We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Israel lobby presses Congress to soften Obama's tough stance on Netanyahu

from the Guardian. The power of the pro-Israel lobby in the US never ceases to amaze me--apparently 3/4 of our representatives are controlled by this lobby.  Why don't we just admit Israel as a 51st state? But then they would have only two Senators and a few House of Representatives. This way they control most of Congress. No wonder that the annual 3.5 billion tax dollars go to Israel without the slightest debate! What a contrast to what happens when the American people after dreaming for decades for a universal health care system, get the present health care bill's gift to the insurance industry.