Post-Election 2008: Time to Get to Work!

With the election of Barack Obama, history has been made ... the kind that cannot be unmade.

But this country is still engaged in 2 wars (with more to come?) and a health care crisis. The nations of the world are tumbling through an economic freefall. Our planet's climate is changing, and not for the better.

Now the real campaign begins. We must make our voices heard. The era of Ignoring the Voter is over.

The November5 effort seeks to organize voters in each of the 435 Congressional districts over the next 100 days, in a non-partisan effort to urge our Congressmembers to eliminate unnecessary military spending, encourage investment in clean alternative energy (solar and wind) and energy conservation, establish a $10.00 Living Wage, pass privately delivered, publicly funded health care, promote and support education, and clean up our election process.

Please check out the November5 site, and send the link to all the concerned citizens you know.

(NOTE: A video starts playing automatically when you enter the site.)

Dona Nobis Pacem

A fervent wish for peace ... in ourselves, our homes, our neighborhoods, our nation and our world.

The Refuge is proud to join the Dona Nobis Pacem blog movement, founded by blogger Mimi Lenox. We celebrate the movement's 2nd anniversary today.

More from the OTHER Presidential (and 2 OTHER Vice-Presidential) Candidates

In the U.S., "third-party" and independent candidates have successfully won many local elections. The question that comes to mind is, why do they bother to run for higher offices they cannot win?

Their answer is twofold:

• Debate has grown too narrow under the current two-party system, and the concerns of a majority of American voters are frozen out of the discussion.
• To gain more exposure for their parties and (for independents) their platforms. Which, in turn, generates more interest in third-party and independent candidates running for local and state-level offices.

And, they're right. So, this little voice in the greenish-wood will do its part to expand the discussion.

On Thursday, October 30, Presidential candidates Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party), Bob Barr (Libertarian Party) and Ralph Nader (independent) joined in debate at the City Club in Cleveland, OH.

The video can be found at the C-Span site. It's a RealPlayer file without a direct link. Go to "Recent Programs" and click on Third Party Debate from the City Club of Cleveland.

On October 23, Nader and Baldwin debated in Pennsylvania. This debate was also broadcast by C-Span:



Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) declined to participate in this debate, but gave a half-hour interview on C-Span the following day. C-Span's RealPlayer interview can be found here. (It's the first video in the menu.)

The official McKinney site, VoteTruth08.com, is currently malfunctioning. The latest campaign info appears to be available here.

Lastly -- for now -- Vice Presidential candidates Rosa Clemente (McKinney/Green Party) and Matt Gonzalez (Nader/independent) respond to questions from the final Biden/Palin debate on Democracy Now! The debate is available here, in many formats.

Shopping for a Better World

As part of my Neverending Quest to change my lifestyle from living-to-consume to consuming only what I need to live (and, yeah, live it up on occasion), I'm using this blog to share a few reminders to myself. Like, shopping can be a force for good:

Think Globally, Buy Locally. Saves on fuel costs and planet-warming fumes. Adds revenue to our hard-pressed hometowns. Keeps local businesses alive.

Unchain Thyself! Shopping and dining at independent "Mom 'n' Pop" stores and restaurants rewards creativity, hard work and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Shoppers enjoy a unique (and, often, better quality) assortment of merchandise. A visit to the local Farmers' Market brings healthier, yummier foods to the table and supports family farms. Community-Supported Agriculture delivers the harvest directly to you ... and to your neighbors, if everybody pitches in to buy in bulk.

Globalization Done Right: The Fair Trade business model opens up markets for producers in developing countries. Workers enjoy improved working conditions, the best possible wage for their locale, and ideally, share in the ownership of the business. Middleman costs are stripped to the bone, so consumers pay a fair price and producers get a higher percentage of the profits. Quality is typically excellent. Look for the "Fairtrade" label at your favorite store, or find Fair Trade products here, or here.

(Yet Another) Stolen Election?

Greg Palast, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (and Willie Nelson) fear that just might be the case.

See also the recent Rolling Stone article by Greg Palast and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

And Willie Nelson has some advice to share with concerned voters.

If you see any problems at your polling place -- call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). Poll workers are supposed to let you phone directly from the polling place. But just in case, take your cell phone if you've got one!

Two OTHER Presidential Candidates

In Election Year 2008, as in all other U.S. election years, all eyes are on two parties, and two alone.

But do these two parties really speak for the whole political spectrum? In a democracy, do all voices have a right to be heard?

Two other 2008 Presidential candidates, Ralph Nader (Independent) and former Rep. Cynthia McKinney (Green), say 'No' to the first question, and an emphatic 'Yes' to the second.

Last Thursday, Nader and McKinney responded to the last Obama/McCain debate on Democracy Now. It's well worth a listen (or a viewing ... the site gives many choices).

Confessions of a (Slowly) Recovering Spendaholic

OK, here's the thing.

I've always loved frugal ideas, and the collection of same. But when it comes to actually using what I know, well ...

The insidious thing is, I've never (at least not since my teens) longed for clothes or shoes or designer cosmetics or any of that. I love toys -- things that blink and do tricks. Toys like this computer, the PDA, the digital camera ... and the toys that go with them. And I know how to get these things at a "bargain."

I don't really care for fancy restaurants, but I'd happily squander a paycheck or two on too many Chinese buffets a week.

Then, of course, there's the last-minute lattes.

Result? I might as well buy stock in Versace for all the "bargain" spending I do!

So. One -- yeah, just one -- of my ulterior motives for doing this blog is to put my collection of hints in order. And, if you're out there reading, please share your own. Maybe together, we can slay the Consumer Beast and enjoy a more genuinely rewarding lifestyle.