A recent conference challenged participants to try to understand different perspectives on abortion, to see disagreement as an opportunity, and not to attack. Here are my thoughts in reflection on the meeting.

Written by Aimée Thorne-Thomsen for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

Drawing on my background in political activism, psychology, and business consulting, I’ve started a new blog that highlights the still noticeable differences between Dems and Reps in a number of areas.

What kind of influence can $23,600 buy? On April 21, 2010, Congressman Bilbray received $23,600 in campaign donations from Millenium Laboratories Inc.

This is a diary which attempts to pose a question in sales ethics to those who struggle to GOTV in November’s elections.

(crossposted at Orange)

It’s admirable that some news organizations said they would not have shown images if the Florida pastor had burned the Koran, but a case can be made that the images should have been shown.

Maxine Waters is a liberal icon and a thorn in the side of corporate America. Over the years she has also been criticized for alleged ethical lapses. The House Ethics Committee recently charged her with three ethics violations and released the results of last year’s Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) investigation.

The heated primary race in Colorado brings out the truth about paid shills, true supporters, and those who defend them both.

In a tasty little bit of schadenfreude, Rep. Joe “I apologize” Barton of Texas has lost some $154,000 of his campaign funds that were invested in the stock market. A big part of that loss was due to the Representative’s penchant for buying funds that go long on energy stocks. With BP’s value falling, it took some of the investments into the tank. I guess when you are willing to supplicate yourself before a big oil company on national T.V. then you are going to stick with investing with them.

The thing that startled me about this story is that you can invest campaign funds at all. The intent of the donor is to give you money to fund your campaign, not for you to take risks with it in the stock market. I can understand the desire, when you are gathering a million dollars or more in a year to maximize the interest you can get, after all no political campaign ever has too much money. Still there is something really not right about being able to put it into the stock market.

"Originally posted at Squarestate.net"

Under the current campaign finance laws, there is no requirement that a campaign committee use all the money for the campaign. There can be all kinds of shenanigans with buying clothes or hair cuts (anyone remember the Wasilla Hillbillies looting Nieman Marcus?) but it is allowed with the idea that if the public does not like the way the candidate is spending the money, well they will not vote for them.

The cost to taxpayers of filling public offices with those lacking ethical and public spirited motivation is high. In the state of Texas, it is a long tradition. Until the public realizes that the same office holders who contend that government doesn’t work – and insure that it doesn’t – are not worthy of their trust, that tradition will go on.

What are the consequences of a human society removed from nature? How will this impact our children, our society, and eventually, our planet?