Vote for Joe

My wife Liz’s parents are here from New Zealand.   Last night I was talking to her father, Stuart, about the economy.   He was telling his grandkids about how things were so much cheaper in the old days.   But then, of course, there was “inflation.”   He explained, for example, that as the price of fuel went up, prices went up.   Inflation, in turn, sets the stage for adjusted wages, lower interest rates,  elaborate strategies to curb some of the inflation…   In other words, it’s all become quite complicated, and even more convoluted.   Our administration would push for decentralism.   That is, local production for local consumption within quite interdependent, small communities — like it was in the old days.   This would simplify transactions, cut fuel use exponentially, and make tomatoes  5 cents again. Note:   For our overall economic philosophy…

We continue to be back in the Cleveland area where  we’re working on position papers, filing, tour itineray,  and yard work.   The other night our family took a break to play some “Social Justice Football” at the Catholic Worker House around the corner.   The rules of Social Justice Football are: 1) Everybody gets a chance to play quarterback, if they like.   2) Everybody gets a chance to catch a pass — even our four-year-old Jonathan.   3)   And you never keep score.   (Ok, I’m lying on that one.   There is, oh, a couple of us more competitive sorts that were keeping score the other night, under our breaths.)   Note:   It’s not just about throwing money at the kids down here in the city.   It’s about letting them get in the game.    

I attended a Bible Study in Avon Lake, Ohio.   The readings revolved around the prophet Isaiah telling the Isrealites that they were so concerned with shiny “anklets… pendants… and veils…” — that they’d forgotten about the poor.   And as a result, it wasn’t going to bode well for these advantaged Isrealites.   After the reading, I was introduced to the group as a presidential candidate.   I said I had a strong social justice platform.   And I explained that  in the year 2007, “anklets, pendants and veils” could easily be substituted for nice suburban homes, luxury cars and air conditioning — while two-thirds of the Third World live in stark, abject poverty.   Avon Lake, Ohio, is an upscale Cleveland suburb.   And my comment sparked, oh, a bit of a debate.   On the optomistic side, these kinds of  encounters are  getting me ready for the National Debates next year.

“average JoeOhio Tour” cont:   I gave a talk at Sacred Heart Church in Fremont today.   The reading during the Mass was about the Isrealites of old worshipping false gods, like “Baahl.”   I said our modern day false gods are: excessive entertainment, like prime time shows; extraneous activity, like too many sports and hobbies;  work addiction, like 50 hour (plus drive time) work weeks… while meanwhile little unborn babies go to their slaughter every day with few to protest, some 24,000 people starve to death in the Third World every day, with few to  care;  and little kids daily dodge hunger, needles and bullets in our own inner cities, with few to see… Note: We then drove back to Cleveland through a driving rainstorm and high water on the roads everywhere.   As there were pans almost everywhere in the motor home — under a bunch of leaks.   Do you think Gulliani’s campaign vehicle(s) leak?   And that is why we’re the “peoples’ candidate.”   My wife Liz would say, after such a comment, that  I’m “all wet” —  and she’d be right in this case!   (Sorry.)

We stumped at the Farmer’s Market in downtown Fremont.   I passed out a lot of flyers, including one to a high school Government teacher from Springfield, Ohio (he was up visiting relatives).   He affirmed our efforts and said he includes teaching about independents in his class.   The guy playing guitar and singing at the Market brought up independent candidates as well.   In between songs, he said he was totally  turned off at this point by  the two major parties and exhorted  those at the Market to consider independent   candidates.   I gave him a flyer… Our platform calls for people to support local farmers, and to that end we bought some peppers and corn at the Market.   We ate the corn raw, a new culinary experience for me.   Note:   I interviewed   Pattee Kuzma at her home in Fremont.   Her son Keith has Downs Syndrome and is autistic.   Pattee and her husband John are absolutely wonderful parents who have done practically everything to help their son.   (Among many other things, Pattee  has facilitated a “Special Needs Group” through her church.)   What’s more, the state has helped too.   Through Ohio’s Passport Program (for the severely disabled), the Kuzmas are given so much a month to pay for eight hours of in-home health care a day for Keith. This has been a tremendous help, said Pattee.