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Opinion
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- Written by: Nelson Strasser
The Russian intellectual, Vigotsky, made the point that a single word can mean more than a word: it can evoke a sentence, or a paragraph or a constellation of ideas.
He used, as an example, the word “exploitation.” The mere mention of the word in Stalinist Russia invoked images of factory workers toiling long hours for subsistence wages. Exploitation meant capitalist vampires sucking the blood from the working class. The mention of the word was fire starter on flame.
America has a word which serves the same function: socialism. And here I am not talking about the economic system, but rather the set of notions that the word itself arouses: Government should not invade our lives and make our decisions; you should work hard and be prudent and you won’t need the government; people should not think that the government owes them anything, and, there should be an adventurous capitalism with “no ceiling, no net.”
The fact that some folks work hard but can’t afford health coverage, or that people that do have “coverage” far too often end up in bankruptcy, notwithstanding, let’s assume for a moment that this argument has at least some merit. Hold that thought.
Interestingly, the folks most likely to champion such ideas are wealthy conservative capitalists. But, when some of them put leveraging on steroids, and through incompetence, negligence, criminality or a combination thereof, brought the economy to near collapse, the government, was their “daddy.”
They begged for money like men begging for water after days dehydrating in the Sonora Desert. Suddenly, they needed a “net.” “Save the economy! (and us). The system will collapse!
No talk of socialism then, was there? No “stand on your own two feet,” or “you must suffer the consequences of your acts,” or, “you’re poor because you want to be poor.”
Instead of the “every man for himself” mantra, we heard, “we all are in this together.” Even though “we” did not cause the debacle; “they” did.
They received enough help from the government to avert the crisis, at least for the time being. We don’t know how much because the Fed provided some of the aid and their workings are not open to public scrutiny. Without that help, the system “too big to fail,” would have failed.
When push comes to shove, the folks who espouse these ideas about government don’t even believe them. Nevertheless, they are effective in propagandizing the populace.
So, that is why we, unlike every other civilized country in the world, don’t have universal health care: because of the word “socialism.”
That is how ideology functions: We are preconditioned to allow rhetoric to mold our perceptions to make them work against our own best interests, and to see the world through the prism of the wealthy and powerful (which they themselves don’t adhere to when it becomes inconvenient to do so).
We have public water districts, public utilities, public education and public libraries. Why not public health care, privately administered: in other words, Medicare for all?
The system is in place, we just need a bigger umbrella.
Nelson Strasser lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Cody Fincher
Just a FYI to the residents of Lucerne. As one of the customers of the California Water Services Co., we received several “free” toilets the company gave us to replace older toilets.
The toilets are manufactured by Caroma, an Australian company. They were given to us to save water and are dual flush and do save water in that respect.
However, what I have found out the hard way that there is a $5 washer (seal) that allows the units to leak a gradual stream of water. It is such a invisible leak that it may not appear to be a big deal, but it does leak constantly, 24/7 and has been doing so for an undetermined length of time. Both toilets in my home were leaking.
Granted, these commodes are about 3 years old and “possibly” a normal toilet would start to leak as well. But parts are readily available in any hardware store to correct any problems. The seal for this had to be tracked down by calling the company representative in British Columbia. The representative at the company pointed out that the seals routinely fail after about three years. Planned obsolescence at its best.
To all concerned: The seal is for the M5 toilet and has a PN of 750017. I had to contact Cal Water to get the phone number, which is 604-430-2020 or 1-800-605-4218 and push the extension for Debbie Foley. She mailed me three of the replacement seals that fixed the leaks.
Cody Fincher lives in Lucerne, Calif.
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- Written by: Nick Reid
We – I use the editorial “we” – would like to thank Doug Rhoades for allowing us to be part of “Lake County Live!”
Your tireless efforts creating, promoting, writing, assembling the cast and crew, and, oh yes, starring in this crazy idea we call Lake County Live! has built a stage where we can shine.
You are the magnet that draws us all together. Thank you from everyone involved in Lake County Live!
Nick Reid lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Once again, big corporations and multimillionaire right wing extremists are attempting to corrupt the electoral process by promoting a shamelessly deceptive ballot measure.
Officially designated the “Stop Special Interest Money Now Act” and widely touted as the “Paycheck Protection Act,” Proposition 32 masquerades as campaign finance reform.
The measure bans direct contributions to California candidates by both corporations and labor unions, and prohibits both corporations and unions from using payroll deductions to collect “political funds.”
This apparently even-handed restriction is actually grossly discriminatory, since as the measure’s authors know full well, unions get almost all of their funds through payroll deductions, and businesses almost none.
Proposition 32 also contains enormous loopholes designed for the benefit of large corporations and the wealthy.
Many common organizational structures such as LLCs, partnerships and real estate trusts are exempt. If you’re a venture capitalist, land developer or law firm – exempt. Corporate executives – exempt. And as established by the infamous “Citizens United” decision, corporations and billionaires can still give unlimited political contributions to anonymous, unaccountable “Super PACs.”
This already sounds pretty bad, but it gets worse.
Proposition 32 also defines public employee unions as “government contractors,” and would forbid them from attempting to influence any government agency with which they have dealings.
That restriction would also cover political action committees established by any membership organization, or “any agency or employee representation committee or plan,” seeking stronger civil rights or environmental protections.
It’s no wonder the measure is actively opposed, not only by organized labor, but also by leading good-government groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.
If Proposition 32 passes it would effectively end organized labor’s ability to influence the political process in California, and cripple the ability of non-profits to protect the environment.
Please vote “no” on Proposition 32.
Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake, Calif.