Oakland University Campus, Rochester, Michigan
Seven members of BlueNovember.Org participated in John McCain's May 7th town hall meeting at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, to ensure the discussion included issues important to average Americans.
Each member was prepared to ask a substantive question of the senator, who chose to limit his opening remarks to three topics:
Human trafficking
Internet pornography
and Religious freedom
Hayley, one of BlueNovember.Org's youngest members chose not to wait until the question and answer period for an opportunity to create a meaningful dialogue. She stood up to display the tee shirt she was wearing which stated:
JOHN MCCAIN DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OUR FUTURE
The senator acknowledged her and gave her the first question. She asked him why he opposed a bill that would have helped support a woman's right to equal pay for equal work. Basically, Senator McCain explained that the bill would only benefit trial lawyers, not women.
Susan, another BN.Org member, asked Senator McCain to discuss his philosophy that "Free Market Forces" should be the way we protect our environment. Susan stated that our government and the American people should decide how to best protect the environment, not corporations. Additionally, Susan asked if oil was the real reason we invaded Iraq. To this, McCain stated, "No Ma'am, we thought they had weapons of mass destruction."
Other populist issues were brought up, but the question lingering in the minds of BN.Org members was this: Do the McCain supporters of Southeast Michigan really think internet porn, sex slaves, and religious freedom are the issues most Americans struggle with on a daily basis?
If so, they are the most out-of-touch audience this side of $4.00 a gallon gasoline and wrap-around unemployment lines.
Read more about the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act here.
http://themiddleclass.org/bill/lilly-ledbetter-fair-pay-act-2007
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6 comments:
I am encouraged when young people take an informed political stand. I happened to come upon your organization from the Times Herald, and although I am not sure if I will be able to make it to the upcoming event on May 17, I promise I will become involved with your group.
Keep up the good work. I will try and be a regular visitor to this blog
While I applaud the young lady's active involvement in politics as well as the rest of your group, I think these questions are misguided. Don't get me wrong. I don't defend the stated reasons for going into Iraq. But so what if it was for oil? Do you grow all your own food? Do you grow all of the material to make your own clothes? Do you or someone in your family make a living or benefit somehow from an industry that consumes large amounts of oil (auto industry, cars, car sales, etc.)? Do you drink bottled water from petroleum-based plastic bottles? If you use or benefit from products that are petroleum based (as all of those mentioned above are), then you are a big part of the problem. A better solution to the problem than complaining about going to war over this stuff is to organize rallies to stop the use of petroleum products and rampant consumerism that encourage the dependency on such resources. If you are a huge consumer of petroleum products or make your living off of them, you are the problem.
Also, the soldiers that are in Iraq knew what they were getting into when they signed up. Anyone that has signed up in the last 7 years knew exactly what their stint might entail. They wanted to go there. Otherwise, they wouldn't have signed on. Don't act as if they don't want to be there.
I'm not a Republican or a Democrat. But be rational, please. Stay to the center and be moderate. Our country doesn't need any more extremists.
Anonymous,
Thank you for your interest in our activities.
I agree with your criticism of our consumer-driven culture. Most of our families are waking up to our mistakes and learning how to be more responsible to the earth.
As for the "misguided questions" comment, John McCain held a town hall meeting in Michigan, town hall meetings require questions. You conveniently leave out the issue of men and women dying. I may be willing to use a plastic bottle, but I am not willing to have someone die so I can have that convenience. As a citizen I have a right to know why my government chose to invade another country. If we had been told invading Iraq was necessary so we can continue using petroleum based products, not because Saddam Hussein had weapons or was an imminent threat, you can bet Americans and many of our soldiers would not have accepted military action in Iraq.
Stay to "the center?" What does that mean?
How does one stay to the center of the Iraq debate?
How does one stay to the center of the abortion debate?
How does one stay to the center regarding quality education and health care for all?
How does one stay to the center of equality and fairness?
Do you see the point?
BlueNovember.Org members believe in the concept of biconceptualism. This means a person is generally more conservative or more liberal as a rule, but they can pull frames, or ways of thinking, from the other value system. Your idea of staying to "the center" or being "moderate" may be an easy way for a person to appear level-headed or thoughtful, but being in "the center" isn't really the way people form a world view. There are cognitive linguists, like George Lakoff, who have written extensivley about this subject. You may want to read more about it.
Keep in touch. We are always interested in your comments.
7:15 AM
Susan,
I agree with your comments to anonynmous, but I'd like to add more. The previous poster is basically slamming the so-called "free market". I think that has some merit, and I know BlueNovember would agree.
I wonder if the poster remembers what Bush said post 9/11. He told Americans the best thing we could do was "go shopping."
Since the poster has the polar opposite view of the President, I wonder if he considers himslf "extreme"?
Most everything we do every day is tied to the oil and gas industry. I applaud you all for taking steps to convince both citizens and elected officials to begin working on a new way of life.
Hats off to you even if you do sell cars...for now. :)
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