Archives Bellaciao EN 1999-2016

My Country 'tis of thee—Corporatocracy! Of Thee I Sing

2010-01-22T14:45:49Z

I know, I know. I've seen the blogosphere screeching about the Death of Democracy now that the Supreme Court has rolled back restrictions on corporate donations to political campaigns. Whiners. Haven't you all stopped for even a moment to think how this might benefit humanity? Sure, sure, we're all aware of the downside, but would it kill us to think positive for a change?
I mean, let's face it: corporations have controlled the agenda since the Mayflower Compact duped those non-puritan (…)

- contributions / Governments, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

Why Martha Lost

2010-01-19T15:44:55Z

While US Democrats are shocked at the surprising vulnerablity of Ted Kennedy's Senate seat—the Liberal Lion of the Senate—US observer Daniel Patrick Welch, who lives in and writes from Kennedy's home state, is underwhelmed. Democrats have foolishly ceded the populist impulse to the right, and are now reaping what they have sown.
Why Martha Lost
by Daniel Patrick Welch
I'm sick of waiting for the post-election analysis where bobbling heads pick over the bones of what they already knew (…)

- contributions / Governments, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

The Recession is Over! (Now get off your lazy asses and spend some MONEY, dammit!)

2009-09-27T01:12:11Z

Daniel Patrick Welch, regaining his muse after an unfortunate hiatus, marvels at the audacity of the THC (Talking Heads Chorus), who tell us with a straight face that it's our own damn fault if the fake "recovery" sputters—for not spending the money we don't have!
*******
These recessions are getting shorter and shorter. If you delay admitting it's happening until the shit really hits the fan, then claim it's all better while the shit is still spraying all over you, eventually it will (…)

- contributions / Economy-budget, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

The Thousands Yet Unborn: a farewell to Senator Edward Moore Kennedy

2009-08-27T19:31:53Z

It is with shock and dread, albeit much anticipated, that I awoke to hear of Ted Kennedy's passing. My muse has been somewhat groggy since my mom's passing this Spring, and I am juggling a range of emotions and a series of body blows from 2009. It seems that whoever is in charge of these things wanted to make certain that everyone who was anyone should be taken away from us this year. My wife tells me it's my mom's doing: A lady who loved a party, she could not bear the hereafter without (…)

- contributions / Governments, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

A reason to Stay: Still Crazy After All These Years

2008-09-27T16:59:49Z

I came across this piece while shuffling through some old papers. I wrote it over 16 years ago, and it struck me how essential its central message still is today, perhaps even more so than when I put dot-matrix inkjet to side-perforated paper. My natural tendency as a writer was to try to fiddle with it, to "update" it and make it better. I'm resisting, mostly, except to say that one of my first thoughts was that we must be crazy to still be doing this 16 long years later, having weathered (…)

- contributions / School-University, Daniel Patrick Welch

All the Baggage, None of the Charm - Hillary isn't Bill

2008-01-27T03:19:16Z

US observer Daniel Patrick Welch writes on the presidential campaign with all the dutiful enthusiasm of one covering a sports event in which the local team has been shut out. There's no real debate, but as with every horse race, there's always someone to bet on—or against.
All the Baggage, None of the Charm She's not Bill, and Bill's not running—thank god By Daniel Patrick Welch
I should start with full disclaimer: The only Democratic candidate I hold in lower esteem than Hilary Clinton (…)

- contributions / USA, Daniel Patrick Welch, US election 2008

sing 'til the power of the lord comes down: songs add promise and meaning to

2008-01-21T17:04:22Z

With Martin Luther King Day fresh in mind, US writer and teacher Daniel Patrick Welch explores the challenges, promise and pitfalls of exposing young minds to King's unfulfilled dreams.
Sing 'til the power of the Lord comes down Songs add promise and meaning to studying the civil rights era by Daniel Patrick Welch
Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. If this is true, then the US is stuck in a sort of Groundhog Day time bounce, doomed forever to keep banging its (…)

- contributions / Movement, Music, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

No Change for me: I want Bills. US Election Circus Awash in Cliches

2008-01-07T13:56:10Z

by Daniel Patrick Welch
In the runup to this year's political circus, the buzzwords of hope and change are being bandied about like the cheap currency they are. Divested of any real meaning by their repetition and cynical misapplication, they quickly become the empty slogans that make "election" season all the more depressing. Newspeak, long the vernacular of a self-perpetuating media coroporatocracy, has rendered the worst year in Iraq into proof that "the surge is working." By (…)

- contributions / USA, Daniel Patrick Welch, US election 2008

Three Little Girls from School are We: Left's unwarranted giddiness over election gains

2006-11-21T01:22:48Z

by Daniel Patrick Welch
Giddy as Mikado schoolgirls, Democrats and their allies on the left are positively gushing over their election gains of November 7. In the US' two-party duopoly, voters are restricted to shifting power from one side to the other to voice their dissatisfaction with government. And, to be fair, voters did their part, kicking out congressmen, senators and governors from coast to coast.
But hopes that this shift will lead to real changes in policy are, as Cosmo (…)

- contributions / Parties, USA, Daniel Patrick Welch

The US left could learn from Mexico's example

2006-11-20T01:14:52Z

Andrés Manuel López Obrador for President (of the US!!)
by Daniel Patrick Welch
Synopsis: Every election cycle, the US antiwar left reconvinces itself that its best chance of advancing its agenda is to dive once again into an alliance with the Democratic Party. Poor Charlie Brown! Is Lucy going to yank the ball away again? No suspense here....
"The only game in town" is just one of the myriad cover stories used by the vestiges of the US left to justify continued support for the (…)

- contributions / Parties, Elections-Elected, USA, South/Latin America, Daniel Patrick Welch