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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: techguerrilla who wrote (16417)	5/10/2005 2:44:32 PM
From: SiouxPal	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 361303

05.10.2005Rob Reiner Where Have You Gone Woodward & Bernstein? Just yesterday, I was in the midst of a rant about the abysmal state of education funding in this country when a friend rejoined, “We get the government we deserve.” I have been fighting this toxic mixture of superiority and cynicism since I became involved in the child advocacy movement almost 11 years ago. The truth is, when Americans are treated with respect and receive accurate information, they make wonderfully wise decisions. The system breaks down, however, when the press fails to provide such information, as they do today. The so-called fourth estate is now little more than the public relations arm of a government propaganda machine in which all three branches are controlled by the same political party. Who is watching the store? In some ways, the mass media are all of our surrogates for the truth – they are our eyes and ears. In days gone by, they were just that. To take but one example, the Washington Post famously risked their entire existence when they pursued a story about a suspicious break-in long after everyone else believed the story was dead. Would they make the same tough decisions today? Would any media outlet? Certainly not if there was a government-issued Video News Release handy. Americans now face a choice between a news channel and cabal of radio hosts that are an arm of the Republican Party, or a lethargic sheep-like mainstream press that would rather discuss a woman who had cold feet the night before her wedding then the continuing chaos in Iraq, where the number of car bombs detonated was up 50% in April from March. I could go on, but there is no better proof than the fact that about 3 in every 4 [pdf] people who supported President Bush believed that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11 and that we actually found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Massive misinformation is not limited to the Iraq war, of course. Take, for example, the Tom Delay ethics scandal. Over and over we hear that nothing can be done because Republicans control Congress, and the Democrats have no investigative power. The way I remember it, investigation was also the press’ job. Whether in life or politics, it is impossible to make informed decisions when you are not properly informed. The mainstream media has abdicated its responsibility to the American people, and we all suffer for it. The press must be held accountable before it is too late. In a separate thought, on Friday we lost one of the true champions for social justice in this country, Miguel Contreras. He was a friend and I will truly miss him.

To: techguerrilla who wrote (16417)	5/12/2005 11:22:50 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 361303

Chicago nixes hand-held cell phones ____________________________________ Measure goes into effect July 8 with fine of $50 May 11, 2005 (AP) — Chicago officials voted Wednesday to ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones starting this summer and set fines of $50 and up for violators. The City Council approved the ordinance without debating it, angering some aldermen who worried about suburban residents and visitors being targeted as they cross the city line. "It's going to create a hardship for some of my neighbors," said Alderman Brian Doherty, the council's lone Republican whose ward borders suburbs northwest of the city. But Mayor Richard Daley said the measure was about safety and called it "just plain common sense." New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia all prohibit talking on hand-held phones while driving. And Alderman Burton Natarus, the Chicago measure's sponsor, said he plans to urge lawmakers in Springfield to pass a statewide ban for Illinois as well. "I happen to believe that passing laws is a form of education. I happen to believe that, as more and more people know there is a regulation, they'll see the common sense of it and just have some kind of a hands-free device," said Natarus, who said the earphone he was wearing was connected to a cell phone in his pocket. The Chicago measure requires drivers to use hands-free devices if they talk on the phone unless they are making 911 emergency calls or are talking while the vehicle is parked. The proposal would not apply to law enforcement officials and on-duty operators of emergency vehicles. The penalties for using a hand-held phone would be $50, or $200 if the driver was involved in an accident. It takes effect July 8, Natarus said. Doherty said he would have voted against the measure and was disappointed that no role call vote was taken. "It took me completely by surprise," Doherty said. "They cut off the debate and they denied my colleagues the right to vote against it directly. It's just not proper. It's not democracy in action. It's sneaky." A survey released in March by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 8 percent of drivers nationwide, or 1.2 million people, were using cell phones during daylight hours last year. Studies have also found that any cell phone conversation is a distraction for drivers and can slow their response time, whether the phone is hand-held or not. "It isn't the distraction that I'm concerned about. I'm talking about control. This enables people to put both hands on the wheel," Natarus said. Alderman Edward Burke said Wednesday he still will push for an additional "distracted driving" measure to forbid drivers from shaving, applying makeup or consuming food and beverages while on the road.