest You Think I’m Exaggerating

Below is a picture of Dale Robertson, a self proclaimed “originator and organizer” of the Tea Bag movement. Since this is a G-Rated blog, I’ve edited the photo. I think you’ll get the point:

Dale Robertson at a Tea Bag rally on Feburary 27, 2009

OF COURSE, numerous Tea Bag organizations have distanced themselves from Mr. Robertson knowing full-well that his display (what’s up with the shirt?) probably does represent what they truly believe. If you spend a little time looking over photos and film of many Tea Bag rallies you’ll notice he’s not a lone example. Lest I forget, allow me to point out that the original Boston Tea Party was not an anti-government act. The colonists were rejecting the authority of the British crown to levy taxes.

We Haven’t Come Far Enough

In an article entitled “Turning King’s Dream into a Nightmare” the journalist and cultural commentator Chris Hedges has some brutally critical things to say about the way in which the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. has been misappropriated:

“King’s words have been appropriated by the people who rejected him in the 1960s,” said Professor James Cone, who teaches at Union Theological Seminary in New York and who wrote the book “Martin & Malcolm & America.” “So by making his birthday a national holiday, everybody claims him, even though they opposed him while he was alive.”

Hedges goes on to say that King, whose background was solidly middle-class was, toward the end of his life, influenced by the thinking of Malcolm X, whose background reflects what we would still recognize today as poor, tough and definitely NOT privileged. Hedges writes:

“We pretend there is equality and equal opportunity while ignoring the institutional and economic racism that infects our inner cities and fills our prisons, where a staggering one in nine black men between the ages of 20 and 34 are incarcerated. There are more African-American men behind bars than in college. “The cell block has replaced the auction block,” the poet Yusef Komunyakaa writes.”

I believe it’s really important for us to acknowledge that we have become extremely lazy when it comes to the “American Dream.” It sure sounds good, but in the last year it’s plain as day that, fundamentally, we are a deeply divided and  racist society. The election of a mixed-race president has only fuelled the anger, fear and bigotry of what appears to be a large number of Americans. I have relatives who say things about the President that are crass and hateful beyond belief, and it makes me wonder if perhaps we have forgotten what basic decency and compassion are about.

In the end, Mr. Robertson has a right to express his maladjusted opinions. The problem is, the voices of many like him have become very loud recently and I’m afraid Americans are ignoring the Dream of Martin Luther King Jr.. Mr. Robertson’s strategy is easy. Just get up in the morning, dawn an ugly shirt and stand in public with a sign full of racial epithets. Our job, yours and mine, is to challenge his brand of stupidity, hatred and bigotry. We have a tougher job, but in the end, it’s the right thing to do.

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