vibinc

Progressive Politics from Memphis

  • Kittens lash out at ice cream, apple pie, and background checks

    A recent You Gov poll found that Americans have a very high opinion of many things both cute and cuddly, as well as cornerstones of American culture. These include: Ice cream – 93% Apple pie – 81% Kittens – 76% Child Labor laws – 71% Baseball – 67% Its not that surprising that the two…

  • Political Haiku for the week of 4/12/13

    One of the things almost everyone mentioned in my reader survey is the lack of haiku on the blog. With that in mind, here’s the first installment, of what I hope to make a weekly series… Political Haiku of the Week! Campfield runs from child, On his way to his latest loss, What a punk…

  • Pennies from Haslam

    According to a poll released in January, Bill Haslam has a 68% approval rating in Tennessee. Elected as a moderate, the words out of the Governor’s mouth certainly don’t lead anyone to believe he’s a firebrand. Of course, word and deed are two different things. The truth is, Gov. Haslam’s positions further a system of…

  • The Oliver Twist Act

    Yesterday, the House Government Operations Committee recommended passage of HB0261 aka The Oliver Twist Act. The bill, if passed and signed by the Governor, would reduce payments to families on certain government assistance if their child does not meet state educational standards. Yes, there are provisions for intervention, including tutoring and parent-teacher conferences, but that…

  • Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice…

    Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Forty-Five years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by an assassin’s bullet as he stood on the balcony…

  • The Value of Work

    Over the past several days I’ve been writing about Gov. Haslam’s decision on Medicaid expansion. While this has been going on, a bill, supported by the Governor, has been steamrolling its way through the state legislature. A bill that would further shift power away from workers and workplace protections by creating new hurdles for people…