Sunday, October 29, 2006

Florida Constitutional Amendments

The wording of the Amendments up for vote on the Ballot is like the Emperor's New Clothes: No one wants to admit it is entirely perplexing, lest one seem the simpleton. However, I fear for democracy that I, a well-read learned adult with advanced degrees, cannot understand the Amendments as they are worded on the Ballot.

Stop the insanity: state the Amendments in plain English for regular people. Otherwise democracy is surely impeded.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Raunch Culture relates to marriage stats

The statistics show that married adults are now in the minority (49.7%). This phenomenon has profound effects for our social structure and how future generations will understand their lives.

Research has consistently shown that everyone wants to get married: That goal has never faltered. Yet fear of divorce and changing social mores have stalled the trip to the altar. Ironically, couples who "test drive" marriage by moving in together first are more likely not to get married, and if they do, these couples are more likely to divorce.

Suspiciously, the rise of "Raunch Culture" coincides with the decrease in households with married couples. It seems that when women allow men to "sit on the fence" about marriage, objectify women’s bodies with no consequence, and stay adolescent forever, men will.

Marriage requires the hero's journey. It is a sacrifice not to “a ball and chain,” but rather to a conscious life freely chosen and fully embraced. Are most men today willing to take up the gauntlet? And are most women today settling for a boy, not a man?

Saturday, October 07, 2006

The Democrats’ Opportunity

How the Democrats Can Step Up - washingtonpost.com

Dear Mr. Ignatius,

What a delight it was to read your deeply insightful piece called “The Democrats’ Opportunity” today in my St. Pete Times. You describe, for the first time in the national discourse, exactly the issues we are facing and the dearth of leadership regarding these points.

I am pessimistic, however, that the Democrats will present a clear alternative emphasizing real change towards accountability, basic ethics, and cooperation, because they’ve failed to communicate a coherent statement on Iraq and general foreign policy in a post 9-11 world. Further, democrats failed to win the Presidency in 2002 because regular American democrats were not necessarily “For Kerry,” we were merely “For Anyone but Bush.” The reason Americans were not “For Kerry” was because he did not have a clearly communicated USP, or what we call in marketing, “Unique Selling Proposition.” A USP is something the people want, but are not getting, and can not get, someplace else. This makes the alternative clear and attractive.

Is the Democratic platform clear and attractive? No. The Democrats are being fed by the same hands of corruption in Washington. Democrats are getting more of a “pay-off” to stay mired in corruption and confused. Please see Moyer on America on PBS for the in-depth report on Abrahamoff/DeLay scandal.

Also, see my letter in the Times