recently we celebrated the birthday of dr martin luther king, jr.

last night i was reading a book that said that although doctor king's campaign to end racial inequality is well-known, less known today is his POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN to end poverty by empowering the poor to organize and demand their rights for food, shelter, safety (in accord with 1948's declaration of human rights)...  dr king mobilized folks and marched on washington with this agenda, but was assassinated before he could do much with it...

the book suggested king might've been assassinated because he got too dangerous by questioning american democracy, a paradoxical system that promises equality to all but in execution produces inequality (it's an inherently hierarchical race for success, competition driven, with an unequal starting-line!)... interesting that malcolm x (el hajj malik el shabazz), after visiting mecca, returned to the u.s. with a similar desire to enlighten and uplift ALL persons, regardless of class or color, and then also was assassinated... (both also protested u.s. involvement in vietnam...)

anyway, i'm not going to get into conspiracy theories much because that's crazy-making and the question is, what can one do now? here are some links for your consideration:

Dr. King's Forgotten Speech on Peace: http://www.inmotionmagazine...

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (signed by the U.S. Gov. as well as many other offenders)   http://www.un.org/Overview/...

Catholic Worker Movement: http://www.catholicworker.o... (chapters in LA and fresno, but not locally)

United Farm Workers: http://www.ufw.org/

Locals doing closest to Dr King's peace and anti-poverty work (if you know of more, please add to this list):

St. Vincent de Paul, 300 Baker St, 93305, 661-323-2941(they feed and clothe people without requiring them to attend church services; they also directly give needy people clothing and food, which organizations like Goodwill and Salvation Army may not)

Bakersfield Food Not Bombs: http://www.geocities.com/ba...
Peace Bakersfield: http://www.geocities.com/ba...

Bakersfield Head Start http://www.capk.org/HSLOCAT...

Migrant Ed: CCC, Job Corps: http://migrant.kern.org/sto...

Bakersfield AmeriCorps: http://kcsos.kern.org/schco...

Clinica Sierra Vista: http://www.clinicasierravis...

what are you doing to help all americans, especially the poor and disadvantaged? i'm enough of a braggart & so will be mum on the subject, and i'm not what's important, anyway - the message is what's important. 

we who read this blog are likely lucky members of the middle class, the advantaged, those with food, shelter, and relative safety: we are the ones whose moral and human duty is to help those less fortunate, in other words. i hope that in 2007, more of us will stand together locally, with the ideas that combatting poverty and improving peace are important values that we each should support with positive and decisive action.

this is certainly interesting...

Which U.S. presidents of the past 50 years will be remembered as best and worst? Two opinions are presented below.

Ratings: 4= A; 3=B; C=2; D=1; 0=F

Abbreviations: JFK= kennedy; LBJ= johnson; RN=nixon; GF=ford; JC=carter; RR=reagan; GB=bush the elder; BC=clinton; GW=bush the younger

I.

U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTABILITY FACTORS:

1. WEALTH/CAMPAIGN COFFERS:  Recent presidents have been born with silver spoons in their mouths except Reagan (2) and Clinton (1). Clinton is the only president of the past 50 years to have had lower-middle class origins and to have worked his way up to the presidency (he got “in” early in life, though, due to unusual determination and brains).

2. FAME PRIOR TO ELECTION : All have been prominently in the spotlight prior to election, though Ford gets a 3 for being in the shadow of Nixon.

3. NAME RECOGNITION PRIOR TO ELECTION: Carter and Clinton get 3s

4. SILVER SPOON STATUS: Most  presidents have been born rich to filthy rich, but Carter gets a 3 for being from a farming family; Reagan a 3 for accruing his wealth via acting-to-politics; and Clinton a 2 for being born poor and having to work his way up.

5. HEIGHT/STATURE: The taller guy usually wins, unless the shorter guy is younger/better looking, and then he may win. Looks and height are ever increasingly more important:  JFK= 6’1”=4; LBJ=6’4”=4; RN=5’11”=3; GF=6’=3; JC=5’9”=1; RR=6’1”=4; GB=6’2”=4; BC=6’2”=4; GW=5’11”=3

6. GOOD LOOKS/SMILE/CHARM: JFK= 4; LBJ= 2; RN=1; GF=2; JC=3; RR=3; GB=2; BC=4; GW=3 (in the eyes of some, that is; many supporters think he’s the hippest, a real rogue, mister cool)

7. SMEAR TACTICS/EXPERT-AT-DOUBLESPEAK SUPPORT STAFF WITH TV & PRINT MEDIA CONNECTIONS: Speech writers, campaign team, and cabinet are increasingly important to the modern president. These support people must be able to convince “the American public” that black is white, that night is day, that a draft dodger is the real patriot when running against a decorated veteran. Without his savvy lackeys, the president is nothing (witness the current downfall of Bush the Younger):

JFK= 3; LBJ= 2; RN=4; GF=2; JC=1; RR=4; GB=3; BC=3; GW=4

8. SLICK AS SNOT/WINING & DINING/SCHMOOZING ABILITIES: Beyond being merely charming and dynamic, the modern president increasingly must be manipulative and able to wrap all people around his finger, even if he must lie to do so. Winning is everything:

JFK= 3; LBJ= 3; RN=3; GF=1; JC=1; RR=4; GB=2; BC=4; GW=4

FINAL ELECTABILITY SCORES (with presidents ranked): JFK= 30 (A); GW=30 (A); RR=28 (A-); GB=27 (A-); LBJ= 27 (B); RN=27 (B); B C=25 (B-); GF=23 (C); JC=20 (D).

