2009.08.25: Carl Pope writes: The Wizards of "No"

Peace Corps Online: Directory: India: Special Report: India RPCV and Sierra Club Director Carl Pope: February 9, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: RPCV Carl Pope (India) : 2009.08.25: Carl Pope writes: The Wizards of "No"

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Saturday, May 01, 2010 - 2:48 pm: Edit Post

Carl Pope writes: The Wizards of "No"

Carl Pope writes: The Wizards of No

"The nation, including the press, is sleeping through a fundamental threat to self-government. An essential principal of democracy is that, while minorities must be respected and their rights guaranteed, governance rests with majorities. But since 1993, the U.S. Senate has turned what was once a historical anomaly -- an occasional days-long filibuster on issues of enormous controversy -- into a routine political tool that has elevated minority rule into perhaps the most important political dynamic in the country. In fact, a minority of forty senators -- enough to block action under the current culture -- might actually represent as little as 20 percent of the nation's population. Combine this with a Republican party that, in Washington at least, has decided that Congress should work on a bitterly partisan basis, and our government has lost its capacity to reflect the basic rules of our Constitution -- that government rests upon the consent of the governed." Sierra Club President Carl Pope served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960's.

Carl Pope writes: The Wizards of "No"

The Wizards of "No"

Springfield, IL -- This city is most famous as the political launching pad for Abraham Lincoln, a president who famously put serving the Constitution above everything else. But this summer it's seeing politics of a different kind -- Representative John Shimkus, for example, regaled the Illinois State Fair with the battle cry of the current Congressional Republican party:

You know there's a chant going on in America right now. And you know, it's really not a Republican chant yet. But it's a Republican chant by the grassroots America that are attending thousands of townhall meetings. And as congressmen enter these townhall meetings, what is the public saying to them? They are saying, "Just say no. Just say no. Just say no."

Now, Republicans -- that is going to be our chant from now until Election Day, because we've been saying no for a long time.

Lincoln, the father of Republican Party, would have been appalled. But the nation, including the press, is sleeping through a fundamental threat to self-government. An essential principal of democracy is that, while minorities must be respected and their rights guaranteed, governance rests with majorities. But since 1993, the U.S. Senate has turned what was once a historical anomaly -- an occasional days-long filibuster on issues of enormous controversy -- into a routine political tool that has elevated minority rule into perhaps the most important political dynamic in the country. In fact, a minority of forty senators -- enough to block action under the current culture -- might actually represent as little as 20 percent of the nation's population. Combine this with a Republican party that, in Washington at least, has decided that Congress should work on a bitterly partisan basis, and our government has lost its capacity to reflect the basic rules of our Constitution -- that government rests upon the consent of the governed.

The American people have not consented to the continued control of our lives, environment, and economy that is currently enjoyed by the coal and oil industries -- polls have consistently shown for two decades that they want energy innovation and transformation. At various times, a majority of Congress that also represents a large majority of the American people has been willing to respect this public will. Since the election of Barack Obama (and for the first time since the early days of the Clinton administration), the White House has agreed. But, because minority rule in the Senate blocks action, the lock that Big Carbon has on our economy has not been broken.

It's time to call the current rules of the Senate what they are -- a coup d'état by the minority, enabled by the desire of Democratic senators to hold on to the individual veto power those rules give them. This folly brought Bill Clinton's administration to its knees in 1993 -- and it's on the verge of doing the same thing to Barack Obama's.




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Headlines: August, 2009; RPCV Carl Pope (India); Figures; Peace Corps India; Directory of India RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for India RPCVs; NGO's; Environment





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Memo to Incoming Director Williams Date: August 24 2009 No: 1419 Memo to Incoming Director Williams
PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

Join Us Mr. President! Date: June 26 2009 No: 1380 Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director Date: July 30 2009 No: 1411 Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director
Senator Dodd's Senate Subcommittee held confirmation hearings for Aaron Williams to become the 18th Peace Corps Director. "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," said Dodd as he put Williams on the fast track to be confirmed by the full Senate before the August recess. Read our exclusive coverage of the hearings and our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.



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Story Source: Huffington Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - India; NGO's; Sierra Club; Environment

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