I have been studying political science for so long that it is rare that I hear anything profound come out of someone’s mouth regarding politics anymore. I think the last time I read something that made me go “OMG!” was several years ago while reading a biography of the first socialist leader of Sweden, Tage Erlander. To paraphrase severely- a business that does not pay it’s employees a living wage is a failing business in the eyes of the state, and should not be supported. Why would it be a failing business? Well the people who are employed are not making enough to live on, let alone contribute to the public good through paying taxes. If a business cannot employ people well enough so that they can pay taxes, then the business is failing it’s duty to the state (WalMart- I’m thinking about you) by pawning off some of the costs of doing business on to the state.

So I was watching Bill Moyers interview Benjamin Barber about his book Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults and Swallow Citizens Whole. And I had another “OMG!” moment. To paraphrase again

When politics invades every aspect of life, we call it totalitarianism, when religion invades every aspect of life, we call it theocracy, but when capitalism invades every aspect of life, we call it liberty.

We are slaves to the market economy. It invades everything we do, from birth to death. But we call this freedom because we think we have a choice. More from the interview (and again paraphrased because I am not great with on the spot dictation) We think we have a choice because we can choose over 200 models of cars to drive, but what we can’t choose is quality public transportation because it’s not available.

The freedom to shop is not true freedom. (I would say that the freedom from shopping is not true freedom either and the kid and I are in the midst of what is being called “The Suckiest Christmas Ever!”) So if we are entrenched in a society based on shopping- what do we call it?

(Editor’s note: You may have noticed the Powell’s books banner at the top of this site. If you are looking for books and you go through my site using that banner or any links, like the one for the Barber book above, and you buy books through that link- I get a commission. Yes I realize the hypocrisy of shilling for cash in this post. But buying from Powell’s mean you support one of the last independent book sellers and help the Kid and I at the same time. I have also got some t-shirt designs up at CafePress, so if you want a bitchy t-shirt, now you know where to get one. )

Googling yourself and seeing that at least some of the links actually are for you. At least 3 of the links on the first google search page are me, despite my having a much more common last name than I thought.

Now if only those damn genealogy freaks would stop googling my dead relatives, I might be the top link. A girl can dream- can’t she?

I’m not a big one for celebrity gossip blogging but……

Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears’ 16 year old sister, is pregnant.

Let’s see, take a teenager, give her more than the usual pressures not to have sex by requiring her to maintain virginal innocence in order to keep lucrative kid’s television job. Amazingly, teenage girl still has sex, and gets pregnant.

Now if a whole shitload of money and massive public scrutiny are not enough to keep kids from having sex, then can we really expect abstinence only programs to work for kids who don’t have that kind of pressure?

Nope.

I’ve been trying to dig up a video clip of my favorite celebrity interview moment ever, but I can’t seem to find it. All I can do is give you this quote

Asked if motherhood is the best experience of her life, Huffman says, “No, no, and I resent that question. Because I think it puts women in an untenable position, because unless I say to you, ‘Oh, Lesley, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done with my whole life,’ I’m considered a bad mother. And just when I said no you, you went back.”

That was Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives fame. I am not a Housewives fan, but I love Huffman. I loved Sports night. I love her husband, William H. Macy. And I especially love that she doesn’t give pat answers to stupid interview questions.

Just for kicks, I thought I’d give you peeps a little peek at what-all i’ve got open on my computer:

first of all, it’s 1:48 AM where I am, and my sister’s iPod is for some reason blaring Eminem. WTF?

I am slowly going through some 768 old posts and labeling them so that they are more easily searched.

It makes my head hurt.

I should have booze for this job.

Sojourners wrote:

Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:09:42 GMT
From: “Sojourners”
To: “Lisa Hull”
Subject: Burger Scrooge

Dear Lisa,

For Christmas, Burger King is trying to make the country’s poorest workers even poorer. Click here to tell Burger King to do the right thing.

A few months ago, we asked you to send messages to Burger King, asking them to join McDonald’s and Taco Bell in increasing the sub-poverty wages of Florida tomato pickers.

Almost 20,000 of you responded, but Burger King’s behavior has only gotten worse. Not only have they failed to heed the faith community’s call to improve wages and working conditions for tomato pickers – they’re working to undermine the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ existing agreements with other fast-food chains!

This Christmas season, tell Burger King to stop being a Scrooge and start paying farm workers fair wages.

As Eric Schlosser, author of Fast-Food Nation, explained in the New York Times:

The migrant farm workers who harvest tomatoes in South Florida have one of the nation’s most backbreaking jobs. For 10 to 12 hours a day, they pick tomatoes by hand, earning a piece-rate of about 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket. During a typical day each migrant picks, carries, and unloads two tons of tomatoes.

Yum! Brands (owner of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC) and McDonald’s had agreed to pay a penny more per pound to increase wages by 70 percent per bucket, but this holiday season workers aren’t receiving the increase. Why? Because Burger King has refused to pay the extra penny …

and its refusal has encouraged tomato growers to cancel the deals already struck with Taco Bell and McDonald’s. This month the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, representing 90 percent of the state’s growers, announced that it will not allow any of its members to collect the extra penny for farm workers.

A Burger King spokesman responded, “Florida growers have a right to run their businesses how they see fit” – apparently, even if that means putting profits ahead of justice and dignity for their workers.

Meanwhile, on Wall Street, Goldman Sachs – a major shareholder in Burger King, with two representatives on the board of directors – is preparing to pay holiday bonuses. Last year, Goldman Sach’s top 12 executives received more than $200 million in bonuses – more than twice the annual earnings of 10,000 Florida tomato pickers.

Click here to send a message to Burger King and Goldman Sachs, calling for justice for farmworkers!

As we read of such injustices in this time of Advent, we reflect upon God’s justice and mercy, as described in the words of Mary:

[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; [God] has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:52-53).

Advent reminds us that God intends well-being for all, not just some. We hope you’ll join us in taking action.

Blessings,

Elizabeth, Ryan, Duane, and the rest of the team at Sojourners

P.S. We need Burger King to hear loud and clear that it is time to ensure fair wages for tomato pickers. Can you please share this message with at least five of your friends, members of your family, or congregation?

Quote source: Eric Schlosser, “Penny Foolish.” The New York Times, 11/29/2007.

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From a story over at Feministe I learned about a 10 year old Australian girl who was gang raped by men ranging between 14 and 26 years old. The men were given probation because the girl “probably agreed” to having sex with them, all 9 of them. Yeah right.

First, the age of consent in Australia is 16.