Open Thread


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

  1. Bxgrl;

    All guns blasting today, eh?

    Allow me to remind you that the Patriot Act was re-authorized by the Congress 2 years ago, that is, when the Democrats were in full control of both houses.

    As to the demographics of each party, please recall that the blue states are those on the wealthy coasts of the country.

    Finally, the Kelo decision of the Supreme Court left the issue of eminent domain up to the states. Take a look at which states have passed private property protection laws, and which have not. One hint: use a red-blue color coding. All the elected officials in NY support the use of eminent domain to take private property for non public use – like AY!!!!

  2. Benson, I unabashedly take the position that I don’t have to be politically correct all the time.

    I care very much about what I see as the intertwined threads of well built affordable housing, historic preservation, the appreciation and revitalization of good architecture, and the growth and health of neighborhoods. I also advocate sensible reuse and, pardon the use of an overdone phrase, green building practices, by which I mean not so much the use of overpriced eco products, but the recycling of perfectly good housing stock, and the components therein.

    The concept of the City as sheriff may indeed prove to be impractical or even illegal, but my comments come from the frustration of seeing buildings lay abandoned and empty, while people are crowding into homeless shelters. I’d like to see more Habitat For Humanity like, sweat equity programs, where people can participate in their home’s construction, and keep that sense of pride that comes from doing work and seeing the results of your labor. Anyone who’s ever even painted a room knows that feeling.

    There should be no abandoned, boarded up housing stock in this city, especially smaller multi-unit buildings, where you would get more bang for your renovation and housing buck. I recently sat in on a community meeting where the concerns of the homeless were discussed, and the general concensus from experts is that moving a vast majority of the homeless into permanent housing would be cheaper in the long run than our current shelter system.

    Restoring our housing stock builds neighborhoods, and creates jobs. Some very inventive people are out there recycling building materials, and coming up with great ideas to do things simply, cheaply, and most important, well. Let’s use some of those ideas and people. More industries, more jobs. Let’s preserve the beautiful buildings like yesterday’s Hancock St apts. They add to the streetscape, they are well built, and they are of a size that can provide housing, as well as commercial footholds in a neighborhood.

    Enough preaching on the open thread. Just want to say that in a better world, these things would be possible. Enjoy your trip, I wish you travelling mercies, and success.

  3. Benson,
    Tramp Stamp – I just did a google image search to provide a picture link, and I can’t post anything I found, too much butt cleavage.
    Use your imagination about the tattoos.

  4. I really think the conservatives among us need to stop beating the very old, very dead horse of “it’s all the liberal elite’s fault.” Anyone with an eyeball who watched the conventions saw exactly who made up each party’s demographics- the liberal elite that they seem to think- in their paranoia- controls the country, can be found maybe with an electron microscope.

    As for our fears of liberals making the government seize private property or curtail our freedoms- where have you people been for the last 8 years of the Bush Administration? The Patriot Act? The -er- liberalization of eminent domain? The freeing of the evangelical horses to run rampant of the family rights of others? The loosening of financial regulations? No wonder the GOP is in such a sad state. They are taking no responsibility for anything they’ve done.

    Well folks- it’s 2009 The old labels don’t work, especially because the conservatives have so truly perverted them and turned them inside out. You took the principles of liberalism- as you interpreted them- and used them for your own ends. Sorry guys- we liberals don’t buy it. You had 8 years to screw it up and that’s the only thing you’ve done well. Maybe that’s why you misinterpret what MM was saying- that new conservative guilt.

1 19 20 21 22 23