".... the van to come" [View all]

[H2O Man]

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come.
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday.
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long.
I am the eggman, they are the eggmen.
I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob.
-- John Lennon; I am the Walrus

Yesterday, my children and I planned a visit to an area Barnes & Noble, followed by a mid-afternoon lunch. My daughters have a two-week job "house-sitting" for some family friends with three dogs; they drove here in the small car they have use of, and then we took off in my vehicle. On the way to pick up their brother who lives closest to us, we passed a library "book sale." This, of course, resulted in a slight delay.

Eventually, we met up with my younger son, in front of the book store. By the time we left for lunch, we had a total of 48 books, new and used. My sons focused exclusively on Irish history. My younger daughter, soon to enter 10th grade, bought college-level math books; she recently decided she wants to graduate a year early, and is focused on taking as many AP/college courses as possible in the next two years. My older daughter, who just graduated, bought some music bokks (she and a friend just formed a group), and a couple to help her prepare for her next summer job -- teaching a week-long course to college faculty.

I bought a large stack of used sociology and political science books, and two new ones: "The Cornel West Reader," by Cornel West, and "Freedom for the thought that we hate: A Biography of the First Amendment," by Anthony Lewis. Cornel West is, in my opinion, a very high-ranking member of the most important "Thinkers" of recent times. He understands the Power of Ideas, and has a unique ability to translate the complicated into a message that even I can understand. In my opinion, "America" would do well to appreciate that this man is not just a "black intellectual," but speaks to all people.

Anthony Lewis's 2007 book remains as important during a democratic administration as under the Cheney-Bush juanta. The reason "why?" was summed up with perfect accuracy in 1907, by future Supre Court Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes: "We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the (US Supreme Court) judges say it is." At a time when all three branches of the federal government are greater advocates of corporate rights than individual rights, responsible citizens must exercise their constitutional muscles. And that presupposes a knowledge of what exercises are most beneficial.

Not long ago, for example, an area television news station had two reporters interview me, over a period of three days. This was for a series of "human interest" stories; in this instance, to show how an understanding of the Native American 12,000+ years of experience in the northeast relates to the pro-environment, anti-hydrofracking movement. When, after the initial segment of the series played, there was some pressure exerted by a pro-hydrofracking energy executive to squash the remaining segments. And it worked.

In the months that followed, there has been other examples of this same energy executive pressuring other media outlets, thus preventing related anti-hydrofracking articles and interviews from reaching the public. While this is not a "classic" example of an Amendment 1 conflict -- it is corporate, rather than government control of the press -- it is part and parcel of the same general dynamics that has defined Amendment 1 tensions for over two centuries in the USA. Let me explain why I say that.

After the Flood of 2011, the heads of a large "defense" contractor was considering moving their industrial plant from New York's Southern Tier to a southern state. This industry employees a large number of people, and thus contributes to the state economy. In order to convince the corporate heads to keep their plant in the Southern Tier, the governor, Andrew Cuomo, set up a series of meetings involving himself, the corporate heads, and the energy executive who so actively works to control what the media -- television, radio, and newspapers -- reports on hydrofracking. Indeed, this individual contracted with the defense industry to supply a large amount of dirt-cheap "natural" gas for their operations.

This same governor, who had aleady offered to provide the defense industry with a mighty generous, multi-million dollar "grant" of tax-payers money to stay, is the Andrew Cuomo who is preparing to allow hydrofracking in our state. Not the whole state, to begin with, mind you, but in the Southern Tier. Call me a paranoid subscriber to conspiracy theries, but I believe that there is a conflict of interests here, involving corporations and government; and further, I think that one of the primary victims here is Amendment 1.

Last month, when Governor Cuomo okayed a "leak" to the media, indicating his plan to allow hydrofracking in the Southern Tier, I posted on DU an OP in which I discussed a plan to do a hunger-strike in Albany. Part of my plan for 2012 had been to arrange meetings with Robert Kennedy, Jr., NY State Senator Thomas Libous, and Governor Andrew Coumo, with some of the grass roots, ant-ihydrofracking community. In January, I did a hunger-strike that resulted in the meeting with Libous; and in April, we had a good meeting with Robert. Only Cuomo remains.

The governor did meet with some leaders from the "Working Peoples Party" recently. Among the many issues they discussed was hydrofracking. However, Andrew Cuomo cut it short, by saying that the anti-hydrofracking community was driven by "fear and emotion," but not facts. This is the same purposeful lie he has parroted in the media; when I requested that Robert tell his former brother-in-law to stop saying what he knew was a lie, Kennedy said that this is part of Cuomo's strategy for his planned 2014 presidential run.

Letters and phone calls to Cuomo's office go unanswered. Hence, my evaluating both the need for a Capital Hunger Strike, and my ability to do one. I'm not the physically strong and healthy person I once was. A series of medical tests that occupied much of my June revealed more damage and disease than I was consciously aware of .... and while I try to give this stuff room in my mind, I do know that another hunger strike will take a much larger toll on me than the one in January did.

My younger son -- who shares my appreciation of Cornel West -- urged me to at least attempt a few other tactics before doing a Capital Hunger Strike. One that I am finishing up is a "book" on grass roots organizing and political activism. I had thought of having it published, and sending copies to the various anti-hydrofracking groups in the northeast. But some associates convinced me that it would be far better to post it on the internet, to reach an even larger audience. It should be up in a week.

I'm going to include the material from the television station. Not because I am silly enough to think that I am important .... but the Ideas being communicated are ..... or else the energy executive would not have worked to prevent them being aired.

I'm also planning for a possible, even likely, hunger strike. The first one taught me a number of lessons on how to be more effective in preparation for such an event. I'd very much prefer that Governor Cuomo agree to meet with the same general group that traveled to Pace University's Environmental Law Clinic to meet with Robert. We have plenty of facts to present him with. But I do not think he will agree to such a meeting without some "creative tension" being applied.

Next week, I will be asking DUers to call, e-mail, and write to Governor Cuomo, requesting that he agree to such a meeting. Then, during the next few weeks, I will be posting similar requests. And I surely do appreciate those of you who take the time to help me with this effort.

Peace,
H2O Man