Judy's Homegrown Blog

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on December 31, 2011

Consider this: is there a problem with dividing the country into the 99%’ers and the 1%’ers?

Originally, this divide might have been used to make tax distinctions: tax the highest 1% of wage earners a little more than the other 99% so that our government can make its obligations.

Somehow this message got changed into: the 99% is blaming the other 1% for its problems. Is this how you are thinking today? How did you start believing this message? Did you see something on TV that scared or angered you into this belief?

I object to dividing our country by ideology, theology, class or any other method. By dividing our country, it automatically inserts fear and anger into the equation. When Lincoln said “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” he was referring to slavery. But the same could be said today, referring to divides based on religion, class, or political ideologies. To be strong, our country requires that we focus not on our differences (be them as they may) but on cooperation-based initiatives.

For a more in-depth discussion of this topic, read here.

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on December 29, 2011

We need a new way of learning about the people running for office.

Do you really know anything about a candidate who puts a one minute “spot” on television? When a candidate tries to win favor over an opponent by slamming them in an ad, does it inform you about the person the ad promotes?

Aren’t we all a little tired of seeing negative ads that mean to bash another’s reputation?

It is easy to find unflattering pictures of people. Worse yet, in politics it’s so easy to find ways in which a candidate has contradicted himself, changed his position, or been hypocritical.

When I see an advertisement for a politician, I try to read between the lines. I automatically look for the agenda that some special interest is pushing. For example, whenever I hear a candidate talk about how they want to abolish the EPA, I know that they are funded by some business who wants environmental regulations removed so that they can “save money” by polluting more.

Are you reading between the lines when you watch advertising? I know that when a candidate runs solely on bashing others, usually it means they have very little to offer themselves.

Let’s all be a little smarter and seek out people who have real answers.

Originally posted at Writeindependent.org on December 26, 2011

In case the Democrats and Republicans haven’t already proven that they aren’t always acting in our best interests, go ahead and vote for one or the other this coming election.

The Republicans want to dismantle our environment in the name of profits.

The Democrats are trying to scare us into voting for them because the Republicans will “end Medicare as we know it, roll back gay rights, leave the troops in Iraq indefinitely, restrict a woman’s right to choose, and gut Social Security to pay for more tax cuts for millionaires and corporations.” Source: an email from Jim Messina, Campaign Manager, Obama for America.

Meanwhile, Obama just signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which allows the government to secretly arrest anyone that they believe is a terrorist, and allows torture and indefinite detention without trial. Supposedly “Marbury vs. Madison, set in 1803, makes clear that any ‘law’ that is ‘repugnant to the Constitution is null and void,’” according to Infowars’ Alex Jones. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to enforce this position without a lengthy legal battle. So we’re back to square one.

Moreover, the NDAA authorizes $662 billion for military spending. I ask you: is this where your values lie?

It doesn’t matter what you believe. All that matters is what is actually happening. If your beliefs don’t match up to what is going on, then how will you become an educated voter?