Parenting Left

Someone recently asked me if I would let my children read The Rude Pundit.  Well no, of course not, although they do know all the colorful words he uses.  But I do let them listen to him on the radio, where the FCC requires that certain words be omitted.

So, how does one effectively raise children to be liberal thinkers in today's tea bagger climate?  Thankfully, I'm not worried what the neighbors think, so it's pretty easy for me.  It all boils down to exposure.  Cuz if you don't expose them to it, they sure ain't gonna get it anywhere else.  And next thing you know, they'll be joining the New Neocons of America group at school.

Step 1: progressive radio is just about the only radio in our house.  It's on every morning, while we get ready for school and work.  My kids are inundated with Stephanie Miller (and Rude every Monday!).  They get a dose of Thom Hartmann every evening during the transition time between school and dinner.  And as any parent will tell you, they're listening -- even if they don't show it.  My 8 yr old love the moniker Caribou Barbie so much, I had to have a chat with her about using it in front of her Republican friends. 

Step 2: Progressive shows are the only grown-up programming we watch (well, except for Lost).  My kids have known Jon Stewart since day 1.  And just now, the 8 yr old begged to watch Fareed Zakaria!  Yeah, they still like Wizards of Waverly Place too, but at least they are balanced!

Step 3: When they hear Daddy and Mommy talking about some political issue and ask questions, I answer them honestly.  "Why are you and daddy so angry?"  "Because our government doesn't care about helping the people;  they only care about making money for their friends."  (this was in the W years).  Then it's not only a lesson about the government, but also about the values of helping people and caring about others, the planet, etc. 

In fact, one night, the 8 yr old (when she was 6) was acting all shy about asking me what a "bad word" meant.  She was afraid to say the word.  I said, how do you know it's bad then?  She said, because you and daddy are angry when you use it.  The word?  Hypocrite.  A Mama couldn't be prouder.

Step 4: Get them involved in democracy.  I took them to the caucus;  took them to an Obama house party (even though I'm a Kucinich gal).  Make sure they know how important it is to vote, what a treasure it is.

We held a Guy Fawkes party (google it) in 2008 -- it was right before the election, after all, so it was perfect.  My oldest loved it -- was a perfect little hostess handing out pocket Constitutions and helping people make their effigies for burning. 

Step 5: Surround them with books.  Lots of them.  Let them know that knowledge is power.  Don't let them be like Texas!  (ooh, and don't forget to take them to Banned Book Week at your local public library!)

I could go on and on.  But you get the idea.  Personally, I don't really find it too challenging.  The schools are too pantywaisted to teach anything of substance, so there's little to contradict my teachings.  Of course, there was that time the kindergarten teacher asked if I'd told my kid she didn't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance if she didn't want to....(she did have to stand respectfully for it, however). 

Parenting Left and speaking out in this time of Tea Bagging Darkness (it's a dark brew indeed) are the paths I've chosen to keep the Left alive, to keep the notions of social justice, compassion, and truth going.  And I don't need corporate media to do it.  All I need is some Thom Hartmann, a good bookstore, and yes, Rude Pundit.

Left Wing, My Eye!

I am really, really tired of hearing right-wing nutjobs call Obama and other elected Democrats "liberals."  I am tired of hearing tales of the mythical Liberal Media, which allegedly brainwashes us with left-wing bilge.  And today, I heard the coups de gras: some dorkwad (O'Reilly or Hannity, I think) called Obama a "left wing radical."

Please.  Let's just take a moment people.  Left wing radical, seriously?  Now, I know that the people spewing this crap day in and day out know darn well what a REAL lefty radical is like.  But the poor, ignorant masses don't.  They lap up this sh*t like a kitten drinks milk.  And then they vote these idiots into office because they are afraid of the "crazy muslim black man" running our country. 

What's the matter with Kansas?  I'll tell you what: they believe this baloney, and they would soil their drawers to discover what a REAL leftist radical wants. 

Of course, they would soil themselves because they have been brainwashed (by corporate, not liberal media) to be very, very afraid of people like me.  People who believe in the common good, who understand that taxes are the way a society pays for that common good.  People who actually read books instead of watching non-reality tv night after night.  (Do we really care what happens to the Gosselins?  Really?)

Knowing many people who actually live in Kansas (and others who fit the bill), I believe that they just don't know better.  That they are not skeptical enough -- either by nature or upbringing -- to distrust what they see on tv.  After all, CNN seems pretty reputable, right?  Heck, even I used to think O'Reilly wasn't so bad --- until I discovered what a lying liar he is.  But one only learns such things by reading dark, evil, lefty literature.

But I digress.  My beef is not with the masses.  It's with the talking heads who repeat this same boring mantra day in and day out.  I am tired of hearing Obama's centrist ideas being called radical.  I guess you could say I'm feeling a bit left out.  After all, if Obama is a lefty radical, what then am I?

This is why I've decided to take up the mantle for true left wing radicals.  No, I'm not going to accept the current Senate health care bill because "it's better than nothing."  No, I'm not going to sit quietly as we continue to bail out Wall Street.  No, I'm not going to let the O'Lie-lly's (TM Al Franken) of the world defame my good lefty name.  I believe in calling a spade a spade.  Obama and most of the current Democrats are nowhere near being Left.  They are maybe, just maybe, a tad left of center.  That's all.

You wanna see true Left?  Listen to Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich.  Read yourself some Marx.  Watch some Michael Moore movies (Sicko, anyone?).  These are the Real Lefties.  And they are proud to say it.

Don't believe me?  Well of course, why should you.  I'm just another Lefty Radical myself.  But Thom Hartmann is the most reasonable, balanced human being I have ever encountered, and I have heard him repeatedly assert that "there is no Left in America today."  Look up today's broadcast in fact, and you will hear him say just that! 

I can agree to disagree.  I can respect a True Conservative's ideas (hail George Will and Andrew Sullivan).  But I cannot tolerate the bigoted, bullshit scare tactics of the Right Wing Lunatics any longer.  They aren't even the fringe any more;  they are the mainstream of the Republican Party.  Sad, but true.  I dearly hope the True Conservatives splinter off and form their own party.  Because the teabaggers aren't doing anybody any favors.  Oh, except the rich, Wall Street fat cat corporate businessmen.  You think Glenn Beck, who lives in a gated community, gives a shit about you, worker bee of the American blue-collar "middle" class?  Think again.

All I ask is that we get real.  Let's discuss reality, not this fantasy world Fox News has created for us.  Obama is not a left-wing radical.  From where the teabaggers stand, sure, he's pretty left.  But just because they are far out in right field doesn't make the Center left.  In fact, most of Obama's decisions thus far have only supported right-wing corporatist ideals (anyone remember the Wall Street bailout of last year?  Anyone know anyone who's benefited?  No?  Well gee, I do: the mega banks have posted record profits since then).

So please: can we stop listening to crazy teabaggers (btw, the lamest name ever -- don't they know what it means?) and start listening to actual facts?  F-A-C-T-S.  Google it.