Electability Analysis: When using the above U.S. electability measures of wealth, fame, movie star looks, smear campaigns, and slickness, we see that Jimmy Carter came out dead last and therefore, along with Abraham Lincoln, would never be elected president if he ran today. Bill Clinton also scores low because, although he exhibits good looks and slickness, he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Therefore, it seems, his election to two terms was some kind of fluke, since the office increasingly is awarded to the born-into-it stinking rich.

Clearly on top are John F. Kennedy, possessor of legacy, wealth and good looks, and George W. Bush, who although not nearly as good-looking, bright, or authentically charismatic, pulled ahead due to a strong support staff of smear-tactic experts as well as his own personal Texannecticut charm and ability to say and force into reality anything to accomplish what he needs.

II.

PRESIDENTIAL LEGACY (During the President’s term, these qualities may be perhaps only 10 percent important, obscured as they are by the president’s wealth, fame, and control of visual and print media. However, as the years and decades go by, the President’s legacy – how he will be remembered for his true knowledge of issues; decisive, honorable actions; personal character; and vision for all regardless of class -- becomes increasingly apparent. Sometimes, however, the legacy begins to manifest itself while the president is still in office, as is happening currently to Bush the Younger.)

1. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS KNOWLEDGE: JFK= 4; LBJ= 4; RN=4; GF=3; JC=4; RR=3; GB=4; BC=4; GW=2

2. FOREIGN POLICY KNOWLEDGE: JFK= 4; LBJ= 4; RN=4; GF=3; JC=4; RR=3; GB=4; BC=4; GW=1

3. COMPASSIONATE, CIRCUMSPECT, DECISIVE ACTION – DOMESTIC: JFK= 4; LBJ= 4; RN=1; GF=3; JC=4; RR=2; GB=2; BC=4; GW=1

4. COMPASSIONATE, CIRCUMSPECT, DECISIVE ACTION – FOREIGN: JFK= 3; LBJ= 3; RN=3; GF=3; JC=2; RR=3; GB=3; BC=3; GW=1

5. INTELLECT: JFK= 4; LBJ= 3; RN=4; GF=3; JC=4; RR=2; GB=4; BC=4; GW=1

6. HONESTY & INTEGRITY: JFK= 4; LBJ= 4; RN=1; GF=4; JC=4; RR=3; GB=3; BC=1; GW=1

7. OVERALL LEGACY: JFK= 4; LBJ= 3; RN=1; GF=3; JC=3; RR=3; GB=3; BC=3; GW=1

FINAL LEGACY SCORES (with presidents ranked): JFK= 27 (A); LBJ= 25 (A-); JC=25 (A-); GB=23 (B); BC=23 (B); GF=22 (B-);  RR=19 (C-); RN=18 (D); GW=8 (F)

ANALYSIS: Using the preceding measures and ratings, JFK will be remembered as the top president of the past 50 years. Following him will be his predecessor, LBJ, as well as Jimmy Carter, who although perceived as weak during his presidency, since has proved himself to be an important peace-maker, man of productive action, and unifier.

Reagan, called “the Great Communicator” in his time, ultimately will be remembered as a genial actor and man lost to Alzheimer’s whose top-down policies resulted in a worsened classism and stratification of American society.

Ironically, Bush the Elder’s legacy has been strengthened by the damage done by his comparatively weak-minded and impulsive son. Clinton, disgraced by personal and financial scandal while in office, also will look better historically when compared to GW, Clinton never having blackened America’s world reputation with pre-emptive strike, stripping of personal liberties, torture of prisoners, and too-little-too-late indifference to domestic disasters such as Katrina. Bush the Younger, like Clinton, never served in the Armed Forces, unlike Clinton protected from inscription by the privilege of his wealthy family, yet sent and continues to send thousands to death in battle.

At bottom with George W. Bush is Nixon, brilliant thinker felled by lack of empathy and Watergate, but G.W. is dead last, being  the “Resident Non-Elect,” unrepentant alcoholic and drug addict, wealthy frat-boy and draft dodger, Texan imposter, a man inauthentic in so many ways. Like the director of  “The Passion of the Christ,” Bush seems to be that particularly arrogant, self-righteous, and compulsive type, the alcoholic who stops drinking and then shuns support, running on self-will, impulsivity and might makes right. However, the director is only an annoyance to read about in tabloids when he drinks again, makes ugly statements, and falls embarrassingly before our very eyes, whereas the current president not only annoys and infuriates, but turns the whole world against the United States, blithely thumbing his nose at all who disagree with him.

CONCLUSION: JFK will be remembered, head and shoulders above others, as the greatest president of the last 50 years. George W. Bush will be remembered, head and shoulder below all others, as the worst.