Javier Ogaz

January 25th, 2012

American culture offers young Americans the “choices” of fundamentalist religion and fundamentalist consumerism. All varieties of fundamentalism narrow one’s focus and inhibit critical thinking. While some progressives are fond of calling fundamentalist religion the “opiate of the masses,” they too often neglect the pacifying nature of America’s other major fundamentalism. Fundamentalist consumerism pacifies young Americans in a variety of ways. Fundamentalist consumerism destroys self-reliance, creating people who feel completely dependent on others and who are thus more likely to turn over decision-making power to authorities, the precise mind-set that the ruling elite loves to see. A fundamentalist consumer culture legitimizes advertising, propaganda, and all kinds of manipulations, including lies; and when a society gives legitimacy to lies and manipulativeness, it destroys the capacity of people to trust one another and form democratic movements. Fundamentalist consumerism also promotes self-absorption, which makes it difficult for the solidarity necessary for democratic movements.

Bruce Levine, Alternet

January 16th, 2012

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love

January 13th, 2012

But there’s a deeper problem in the whole notion that what this nation needs is a successful businessman as president: America is not, in fact, a corporation. Making good economic policy isn’t at all like maximizing corporate profits. And businessmen — even great businessmen — do not, in general, have any special insights into what it takes to achieve economic recovery. Why isn’t a national economy like a corporation? For one thing, there’s no simple bottom line. For another, the economy is vastly more complex than even the largest private company.

— Paul Krugman, America Isn’t a Corporation

Since the beginning of the Republican primary season, I’ve had doubts about Mitt Romney’s constant claim that his business experience makes him an ideal candidate for President. With Romney’s campaign, we are asked to replace Washington insiders and career politicians with a business executive; I struggle to make the connection between business experience and government efficiency. The two are different animals. Maybe business executive experience suggests a person is capable of making tough decisions, but tough decisions are easier to make when you are unconcerned with human costs. Government, on the other hand, is solely concerned with people (or so it used to be!) and unconcerned with maximizing profits and dividends, unless you consider an educated citizenry and a strong economy to be dividends of effective government. Like Mr. Krugman, I don’t buy the argument that a business executive should hold the office of the President. We are the United States of America, not America, Inc.

January 9th, 2012

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

— Seneca

If life is a sum of decisions than we must understand the importance of our ability to make them. Some decisions are easier than others, but that doesn’t change the fact that we must carefully consider them.

In September of 2010, I began working for the Alzheimer’s Association. Since that time, I have been given valuable insight and experiences in a professional setting. While I have cherished my time at the association, and remain grateful for the opportunities that were given to me, I have decided to close this chapter of my life.

I cannot be sure that this is the right choice, and to use the word right might be absurd in this context, but I do know that it seems to be the best at the moment. The quote above reminds me that as one chapter ends, another begins.

In 2012, I look forward to the challenges of starting with a new beginning. I am grateful for the support of my family and friends and welcome the new year with a strong sense of hope and possibility.

January 5th, 2012

Our founders intended for them to be the least consequential of the three branches of government. How do I know that for a fact? Because it’s Article III. Article I is Congress, Article II is the president and Article III is the courts. If it was the most important, they wouldn’t have put it third.

Rick Santorum does not make sense. All three branches of government are necessary and provide a critical function. The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over all Federal and state courts. How is that not important?

January 3rd, 2012

Hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It’s not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be.

— Barack Obama, 2008 Iowa Caucus Victory Speech

As I am posting this quote, Rick Santorum is leading Mitt Romney by 100 votes and Ron Paul has effectively finished third. Over the past year, the debates and arguments made by GOP hopefuls have been unconvincing and in stark contrast to my own worldview. They’ve supported restrictive reproduction rights, deregulation, isolationist immigration policy, anti-gay laws, and corporate personhood. I cannot think of a group more out of touch with the problems we face.

To be reminded of why I support Barack Obama and most of his positions, I watched his 2008 Iowa caucus victory speech. The above quote illustrates a key difference between Barack Obama and his GOP rivals. While they argue against progress, understanding, and science, he argues for common purpose. In the video, he talks about affordable health care, environmental protections, and an active democracy in which all people have a share. It seems obvious that he has taken these principles and initiatives to the White House.

If you find yourself questioning Barack Obama, and characterize your past support in him as naive, take a moment to remind yourself of where it all started. In 2008, Iowa was a place of hope. In 2012, Iowa is a place of uncertainty.

January 2nd, 2012

A free America means just this: individual freedom for all, rich or poor, or else this system of government we call democracy is only an expedient to enslave man to the machine and make him like it.

Frank Lloyd Wright

December 13th, 2011

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

Friedrich Nierzche

Javier Ogaz

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