Cascades balance the flow
over the edge
water goes
down to the stream far on
beyond the gate
water goes
past neighbors’ barns and homes
from the fall
water goes
and I
remain
still
dry.
THE GOOD FIGHT,by Louise Annarino,April 16,2012
I would not choose at random
the force of good or ill,
all encompassed grandeur
in the act of will.
Choose your battles wisely
their wonders to unfold,
as truth moves on to wisdom
and we all grow old.
Filed under POETRY
OBAMA,Louise Annarino,December 2012
Obama,By Louise Annarino, December 2012
Who could ever believe
you could catch the tiger ?
You did it
and we rejoiced.
But,you only caught it by the tail.
And now, we berate you
for failing to stop the tiger’s
destruction; and, merely limit its course
while holding on and hanging tight.
Hang on for dear life,
yours and ours.
While I cannot admire your form
as you swing precariously
each time
the tigers shifts course
to avoid an obstacle in its way,
I would not want you to fall off.
you are our best hope.
Hang on for dear life,
yours and ours.
While I cannot admire your position
as you follow the tiger, seemingly,
only able to control it
by an occasional pull,
or tweak, or pinch, or punch
to its backside,
I would not want you to fall off.
That tiger is strong.
It has feasted upon us for so long.
It has caught us too busy to pay
attention to its hidden ways.
While we dance and sing,
play and pray,
it eats our young and our old;
and now, is bold enough
to attack the strongest among us.
I wish you were strong enough
to climb upon its back and bring us back
the tiger’s pelt, to know his feasting
is at an end and the village
can amend all the tiger has destroyed.
But, you are only one man,just hanging on.
And others are still too afraid
to close down the path your clinging to him
forces you to follow.
Instead, they stay out of its way.
Thus, they avoid you
and any offer of help you could expect
to tame the beast
who has caused such harm,
to so many, for so long.
hang on for dear life,
yours and ours.
You are still our best hope.
Filed under POETRY
DADDY,By Louise Annarino, Father’s Day 2012
DADDY
Louise Annarino
Fathers’ Day 2012
Those laughing eyes
and strong hands
which fashioned safety
from the strands
of life
which too often looked
like a cage
but was nothing more
than a ladder
one could climb
on his lap
where every problem
could be left
in his care
so all consuming
which too often felt
like loss of self
but was nothing more
than a cushion
against hard knocks
he absorbed
with his own body
to protect
his children with
a father’s love.
Filed under POETRY
I BREATHE WORDS,By Louise Annarino,May 18,2012
I BREATHE WORDS
Louise Annarino
May 18,2012
I breathe words,
sip them
through straws of memory,
swallowed whole
with
out thought
or feeling
or being
reason
able
enough to hold
their taste
a
while on my tongue
where they begin
to burn
chilled
iced
heat that builds
warm fires
in
side
until
I breathe them
out.
Filed under POETRY
TUCSON, By Louise Annarino,January 16,2011
We are one with nature.
Our violence is inbred in bedrock,
tectonic plates of culture collide
creating mountains we must climb,
or stand near shore
uncertain of our fate
as waves of fear beat down
upon our hard edges
crumbling into gravel,
then sand,
until we sink or swim
against or within
the currents
our violence
set in motion.
Seldom do we slide past one another
without disturbing ions and eons
of distrust, and if we absolutely
must,
speak breezily and brazenly
of our superiority
to hide the cave of sunken
hopes and expectations
we stand above.
We cannot excavate.
We cannot illuminate
in full sun and favor
our hidden treasure
without a tether to another,
for safety’s sake
and our very survival.
Filed under POETRY
THE BALANCE OF POWER AND COMPETITIVE COMPROMISE,By Louise Annarino,12-27-2012
THE BALANCE OF POWER AND COMPETITIVE COMPROMISE,By Louise Annarino,December 26,2012
Politics has often been called the art of compromise. Too seldom do we admit politics is the art of exercising power. Congress cannot exercise the art of compromise when the balance of power is so uneven. Our focus at the moment is solely on the failure of congresspersons to compromise on several levels;between the president and Speaker of the House, within the House, within the Senate, within the Republican Party between Teapublicans and Republicans. We should instead focus on the lack of balance within our congressional districts. Until we right that balance, no compromise will be possible. Continuing the dialogue solely on the personal assessment of individual character illustrated by a willingness or unwillingness to compromise hides the real problem.
In 2010 the Republican/Teapublican victories brought control of the legislature of many key states, in some cases a veto-proof majority. And, 2010 placed more states under the leadership of Republican governors and secretaries of state as well. The 2010 census allowed these states ,including Ohio, to redistrict an imbalance so severe that Ohio’s districts were gerrymandered to form safe seats for both parties. The inability to compromise is the affirmed in these gerrymandered districts. Secretaries of state redefined vote counts within districts,further assuring veto-proof legislatures.
Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) has no motivation to seek the middle when doing so will have no impact on his re-election in a general election. His seat is safe thanks to the recent redistricting legislation, and Ohio’s failure to overturn that legislation in the 2012 campaign. His threat comes from within his own party;and, not just for his chairmanship, but for his re-election. The threat would come as a primary challenge;one well-funded by the moneyed interests and super PACS supporting the Teapublicans. Tacking to center, seeking compromise, would encourage such an attack.How can he seek compromise?
We must organize around redistricting,and other legislative changes which upset the balance of power for both parties. For example, there is a well-financed effort by Teapublicans to demonize the electoral college,to eliminate it, or change how Ohio calculates electoral votes. Republicans are mounting a quiet effort to change our current system to one which favors the minority of Ohio voters. Now Republicans have more safe districts than Democrats do and they want to allow each district to cast electoral votes based on district wins, rather than casting all of Ohio’s electoral votes for the candidate who wins the majority of all Ohio votes, as is current law.
Republicans realize this could give them short-term gain.However, their control is not absolute and eternal. Should Democrats gain control, the Democratic Party could benefit just as unfairly. But, both parties should be more concerned about the good of the people; not the good of any party. It behooves both Democratic and Republican voters to insist that our legislators create more balance;not less. Those of us who believe in the platform and values of the Democratic Party should not fear such a balanced approach. Democratic candidates can compete with Republican candidates, and can win even in unsafe districts. How much better could we do in competitive districts? And, if John Boehner’s district were competitive, he might gain more political power through compromise than obstruction. That would be a win-win for both parties, and for the American people.
We have overlooked the importance of what happens at our local and district levels for too long. we have been trained to keep our eyes on the federal government,thus national elections, as the source of our failed compromise; when,in fact, competitive compromise begins within our own districts. We cannot sit back until the next presidential election, hoping to elect persons who promise to compromise. Everyone wants to compromise when it maintains their balance of power;but without such a balance, no one can afford to compromise. Not Mr. Boehner, despite his fine character and personal wishes…unless he is willing, and we are willing to watch his failed re-election as the price to be paid. Would that be a win for Ohio or the Teapublicans?
Filed under POLITICS, Uncategorized
annarino writes 
JUST HUNGRY, By Louise Annarino, January 20,2012
Not Envious Just Hungry, By Louise Annarino,January 20,2012
A year ago I wrote the following blog. Sadly, the issues raised remain unsolved despite President Obama and the Democratic Senators and Representatives work to reach agreement with Republicans. Republicans have dragged their heels for over a year; and yet ,expect us to believe they don;t have time to do anything to avoid a fiscal cliff. This is a reminder of what is at stake.
“Let them eat cake !” Marie Antoinette purportedly responded when told of bread riots in the streets of Paris; failing to heed the warning that her 1% lifestyle would not sit well with the 99% who were hungry, jobless and hopeless. Americans are hungry, jobless and homeless; but, thanks to the safety net of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and food stamps they are not quite so hopeless nor desperate as those who overthrew the French monarchy. Everyone should be grateful we have a “food stamp president” !
Politicians used to understand that the social contract between the rich and poor was an essential cog in the economic engine of the country; and, the very thing which would allow citizens to amass wealth, without the threat of harm to the nation or themselves. Republicans and Democrats alike passed into law programs to create and protect a strong middle class. It was understood and agreed upon that the American dream was not built on envy, but on the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
The latest crop of Republican congresspersons seem to have forgotten this. The top 1% of investment earners (one cannot honestly call them wage earners) would have 99% of us wage earners believe that reminding them of this social contract is un-American, anti-capitalist, and irreligious.
Now, Republican congressional leaders such as Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. John Boehner undermine the Golden Rule, claiming, as men who are right with God, that anyone who oppose their economic and social order policies, must be wrong;and,not only are they wrong but they are evil, which carries the weight of immorality. Asking that the Golden Rule be applied to economic policy does not make the 99ers immoral, unpatriotic socialists, un-American, nor envious. Republicans would shut down the bakery before they would share a piece of the American pie.
Years ago, before labor laws, civil rights laws, and a system of public education for all children created a middle class the working class had to be satisfied with crumbs from the table. Labor unions, enforceable civil rights, and public education created a place at the table for workers. But now, Governors like John Kasich of Ohio tell us we are envious when we ask for a menu, question why no food is being served to us, or ask how they arranged to have nearly all the food piled on their plates as it disappeared from our own. They say we are envious. No, we are simply hungry.
Leave a comment
Filed under COMMENTARY